Legalisation & Attestation
Legalisation
(DIRCO/High Court)
Legalisation is the process of verifying South African documents, so they are officially recognised and accepted in other countries. This ensures your documents are authentic and meet international compliance requirements.
At MGA Experiences, we specialise in apostilles and authentications (including DIRCO and High Court submissions). Whether your documents are needed for work, study, business, or residency abroad, we manage the entire process efficiently and professionally.
The type of legalisation required depends on the country where the documents will be used.
What is Embassy Attestation?
In some cases, an additional step is needed after DIRCO authentication- a stamp or seal from the destination country’s embassy or consulate.
Common countries that require this step include:
United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Saudi Arabia
China
Qatar
Vietnam
Frequently attested documents include:
- Birth and Marriage Certificates
- Police Clearance Certificates (PCC)
- Academic Qualifications
- Employment Contracts
- Business and Commercial/Legal Documents
Frequently Asked Questions
Not sure how the legalisation process works or whether you need embassy attestation too? Here are the most common questions we receive about preparing documents for international use.
What’s the difference between legalisation and attestation?
Legalisation confirms the authenticity of a South African document via DIRCO or the High Court. Attestation is an additional stamp or seal from a foreign embassy, required by some countries after legalisation.
Which countries require embassy attestation?
Countries like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, China, Qatar and Vietnam often require embassy attestation after legalisation. We’ll confirm this based on your destination.
Can I legalise documents for use abroad if they’re not in English?
If your document is not in the required language, we can assist with sworn translations before submission to ensure acceptance in the destination country.
How long does the process take?
Standard legalisation takes 5–10 working days, depending on the volume of documents and embassy requirements. We’ll provide timelines once we assess your needs.
Can you legalise documents on my behalf?
Yes. We handle the full process from document preparation to submission, collection and final delivery, even if you are currently abroad.
What types of documents can be legalised or attested?
We assist with a wide range, including birth and marriage certificates, academic qualifications, PCCs, employment contracts and legal or business documents.
Get In Touch
We handle the full legalisation journey from start to finish, ensuring your documents are correctly prepared, translated into the language of the receiving country (Sworn Translations, if required), and accepted as per international compliance standards- with speed, accuracy, and peace of mind.
Let MGA Experiences take care of the requirements based on your destination, so you can move forward with confidence.