UK documents for South Africa, notarised and apostilled
An attorney, bank or authority in South Africa has asked for a UK document. We check what it needs, the Notary witnesses or certifies it, and we obtain the UK FCDO apostille, for a fixed fee agreed before you pay.
Appointed by the Court of Faculties · Regulated through The Faculty Office of The Archbishop of Canterbury · Member of The Notaries' Society of England and Wales
Not sure what your document needs? Send it to us and we reply within one hour in office hours.
The route for South Africa at a glance
- UK FCDO apostilleSouth Africa has been a party to the Hague Apostille Convention since 30 April 1995, according to the HCCH status table.
- The apostille is the only formalitySouth Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) states that, where the Convention applies, an apostille is the only formality required to authenticate a public document.
- No High Commission step, as a ruleDIRCO states that South African missions cannot issue apostilles. Ask the recipient to confirm, and we confirm the route before you pay.
- Originals or certified copiesAsk whether the recipient wants the original, a notarial certified copy or a document signed before the Notary.
Fixed fees from £95 plus VAT per document. We confirm the route and the full fee in writing before you pay.
- Powers of attorney
- Affidavits
- Certified copies
- Company documents
- UK public certificates
What your document needs for South Africa
- 1
Check the recipient’s instructions
Confirm the wording required and whether an original or a copy is acceptable. If a South African attorney has prepared a power of attorney or affidavit, send us the draft for review and wait for signing instructions.
- 2
Notarise where necessary
The Notary may need to witness your signature or certify a copy. GRO birth, marriage and death certificates can go straight to the UK FCDO apostille, without a notarial act.
- 3
UK FCDO apostille
The FCDO checks the signature, stamp or seal against its records and attaches the apostille. It does not certify the content of the document.
- 4
Check for any further step
DIRCO states that, where the Apostille Convention applies, an apostille is the only formality required. If the recipient asks for anything more, send us its instructions and we quote any further charge in writing before you proceed.
- 5
Return to you or the recipient
Collect it from Gray’s Inn Road, choose next-day UK delivery, or ask us to quote an international courier to South Africa in writing.
The fee you are quoted is the fee you pay
Notarised and apostilled, per document
| Power of attorney, notarised and apostilled | £230 |
|---|---|
| Company document, notarised and apostilled | £245 |
| Court order, notarised and apostilled | £190 |
| Degree certificate or transcript, notarised and apostilledplus the university’s verification fee at cost, confirmed before you pay | £190 |
| Birth, marriage or death certificate (GRO), apostille only | £95 |
Plus VAT. Including the UK FCDO fee. Urgent or e-apostille add £30 per document. Next-day UK delivery £25 per order.
Notary appointment only
| Personal documents and powers of attorneyin person; by video from £195 | £135 |
|---|---|
| Business and property documentsin person; by video from £195 | £150 |
| Certified copy of a passport or identity documentin person or by video | £95 |
Plus VAT, per document. Out of hours, 7 days a week, from £195. Embassy or consular, translation and courier charges are quoted in writing before you proceed.
Three ways to get it done
Online by video
For signatories in England and Wales, where the act, the document and the receiving authority allow it. From £195 plus VAT.
Book a video appointment →In person, Gray’s Inn Road
Fox Court, 14 Gray’s Inn Road, London WC1X 8HN. Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm, plus evenings and weekends out of hours.
Book at our office →By post, courier or by hand
Already signed, or a UK certificate that only needs an apostille? Post, courier or hand-deliver the original to us and we take it from there.
Send us your document →
Rated 5.0 from 107 Google reviews
“I am extremely happy with the service provided by Sheikh & Shayli. They were incredibly helpful throughout the process.”
“Sheikh was very knowledgeable and helpful. He walked me through the process of notarizing my documents.”
“Second time using Staple Inn Notaries, again they provided an excellent service, quick and easy.”
Documents for South Africa
Anything else? Email team@internationalnotary.co.uk or call 020 3488 4195.
Does the South African High Commission need to stamp a UK document?
Not as a rule. DIRCO states that, where the Apostille Convention applies, an apostille is the only formality required, and that South African missions cannot issue apostilles. Check the recipient’s instructions, and we confirm the route before you pay.
Can you help with a South African power of attorney or affidavit?
Yes. Send us the draft first. A power of attorney, notarised and apostilled, is £230 plus VAT per document, including the FCDO fee.
Can you do company documents for South Africa?
Yes. A company document, notarised and apostilled, is £245 plus VAT per document, including the FCDO fee.
Can I sign online?
Possibly, if you are in England and Wales. The Notary first checks that the act, the document and the recipient permit online notarisation. Some matters need an in-person appointment.
How much will it cost in total?
Notarisation and the UK FCDO apostille are fixed fees per document, set out in the table above: for example, a power of attorney notarised and apostilled is £230 plus VAT, including the FCDO fee. Any embassy or consular, translation or courier charges for South Africa are quoted in writing before you proceed, so you know the full cost before you pay.
How long does it take?
Notary appointments are usually available the same day, with 2 hours’ notice. A standard UK FCDO apostille takes 3 working days, an urgent apostille 1 working day, and an e-apostille usually arrives within 24 hours.
How do I get the finished document back?
Collect it from our Gray’s Inn Road office, or choose next-day UK delivery for £25 plus VAT per order. International courier is quoted in writing. E-apostilles are emailed.
Sources and checks
Last checked: 9 November 2026. HCCH: Apostille Convention status table (South Africa, in force 30 April 1995); DIRCO: Legalisation services; GOV.UK: Get your document legalised; GOV.UK: Documents for British people abroad.
Requirements are set by the receiving organisation and the authorities in South Africa. We confirm the route for your document before you pay.
Ready for South Africa? Book the Notary today.
Or send us the document and the recipient’s instructions. We reply within one hour in office hours with the route and a fixed fee.