🌍 Destination · South Africa

Apostille for South Africa

South Africa is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention: a single apostille, affixed in Switzerland by the chancellery of the issuing canton, makes your Swiss document valid there — no embassy, no consulate, no further stamp.

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Where the apostille is affixed

Always in the country that issued the document — so for your Swiss diploma, extract or certificate, at the state chancellery of the issuing canton, or at the Federal Chancellery for federal documents. We route it; you just name the canton.

Documents typically requested by South Africa

Diplomas and transcripts for jobs and universities, civil-status records for marriages and residence, criminal-record extracts for visas, commercial-register extracts and powers of attorney for business.

Timing and delivery

Standard 1–2 business days plus delivery; same-day express available. Registered Swiss mail included — or DHL straight to South Africa (CHF 140 worldwide, CHF 90 in Europe).

Which translation this destination needs — and when none is needed

English is the working language of South African administration, so an English translation is what you need from every Swiss canton. Where a translation must be certified, South Africa recognises sworn translators of the High Court; ask the receiving institution whether they require one or whether a translator’s statement of accuracy suffices.

Worth knowing before you order

South African document requests often involve police clearance and civil status records together, for immigration or professional registration. The Swiss criminal-record extract is federal and apostilled in Bern, while civil status records are cantonal — two different counters for one file. We handle both in a single order.

Frequently asked questions

And a document issued in South Africa, to be used in Switzerland?
Same Convention, opposite direction: the apostille is affixed by the designated authority of South Africa, not in Switzerland. We can point you to the right route there — and once apostilled, the document is accepted by Swiss authorities.
Will South Africa also require a translation?
Frequently, when the document is not in an official language of the destination. The apostille never replaces a translation; mention it in the order notes and our partner network delivers both together.
CHF 140 — Apostille — 1st document · CHF 120 — Apostille — from 2 documents · Prices →

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