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Apostille from South Africa to France

Apostille works

At a glance

Can a document from South Africa be used in France?

ResultApostille applies.
South AfricaUses apostilles member since 1
FranceUses apostilles member since 1
Apostille issued by

Registrars of the High Court of South Africa (divisions in Pretoria, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Durban, Pietermaritzburg and Bloemfontein)2

Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), Legalisation Section, Pretoria2

Fee in South Africa

Not published by the office (all documents)2

Processing time in South AfricaNot published by the office2
Last checked

Step by step

How to get a document from South Africa ready for France

  1. Have the documents verified by a public notary (an attorney registered at the High Court) or a sworn translator of your choice.2
  2. Take them to the Registrar of the High Court in the same jurisdiction as the notary or translator, naming the country where the document will be used.2
  3. If the destination country is a party to the Apostille Convention, the High Court issues and affixes the apostille and the document should not be sent to DIRCO.2
  4. For original Home Affairs certificates and police clearance certificates, send the originals, in person or by courier, to the Legalisation Section at DIRCO in Pretoria.2
  5. Give the document, with its apostille or legalisation, to the office in France that asked for it.

Situations

When the answer changes

  • Private documents.A private document, such as a power of attorney or a contract, is first signed in front of a notary public, and the apostille then goes on the notary’s certificate. A copy of a public document from another country is first certified by a notary public, then apostilled.
  • The other direction. For a document from France used in South Africa, the apostille or legalisation starts in France. Check France to South Africa

What the apostille confirms

An apostille only confirms the signature, the role of the person who signed and any seal or stamp on the document. It does not confirm what the document says. The office that receives the document decides what it accepts.

Questions

Questions about documents from South Africa for France

Is an apostille from South Africa accepted in France?

Yes. An apostille from South Africa is enough for France: both are members of the Apostille Convention (South Africa since 30 April 1995, France since 24 January 1965). The apostille is issued in South Africa by Registrars of the High Court of South Africa and 1 other office. The office in France that receives the document decides what else it needs. Last checked 18 October 2026 against the HCCH status table.

Who issues the apostille for a document from South Africa?

Registrars of the High Court of South Africa (divisions in Pretoria, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Durban, Pietermaritzburg and Bloemfontein) and Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), Legalisation Section, Pretoria. The apostille is always issued in the country the document comes from, not in France.

Do I need to notarise a private document first?

Yes. A private document, such as a power of attorney or a contract, is first signed in front of a notary public in South Africa. The apostille then goes on the notary's certificate.

Does France also need a translation?

The office in France that receives the document decides. Ask it before you start whether it needs a translation, and whether the translation needs its own certification.

Sources and verification

Sources

  1. HCCH status table: Apostille Convention (1961)Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) · HCCH · retrieved
  2. Information sheet: Public Notary / Sworn Translator / Registrar of the High Court of South Africa (version 01/2025)Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), South Africa · Competent authority · retrieved
  3. France - Competent Authority (Art. 6)Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) · HCCH · retrieved
  4. Modification de la liste des autorités compétentes pour délivrer des apostilles en FranceHague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) · HCCH · retrieved
  5. Décret n° 2021-1205 du 17 septembre 2021 relatif à la légalisation et à l'apostille des actes publics établis par les autorités françaisesLégifrance (French Government) · Legislation · retrieved
  6. Accueil - Portail Grand PublicNotaires de France · Competent authority · retrieved
  7. Legalization or apostille of a public act drawn up by a French authorityDirectorate of Legal and Administrative Information (DILA), Prime Minister · Government · retrieved
  8. Centre de Légalisation et de l'Apostille de Paris (CLAP)Chambre des notaires de Paris · Competent authority · retrieved
  9. Apostille et légalisation - Chambre des Notaires de l'EssonneChambre des Notaires de l'Essonne · Competent authority · retrieved
Status
Last verified: (18 October 2026)
How it was checked
Checked by our team against the sources above
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