Two countries
Apostille from South Africa to Qatar
At a glance
Can a document from South Africa be used in Qatar?
| Result | Apostille does not apply between these countries. |
|---|---|
| South Africa | Uses apostilles member since 1 |
| Qatar | No apostille not in the Apostille Convention1 |
| 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 Africa | Not published by the office2 |
| Who to ask in Qatar | Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, Department of Consular Affairs, Attestation Department3 |
| Last checked |
Step by step
How to get a document from South Africa ready for Qatar
- Ask the office in Qatar that will receive the document exactly what it needs.
- Documents issued abroad are attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the host country and then by the Qatari mission there, and since December 2024 an online service on the Qatari ministry's website sends them to the mission for this attestation to be completed.3
- Give the document, with its apostille or legalisation, to the office in Qatar 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 Qatar used in South Africa, the apostille or legalisation starts in Qatar. Check Qatar to South Africa
- Joining later. .
Note: 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 Qatar
Is an apostille from South Africa accepted in Qatar?
No. Qatar is not a member of the Apostille Convention, so an apostille alone is not enough for documents between South Africa and Qatar. A different process, usually called legalisation, applies. Check the steps with the authorities of Qatar before you send anything. 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 Qatar.
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 Qatar also need a translation?
The office in Qatar 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
- HCCH status table: Apostille Convention (1961)
- Information sheet: Public Notary / Sworn Translator / Registrar of the High Court of South Africa (version 01/2025)
- Complete Attestation Outside Qatar
- Status
- Last verified: (18 October 2026)
- How it was checked
- Checked by our team against the sources above
- Next review
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