Two countries
Apostille from South Africa to United Arab Emirates
At a glance
Can a document from South Africa be used in the United Arab Emirates?
| Result | Apostille does not apply between these countries. |
|---|---|
| South Africa | Uses apostilles member since 1 |
| United Arab Emirates | 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 United Arab Emirates | Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the UAE, Attestation service3 |
| Last checked |
Step by step
How to get a document from South Africa ready for the United Arab Emirates
- Ask the office in the United Arab Emirates that will receive the document exactly what it needs.
- Documents are first legalised by the foreign ministry of the country that issued them, then attested by the UAE embassy or mission there, and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs adds its own attestation; the Ministry says the route, digital attestation or an approved courier service provider, is chosen automatically from the issuing authority and document type.3
- Give the document, with its apostille or legalisation, to the office in the United Arab Emirates 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 the United Arab Emirates used in South Africa, the apostille or legalisation starts in the United Arab Emirates. Check United Arab Emirates 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 the United Arab Emirates
Is an apostille from South Africa accepted in the United Arab Emirates?
No. The United Arab Emirates is not a member of the Apostille Convention, so an apostille alone is not enough for documents between South Africa and the United Arab Emirates. A different process, usually called legalisation, applies. Check the steps with the authorities of the United Arab Emirates 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 the United Arab Emirates.
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 the United Arab Emirates also need a translation?
The office in the United Arab Emirates 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)
- Documents Attestation
- Status
- Last verified: (18 October 2026)
- How it was checked
- Checked by our team against the sources above
- Next review
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