Apostille or attestation? Which one your police clearance needs
It comes down to a single question: is the country you are sending it to a member of the Hague Apostille Convention? If yes, you need an apostille. If no, you need embassy attestation — a longer chain.
The one question that decides it
When you give a South African document to a foreign government, that government needs proof it is genuine. There are two mechanisms, and which one applies depends entirely on the destination:
Apostille — Hague countries
A single certificate attached by DIRCO. Accepted as-is by every other Hague member. Faster and cheaper. R1,650. Covers the US, UK, Canada, most of Europe, Australia, and many more.
Attestation — non-Hague countries
A longer chain: DIRCO authentication, then legalisation by that country's embassy in South Africa, sometimes a further step on arrival. Slower, costs more, quoted per case. Covers the UAE and the Gulf states, and some others.
Common destinations at a glance
| Destination | Route |
|---|---|
| United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, most of Europe, Australia, New Zealand | Apostille |
| United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait | Embassy attestation |
| China, Vietnam (check current status — Convention membership changes) | Usually attestation |
Membership changes. Countries join the Hague Convention over time, which flips a destination from attestation to apostille. Always confirm the current position for your specific country before assuming — we check it for every order.
The mistake that costs weeks
The most expensive error is legalising for the wrong regime — most often paying for an apostille for a UAE application because it worked for a friend going to the UK. The UAE will reject it, and you start the attestation chain from scratch. Tell us the destination at the start and we set up the correct route the first time. More detail on the UAE page and the general apostille service.