Quick answer
A certificate of status shows a Florida company is active on a given date. One Florida apostille is all the U.S. side needs — $220, 5–7 business days.
- Issued by
- The Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations (Sunbiz).
- Florida state fee
- $10 — included in $220
- Route
- Apostille only — Hague member since 1995
- Online notarization
- Not applicable — needs a certified copy
- Translation
- English is one of South Africa's official languages and Florida documents are issued in English, so they usually go without a translation.
- Turnaround
- 5–7 business days, filed in person
How a Florida certificate of status is used in South Africa
A certificate of status shows a Florida company is active on a given date. South African banks ask for proof like this under their know-your-customer obligations when a foreign company opens an account, and conveyancers and attorneys want it before a Florida company buys, sells or signs. It must come from the Division of Corporations and shows active only if the annual report is filed, so check Sunbiz first. Order it close to when the South African side will rely on it, and ask how recent they need it.
Getting a certificate of status Florida will apostille
The original certificate of status, or a new certificate requested together with the apostille; never a photocopy or scan. It can only show the company as active if the annual report is filed and the entity hasn't been dissolved, and it speaks only for the date it was issued.
Order it from the Division online or by mail (listed at $8.75 for corporations, $5 for LLCs and $8.75 for partnerships by mail), or let us request a fresh certificate with the apostille using the two separate payments the state requires. The Division's fee is not included in our $220.
State fee for this document: $10 — included in our price. Full details on the certificate of status apostille page.
Who receives it in South Africa — and translation
The Department of Home Affairs handles visas, permits and civic records. The South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) evaluates foreign degrees. Attorneys and conveyancers take Florida documents to the Deeds Office, banks and the Master of the High Court for estates. DIRCO (the Department of International Relations and Cooperation) says foreign documents must be legalised in their country of origin, which for a Florida document means the Florida Department of State.
English is one of South Africa's official languages and Florida documents are issued in English, so they usually go without a translation. Home Affairs' sworn-translator requirement covers documents that aren't in an official South African language. If a Florida document is in another language, our standard applies: translator's certification, notarized by a different notary, with its own Florida apostille, and ask whether Home Affairs instead wants a sworn translator.
Home Affairs' work-visa checklists say a police clearance can't be older than six months when submitted. Parental consent affidavits for children traveling through South African ports of entry must be no more than four months old when presented, according to DIRCO's advisory.
Four steps, one week
Order online
Pick the document and destination country on the order form and pay by card. After we review your documents, FedEx emails you a prepaid label.
Send your document
Drop the envelope at any FedEx location.
We file in person
We review it, then walk it to the Florida Department of State in Tallahassee for the apostille.
Returned to you
Back in 5–7 business days — anywhere in the U.S., or abroad for a flat $100.
Why certificate of statuss get rejected
- Photocopy or scan of the certificate
- Entity not active because the annual report wasn't filed
- Certificate older than the foreign institution's age limit
- Letter from an accountant or registered agent instead of the Division's certificate
What it costs for South Africa
$220 per document, $380 for two and $160 each for three or more — the state fee, request form, in-person filing in Tallahassee and FedEx shipping inside the U.S. are included. Shipping the finished apostille to South Africa is a flat $100 per order.
Not included: whatever the issuing office charges for the certified copy or certificate, and notarization (online notarization is $40 for the first document — $10 notarization fee + $30 technology platform fee — and $20 for each additional one).