Certified Translation Apostille for South Africa

Honestly, this is rarely needed. English is an official South African language, and Florida documents are in English. Home Affairs' sworn-translator requirement applies to documents that aren't in an official South African language, so it only comes into play if your Florida document is in another language, such as a notarized statement in Spanish or Portuguese. Our standard approach is a translator's certification notarized by a different notary, with its own Florida apostille, but Home Affairs may instead want a sworn translator, so ask before you pay.

The complete translation bound to the translator's affidavit (name, languages, document translated, statement of accuracy and competence), sworn before a different Florida notary with a complete jurat. As a rule, the translation is certified, notarized and apostilled in Florida so it carries its own apostille, while the original document gets its own apostille first.

Ask the receiving authority whether it accepts a translation made in the U.S.; some countries may also or instead require their own sworn or official translator (for example, a traductor jurado in Spain, a sworn translator in Germany or a perito traductor in Mexico). The translator can sign through our online notarization add-on: $40 for the first document ($10 notarization fee + $30 technology platform fee) and $20 for each additional document. Translation and notarization fees are not included in our $220, and we don't translate.

State fee for this document: $10 — included in our price. Full details on the certified translation apostille page.

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.

$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).