What's the Difference?

In a nutshell:

If the country is part of the Hague Convention → DIRCO Apostille.
If the country is not part of the Hague Convention → DIRCO Authentication + Embassy Legalisation. 

As we deal a lot with South Africans in China as that is where most South Africans (outside of SA) are employed as teachers, China is a special case.  Though it is part of the Hague Convention, it still insists that once documents have been authenticated by DIRCO that the documents need to go for further Embassy Legalisation.

🟦 What a DIRCO Apostille Is (Hague Convention Countries)

A DIRCO Apostille is an internationally standardised certificate issued under the 1961 Hague Convention, which South Africa is a member of. It is accepted directly by all other Hague Convention countries without any further embassy steps.

Key points:

• It is an A4 certificate attached to the document with a green ribbon and red seal.

• It verifies:

  • the authenticity of the signature

  • the capacity of the official who signed

  • the authenticity of the seal

• It is final — no embassy visit needed.

• It is used for countries like:

  • China (Hong Kong & Macau only)

  • UK

  • Australia

  • New Zealand

  • South Korea

  • Most of Europe

  • USA

When clients need an Apostille:

• Studying abroad

• Working abroad

• Visa applications

• Marriage abroad

• Business registration abroad

If the country is a Hague member, Apostille is always the correct service.

🟥 What a DIRCO Authentication Is (Non‑Hague Countries)

A DIRCO Authentication is used when the destination country is not part of the Hague Convention. In this case, DIRCO verifies the document, but it is not enough on its own. The document must then be taken to the embassy or consulate of the destination country for final legalisation.

Key points:

• DIRCO issues an Authentication Certificate (not an apostille).

• The document must then go to the foreign embassy in Pretoria.

• This is a two‑step process:

  1. DIRCO Authentication

  2. Embassy Legalisation

Countries that require Authentication (not Apostille):

• China (Mainland)

• UAE

• Qatar

• Kuwait

• Saudi Arabia

• Vietnam

• Thailand

• Angola

• Mozambique

When clients need an Authentication:

• Work visas for non‑Hague countries

• Business setup in non‑Hague countries

• Marriage abroad in non‑Hague countries

• Export documents for non‑Hague countries

For these countries, Authentication + Embassy Legalisation is the correct service.

A word of advice:

Please make very sure if you need your South African documents to be  authenticated by Dirco and/or the Chinese Embassy as the last thing anyone needs is to find out when one gets to China that it had to be legalised by the Chinese Embassy in South Africa.  Best advice is to enquire from the Chinese authorities in China and/or the Chinese Embassy in South Africa.  Once your document is sent to you, you would then need to have it officially translated in China depending on its purpose for example, the Chinese police or Immigration.