FAQs; DIRCO

• What is DIRCO? What do they do?

  DIRCO is the acronym for the Department of International Relations. DIRCO is based in Pretoria, there are no other branches.

  What is DIRCOs mandate? Well in this instance we will talk only about the function that is central to our operations; legalisation department.

  DIRCOs legalisation department is at the core of what we do and the processing of documents for use abroad.

• Why do I need my documents legalised by DIRCO?

  You will need DIRCO legalised documents if you need to work or study abroad

• Which documents need to go to DIRCO?

  Police Clearace Certificates, SAQA letters, Birth & Marriage Certificate, Educational documents

  The list is quite long but I only mentioned the documents we normally work with

• Do I need to take my documents to a notary first?

  The following documents go to DIRCO directly (no notary or high court needed)

  1. Original Home Affairs documents - birth certificates, marrige certificate, letter’s of non-impediment

  2. Original police clearance certificate from SAPS

  3. Original SAQA letter

• Which documents must go to notary & high court first

  TEFL certificates, SACE certificates, copies of Home Affairs documents

• Do I submit my original degree at DIRCO?

  NO, DIRCO will not legalise your original degree/diploma.

  You need to apply for a SAQA letter first. Then submit the original SAQA letter at DIRCO NOT the original degree

• How long is DIRCO legalisation valid for?

  This depends on the country you are going to. For instance South Korea will not accept documents older than 6 months.

  Kuwait will not accept authentications older than 3 months?

• DIRCO & Laminated documents

  Please note DIRCO does not accept laminated documents

• DIRCO & Signatures

  Sometimes signatures can cause elays at DIRCO this prevalent for Home Affairs documents - birth certificates, marriage certificates, letter of non-impediment etc.

  If DIRCO does not have the signature on a particular document they have to request it from the revelant department. This can cause delays

• Previously authenticated/apostilled documents

  DIRCO may request reprints if your documents have been authenticated/apostilled too many times (more than twice)