Embassies and Consulates
South Africa High Commission in New Delhi
Contact details for the South Africa high commission, and what your documents must go through before South Africa will accept them.
Apostille accepted — no embassy attestation needed
Mission details
Attestation route for South Africa
As a Hague Convention country, South Africa accepts a single apostille from the Ministry of External Affairs. There is no embassy stage, which makes it both cheaper and faster.
Typical timeline: 3–15 working days, depending on document type. We confirm an exact estimate for your specific document and issuing state before you commit.
South Africa is a Commonwealth member, so its mission in New Delhi is a High Commission rather than an embassy. For document legalisation that makes no practical difference — the stamps, and the order they come in, are the same.
One practical point: the mission normally closes on South Africa’s national day (April 27) as well as on Indian public holidays. If your deadline is tight, that is worth allowing for.
Process
Step by step for South Africa
State verification
HRD for educational documents, Home Department or SDM for personal documents, Chamber of Commerce for commercial documents.
MEA apostille
The Ministry of External Affairs applies a numbered Hague apostille sticker. That completes the process.
Documents
Documents commonly attested for South Africa
| Document | What it needs for South Africa | Usually needed for |
|---|---|---|
| Degree & diploma certificates | HRD verification, then MEA apostille | Employment, professional registration, further study |
| Mark sheets & transcripts | HRD verification, then MEA apostille | University admission and credential assessment |
| Birth certificates | Home Department or SDM, then MEA apostille | Dependant visas, school admission, residence |
| Marriage certificates | Home Department or SDM, then MEA apostille | Spouse visas and family sponsorship |
| Police clearance certificates | Home Department or SDM, then MEA apostille | Employment and residence applications |
| Commercial documents | Chamber of Commerce, then MEA apostille | Company registration, tenders, export paperwork |
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Yes. South Africa is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so an apostille issued by India's Ministry of External Affairs is accepted directly. No attestation by the South Africa mission in New Delhi is required.
HRD verification in the state that issued it, then MEA apostille. Typically 3 to 15 working days, depending on document type end to end, and the university's reply to the HRD department is the part that varies most.
B-18, Vasant Marg, Vasant Vihar, New Delhi 110057. Confirm before travelling there in person — missions relocate and change their public hours.
Timelines, costs, what we need from you and what happens if a document is rejected are answered on our attestation and apostille FAQ.
Related
Services involved
Not sure where to start?
Send us the document and the destination country. We will reply within one working hour with the exact process, timeline and cost.