Notary Copies South Africa
Professional assistance with arranging notarised copies, notarial certification, apostille support and document legalisation.
A notarised copy is a copy of an original document that has been compared with the original and certified by an appropriately authorised Notary Public.
SP Document Trade assists with document preparation, notary coordination, collection, DIRCO legalisation support and courier arrangements where required.
What Is a Notarised Copy?
A notarised copy is a copy of an original document that has been examined and certified by an authorised Notary Public.
The Notary Public confirms that the copy presented is a true copy of the original document inspected.
A Notarised Copy May Include
- A notarial certification statement
- The Notary Public’s signature
- The Notary Public’s seal or stamp
- The date and place of certification
- Supporting notarial records where required
Common Uses
- Visa and immigration applications
- Foreign citizenship applications
- University or academic submissions
- International employment
- Company and commercial documents
- Legal proceedings
- Foreign property or estate matters
Professional Notarial Document Support
Private assistance with preparing, coordinating, legalising and returning documents required for official use.
Document Review
We review the document type, intended use and destination country before confirming the required process.
Notary Coordination
Where notarial certification is required, we coordinate the process with an appropriately authorised Notary Public.
Legalisation Support
We can assist with subsequent apostille, authentication or embassy legalisation where applicable.
Courier Assistance
Secure local or international document delivery can be arranged after completion.
Notary, Certification and Legalisation Services
The correct process depends on the document, the receiving authority and the destination country.
Notarised True Copies
A Notary Public compares a copy with the original document and certifies that it is a true copy.
- Passports
- Identity documents
- Certificates
- Qualifications
- Company records
Notarial Authentication
Certain documents, signatures or declarations may require formal execution or authentication before a Notary Public.
- Declarations
- Affidavits
- Powers of attorney
- Agreements
- Foreign-use documents
Apostille or Legalisation
Notarisation alone may not be sufficient for foreign use. The document may also require an apostille, authentication or embassy attestation.
- High Court apostille
- DIRCO authentication
- Embassy legalisation
- Consular attestation
- International courier
How the Notary Copy Process Works
Submit your enquiry so that we can confirm the correct notarial and legalisation process.
Submit Your Enquiry
Tell us which document must be notarised and where it will be used.
Send a Review Copy
Send a clear scan or photograph so that we can review the document and confirm the likely process.
Confirm Original Requirements
Many notarial processes require the original document to be physically inspected by the Notary Public.
Receive a Quotation
We confirm the notary, legalisation and courier requirements and provide a quotation.
Notarial Certification
The authorised Notary Public completes the required notarial act after inspecting the applicable documents.
Legalisation and Return
Where ordered, we coordinate apostille, authentication, embassy legalisation and courier delivery.
What You May Need
- The original document requiring notarisation
- A clear scan or photograph for initial review
- Copy of the applicant’s ID or passport
- The destination country
- The name of the receiving institution
- Written instructions from the requesting authority
- A signed authority form where required
- Courier collection and delivery details
Do not send original documents until our team has reviewed your enquiry and confirmed the delivery instructions.
Important Disclosure
SP Document Trade (Pty) Ltd is a private document facilitation, submission support and courier coordination company.
We are not a Notary Public, law firm, the High Court, DIRCO, an embassy, consulate or government department.
Notarial acts are completed by an appropriately authorised Notary Public. Apostilles, authentications and embassy legalisations are issued or completed by the relevant authorities.
Our charges relate to professional administration, document review, process coordination, communication, collection, submission, legalisation assistance and courier arrangements.
Acceptance of a notarised or legalised document remains subject to the requirements of the receiving authority.
Trusted by Clients in South Africa and Abroad
Professional support with document preparation, notarial coordination, legalisation and secure international courier arrangements.
Request Notary Copy Assistance
Complete the enquiry form and tell us which document needs to be notarised, where it will be used and whether legalisation is required.
Request Notary Services
Submit your details below. Our team will review the intended use and advise which notarial or legalisation process is required.
Request Document Assistance
Complete the quick form below and our team will contact you about your document enquiry.
Notary Copies and Notarial Certification in South Africa
SP Document Trade provides private administrative assistance for clients who require notarised copies, notarial certification, apostille support or document legalisation in South Africa.
Notarised documents may be required for visa applications, immigration, citizenship, foreign employment, university admission, business transactions, estate matters and international legal use.
The correct process depends on the original document and the receiving country. Some documents require only notarial certification, while others also require a High Court apostille, DIRCO authentication or embassy legalisation.
Before proceeding, clients should obtain the exact written requirements from the receiving authority wherever possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Helpful information about notary copies, apostilles and document legalisation.
What is a notarised copy?
A notarised copy is a copy of an original document that has been inspected and certified as a true copy by an authorised Notary Public.
Is SP Document Trade a Notary Public?
No. SP Document Trade provides private administrative and facilitation support. Notarial work is completed by an appropriately authorised Notary Public.
Is a certified copy the same as a notarised copy?
Not always. A standard certified copy may be certified by an authorised commissioner of oaths. A notarised copy is certified by a Notary Public and may be required for foreign or specialised legal use.
Do you need the original document?
In many cases, yes. The Notary Public normally needs to inspect the original document before certifying a copy as a true copy.
Does a notarised copy automatically include an apostille?
No. Notarisation and apostille are separate processes. An apostille or authentication must be arranged separately where required.
Are notarised copies accepted internationally?
They are commonly requested for foreign use, but acceptance depends on the receiving institution and country. Additional legalisation may be required.
How long does the process take?
Turnaround depends on the document, the Notary Public’s availability, whether originals are available and whether apostille or embassy legalisation is required.
Can you arrange a High Court apostille?
Assistance may be available where a notarised document requires a High Court apostille. The exact route must first be confirmed.
Can you arrange DIRCO authentication?
Yes, SP Document Trade can assist with DIRCO legalisation support for eligible documents. The correct route depends on the document type.
Can you courier the completed documents overseas?
Yes. Local and international courier delivery can be arranged and quoted separately.
Which documents can be notarised?
Examples may include passports, identity documents, certificates, qualifications, powers of attorney, company documents and legal declarations. The original must first be reviewed.
Is an application pack available?
The updated Notary Copies application pack is coming soon. Submit the form and our team will provide the current instructions.
