Poland in South Africa

Apostille is a certification that the document has been issued by a proper office - apostille certifies the authenticity of a signature and stamp/seal of a foreign official. This allows you to use a foreign official document in Poland.

Both Poland and RSA, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho and Namibia are parties to the Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents, signed in the Hague on 5 October 1961. This means it is enough to obtain the apostille at a local office to use a document from RSA, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho and Namibia in Poland.

Apostille on documents issued in RSA, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho and Namibia may be obtained at the local Ministriy of Foreign Affairs. 

Apostille can also be obtained free of charge from South Africa: "Department of International Relations and Cooperation" (DIRCO), address: OR Tambo Building, 460 Soutpansberg road, Rietondale, Pretoria (08: 30-13: 00 Monday to Friday).

The consul is not engaged in any way in obtaining the apostille.

If a foreign authority requires the apostille on a Polish document, please read the information available on Polish MFA website. 

On 16 February 2019 changes were introduced in the certification of certain public documents issued in one EU member state for the purpose of presentation in another EU member state. 
The changes result from entering into force on 16 February 2019 of Regulation (EU) 2016/1191 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 July 2016 on promoting the free movement of citizens by simplifying the requirements for presenting certain public documents in the European Union and amending Regulation (EU) No 1024/2012 (regulation 2016/1191) which renders the attachment of apostille to certain kinds of documents unnecessary.

The regulation applies to documents related to: birth, life certification, death, name and surname, marriage (also non-impediment to marriage and marital status), divorce, separation or annulment of marriage, parentage, adoption, place of residence or stay, citizenship, criminal record.

The authorities of EU member states cannot require the apostille if the presented document issued in another EU member state is covered by Regulation 2016/1191.