Public Services

Notarial Services

Documents used for legal purposes in the United States may require notarization by a U.S. consular official.

The individual who needs to sign the document must appear in person at a consular office, present proper identification (a valid passport, other official photo ID) and pay the appropriate fee. If witnesses are required, you must bring your own. Do not sign the document until requested to do so by the Consular Officer. Depending on the nature of the document, the Consular Officer will either "take an acknowledgment" that your signature was done freely and with an understanding of the document's contents or "administer an oath" whereby you swear or affirm the contents of a document are true.

Note: Consular Officers do not certify that the contents of submitted documents are true. The officer only certifies that you have made an oath or affirmation that they are. As a general rule, the Consular Officer only certifies true copies of documents issued by the US Department of State.

There is a $30 fee for each new document, $20 for additional copies of the same document. Fees must be paid in US Dollars, South African Rands, or Swazi Emalengeni cash at the time the service is provided.