Why use Apostil for document notarisation?

Saving you time: We queue for you, we apply on your behalf, we call and travel many times to follow up on your applications and then collect once ready. Usually, we receive documents much, much faster than if you had applied alone, especially if you are based outside of South Africa. You save masses of time using our services.

Why use Apostil for document notarisation?

Experience and know-how: We are a reputable firm with an extensive track record. Other providers are typically back-street operators or single operators – be aware as your personal documentation is at stake. If your documentation has errors, we attempt to have this corrected, usually at no extra cost.

Apostil – Where are we based?

Apostil.co.za has various office addresses in the Western Cape and Gauteng. You can only courier them to us, please enquire for the address (depends on your requirement). We also offer a delivery and collection service within SA and globally, through DHL, The Courier Guy and other companies. To reiterate, we only accept documentation, couriered, to our addresses.

Cost of Moving from South Africa to the UK

The historic and cultural ties between South Africa and the United Kin g dom mean that the UK remains one of the primary destinations for South Africans seeking international career growth, ancestral connections, or an adventure abroad. Whether moving to London, Edinburgh, or Manchester, thousands of South Africans make the transition each year. However, the cost of moving from South Africa to the UK has shifted drastically. Recent regulatory updates have significantly increased the upfront cash reserves required to successfully obtain a visa.

If you are planning a move, understanding the actual financial reality—and the precise documentation required to back it up, is essential to prevent costly visa rejections.

Breaking Down the Upfront Fees

Relocating to the United Kingdom is no longer just a matter of purchasing a flight and saving a few months’ rent. Applicants must navigate high government fees before even stepping onto an airplane.

Visa Application Fees – The cost depends heavily on your immigration pathway. For those lucky enough to have a British-born grandparent, the UK Ancestry Visa offers a five-year residency window, but the application fee sits at over 600 Pounds. For skilled workers sponsored by a UK company, fees range from 700 Pounds to upwards of 1,500 Pounds depending on the duration of your contract and the size of the employing organization.
The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) – This is often the largest financial shock for South African families. The IHS grants you access to the UK’s National Health Service (NHS). Following steep legislative increases, the standard adult rate sits at 1,035 Pounds per year, while students and children cost 776 Pounds per year.

Because you must pay the entire duration of your visa upfront, a single adult applying for a 5-year Ancestry Visa faces an immediate IHS bill of 5,175 Pounds (which converts to well over 120,000 Rand, depending on exchange rates), completely separate from the visa fee itself. For a family of four, the total upfront immigration fees can easily scale to hundreds of thousands of Rands.

The Documentation Stack: Where Errors Cost Thousands

Because the financial stakes are so high, a visa refusal due to administrative errors or incorrect documentation can be devastating, visa application fees are generally non-refundable. The UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) department maintains zero tolerance for unverified or missing official records.

To clear the UKVI hurdles, South Africans must present a flawless set of public records:

Proving Ancestry (The Ancestry Visa Route) – To claim an Ancestry Visa, you must build an unbroken documentary chain linking you to your British grandparent. This requires:
Your official Unabridged Birth Certificate showing your parents’ details.
The Unabridged Birth Certificates of the parent through whom you are claiming the lineage.
The official UK Birth Certificate of your grandparent.
All relevant marriage certificates (parents and grandparents) to account for changes in surnames.

Please note that Home Affairs “abridged” or computer-printed certificates are flatly rejected by UKVI. You must present vault copies or full unabridged certificates.

The SAPS Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) – For Skilled Worker visas, particularly those in health, education, or social services, you must provide a criminal record check for every country you have lived in for 12 months or more over the past ten years. This certificate must be issued directly by the SAPS Criminal Record Centre in Pretoria.
Tuberculosis (TB) – Testing South Africa is on the UK’s list of designated countries where TB screening is mandatory for stays longer than six months. You must book a test at an approved clinic (such as specific migration health centers in Johannesburg, Cape Town, or Durban) and obtain an official clearance certificate to upload with your application.

Logistical Legalisation: Ensuring Acceptance

While the UK does not always require standard civil documents to be apostilled for standard visitor visas, having your foundational documents (like marriage and birth certificates) formally Apostilled by DIRCO or verified by a Notary Public is highly recommended when executing a permanent relocation. Once inside the UK, you will need these legalised documents to open premium bank accounts, register with local councils, enroll children in schools, or secure rental properties.

Protecting Your Investment

Given that moving to the UK requires a massive financial commitment, leaving your paperwork to chance or waiting on standard Department of Home Affairs processing lines can break your timeline and risk your investment.

Don’t let document delays jeopardise your UK relocation. At Apostil.co.za, we specialize in sourcing unabridged birth or marriage certificates and expedited SAPS Police Clearances, ensuring your UKVI document stack is accurate and ready on time.

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