When you move overseas to work or study, your South African degree or diploma doesn’t automatically “translate” into the new system. Foreign universities, employers and professional bodies need proof that your qualification is real, recognised and comparable to their own standards. That’s where the process of transferring your tertiary education credentials comes in.
The good news is that, in most cases, you don’t have to redo your studies. Instead, you need to verify and legalise your South African qualifications so they can be trusted and used abroad. This guide walks you through that process – and shows where Apostil.co.za fits in.
For a broader view of your emigration paperwork, you can start with:
👉 Emigration Guide
Verification vs legalisation vs “equivalence”
Before diving into steps, it helps to separate three ideas that often get mixed up:
- Verification
This confirms that your degree, diploma or certificate is genuine and properly issued. In South Africa, this is often done through bodies like SAQA, Umalusi or QCTO, depending on the level and type of qualification.
👉 Get your academic qualifications verified and apostilled (Umalusi / SAQA / QCTO) - Legalisation (apostille or authentication)
This is the step that makes your South African documents legally acceptable abroad. It’s usually done via an apostille (for Hague Convention countries) or authentication and embassy legalisation (for non-Hague countries).
👉 Apostille & authentication services - Equivalence / recognition abroad
This is when a foreign authority – a university, professional regulator, or immigration department – decides how your South African qualification compares to their local levels. They often require verified and apostilled documents as part of this process.
Apostil.co.za does not decide equivalence (that’s up to the foreign country), but they prepare and legalise your documents so those authorities can make their decision.
Step 1: Identify which tertiary documents you need
Different overseas institutions ask for different combinations, but common requests include:
- Degree or diploma certificates (Bachelor’s, Honours, Master’s, Doctorate, national diplomas, etc.)
- Academic transcripts showing subjects and grades
- Letters from your institution confirming medium of instruction (often needed for English language waivers)
- Proof of professional registration in South Africa (for certain regulated professions)
If you’re unsure what might be required for your move, this planning guide helps:
👉 Which documents you need to get apostilled when moving overseas
Step 2: Check the correct verification route (SAQA / Umalusi / QCTO)
Most tertiary or higher education qualifications are handled by SAQA, but some vocational and occupational programmes fall under QCTO or other bodies. School-leaving or college certificates may fall under Umalusi.
A useful overview is here:
👉 Get your academic qualifications verified and apostilled (Umalusi / SAQA / QCTO)
For many overseas uses, the foreign authority will specifically ask for a SAQA verification or for proof that your qualification appears on SAQA’s system. In those cases, you may also need:
👉 How to obtain SAQA verification letters
This verification step is what convinces foreign institutions that your South African qualification is legitimate and nationally recognised.
Step 3: Get your academic documents verified
Once you know which body is responsible, the process typically looks like this:
- Submit certified copies of your degree/diploma and transcript.
- Provide a certified copy of your ID or passport.
- Pay the relevant verification fee.
- Specify that the documents are for overseas use and will go on to be apostilled or authenticated.
For a full walkthrough of this process, Apostil.co.za has a dedicated guide:
👉 How to get your academic qualifications legalised for official use abroad
Apostil.co.za can coordinate verification directly with SAQA, Umalusi or QCTO on your behalf, saving you a lot of back-and-forth.
Step 4: Apostille or authenticate your tertiary credentials
Verification alone is not enough for most foreign authorities – they also want legalisation, which proves that the South African signatures and seals on your documents are genuine.
For most countries, this means:
- Apostille – a single certificate from South Africa (via DIRCO or the High Court) confirming the signature or seal for Hague Convention countries.
- Authentication + embassy legalisation – for countries not in the Hague Convention. In this case, your documents go through multiple steps before the foreign embassy stamps them.
For a deep dive into how this works for education in particular, see:
👉 Apostilling academic documents and diplomas
👉 Academic qualification apostille
👉 Educational apostilles – everything you need to know
Apostil.co.za specialises in managing these steps end to end, including couriering documents between departments and embassies where necessary.
Step 5: Add certified translations if required
If your destination country does not work primarily in English, or if the authority specifically demands translations, you may need sworn translations of:
- Your degree or diploma
- Your academic transcript
- Your verification letters
- Your apostille or authentication certificate
The usual order is:
- Verify the original qualification.
- Apostille/authenticate the verified document.
- Translate the final legalised document bundle using a sworn or accredited translator.
Apostil.co.za can help coordinate translations alongside verification and apostille, so that the final package you submit overseas is complete and compliant.
Step 6: Submit to the overseas institution or authority
Once your tertiary credentials are:
- Verified (SAQA/Umalusi/QCTO as needed),
- Apostilled or authenticated, and
- Translated where required,
you’re ready to submit them to:
- Universities or colleges abroad (for admission or further study)
- Professional bodies (for registration or licensing)
- Immigration departments (for skilled migration visas)
- Employers (for work permits or credential checks)
From this point, they decide how your South African qualification compares to their own levels. But because your documents are properly verified and legalised, you’ve given them everything they need to recognise your credentials.
Why use Apostil.co.za for transferring your tertiary credentials?
Handling SAQA, Umalusi, QCTO, DIRCO, High Court and embassy requirements on your own – especially from overseas – can be overwhelming. Apostil.co.za simplifies the process by:
- Guiding you on which documents are needed for your destination country.
- Managing verification with SAQA / Umalusi / QCTO.
- Arranging apostilles or authentications for all academic documents.
- Coordinating sworn translations, where necessary.
- Couriering the final, legalised documents to you or directly to institutions abroad.
In short, they take care of the South African side so you can focus on applications, interviews and planning your new life.
Apostil.co.za can help you.
Transferring your tertiary education credentials from South Africa overseas isn’t just about having a degree – it’s about proving that degree is genuine, recognised and properly legalised for use in another country. By following a clear path of verification, apostille/authentication and translation, you give foreign universities, regulators and employers exactly what they need to evaluate your qualifications.
Need help preparing your South African tertiary qualifications for overseas use?
Contact Apostil.co.za for end-to-end assistance with verification, apostilles, authentications and more:
👉 Contact Apostil.co.za
