Driver’s licence verification certificate: Why and how to obtain it
At times, you might be requested to submit a South African Driver’s Licence Verification Certificate. More often than not, you might have to produce this certificate when you apply to convert your SA licence into an international driver’s licence. These certificates are issued by the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) after the National Traffic Information System verifies that the applicant does have a valid South African driver’s licence. The certificate serves as proof that the individual has a valid licence and will allow them to convert to a foreign driving licence in the country of current residence.
Who needs to apply for a South African driver’s licence verification certificate?
As mentioned, a verification certificate of your driver’s licence will be required when you wish to convert your South African licence into a foreign driver’s licence. It might also be difficult to rent a car abroad because the South African driver’s licence card only indicates the date of issue for a specific licence and not the date on which you first qualified as a driver. This is why it is advisable to apply for a Verification Certificate of your driver’s licence from the Road Traffic Management Corporation before travelling abroad if you plan to hire a vehicle. Some countries may also not accept South African driver’s licences as valid licence and it might be necessary to apply for an international driver’s licence from the Automobile Association before departing, in which case you will also need to produce a Verification Certificate.How can I apply for a verification certificate for my SA driving licence?
Unfortunately, the process of obtaining your verification certificate can be complicated, and even though the steps to applying for such certificates might seem straightforward, it is often the waiting times involved in the process which can be a major burden.Applicants will have to lodge a request with the Road Traffic Management Corporation for a Confirmation or Verification Certificate of their driver’s licence. Once the RTMC has received the request, they will investigate and print a copy of the licence required along with a Verification Certificate of the licence. This certificate reflects the date on which the licence was first issued.What does the driver’s licence confirmation certificate look like?
The document states that a person (name and Identity Number) has obtained and holds a driver’s licence in South Africa, which type, where it was issued and when it was earned. It also shows the expiry date and the restrictions (if any) that the driver has. Finally, the bulk of it explains to a reader what the driving licence code means (e.g. in the above example, the code is EB).What are the waiting times for obtaining a verification certificate?
Applying for a driver’s licence verification certificate without the help of documentation specialists generally takes anywhere between two and six weeks.Apostil.co.za can assist you in obtaining your Verification Certificate in between 4 and 15 working days of applying (excluding courier time). We can also have it apostilled in as little as 48 hours, or, if you need to have it authenticated and attested, we can assist with that as well. 
