How to Apply for a Police Clearance Certificate in South Africa (2026 Guide)

Quick answer: To apply for a South African Police Clearance Certificate (PCC), prepare an application form, a full set of acceptable fingerprints, a certified copy of your identity document or passport, and proof of the SAPS application fee. The South African Police Service (SAPS) Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management unit in Pretoria is responsible for issuing the official certificate.

Certificate Assistance is an independent private document-assistance company, not SAPS or another government department. We can assist with the application and collection process, but only SAPS issues the certificate.

What Is a South African Police Clearance Certificate?

A Police Clearance Certificate states whether criminal convictions have been recorded against the applicant in the SAPS criminal records system. It may be required for immigration, overseas employment, visa applications, citizenship, residency, professional registration or another process specified by a receiving authority. It is not the same as a police clearance report used for expungement.

Who Can Apply for a SAPS Police Clearance?

South African citizens and foreign nationals who need a South African criminal record check may apply. People who have left South Africa can also request a certificate from abroad. The organisation asking for the certificate decides whether it is required for your situation and how recently it must have been issued.

Documents Required for a Police Clearance Certificate

• Full set of original fingerprints: People applying in South Africa generally have fingerprints taken by SAPS on form SAPS 91(a). Applicants overseas may use an official fingerprint form of the country where fingerprints are taken, or SAPS 91(a) where available.
• Completed application form: Make sure your names, surname, birth details and other identifying information are accurate.
• Certified ID or passport copy: SAPS requires proof of identity, including a certified copy of the applicant's ID or passport.
• Proof of payment: The published government fee is R190 per application. Confirm the current amount and payment instructions on the official SAPS website before paying.
• Evidence of previous surnames, if applicable: If your maiden name or another surname must be shown, mention it and include supporting evidence, such as a certified marriage certificate where applicable.
• Collection instructions: Provide accurate contact details and state who will collect the completed document, or which courier will do so.

Read our separate SAPS police clearance document checklist and fingerprint requirements guide before submission.

How to Apply for a Police Clearance Certificate in South Africa

1. Check the receiving authority's instructions. Confirm whether an original PCC, a recently issued certificate, an Apostille or another form of legalisation is required.
2. Arrange official fingerprints. Visit a SAPS police station with your identity document or passport to have the fingerprints taken in the format required.
3. Complete and check the application. Confirm spellings, ID or passport details, previous surnames and all contact information.
4. Pay the prescribed SAPS fee. Keep your proof of payment with the application.
5. Submit the full application. SAPS can forward applications from a police station to the Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management unit in Pretoria; applicants may also use the submission options SAPS currently permits.
6. Keep the reference details. You may need the reference number to follow the application's status.
7. Arrange secure collection. SAPS releases the completed original certificate to the applicant or a nominated person or courier, subject to its identification requirements.

How to Apply from Outside South Africa

Applicants living in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United States or another country can apply without first returning to South Africa. SAPS advises overseas applicants to arrange fingerprints at a local police station or South African embassy, using an accepted official fingerprint form. The required application documents can then be submitted to the South African processing centre under the current SAPS instructions.

Allow time for overseas delivery and for the original completed certificate to be collected and couriered. SAPS does not process scanned fingerprint copies and does not email completed PCC certificates as scanned documents. Read our police clearance from abroad guide for more detail.

Where Is the SAPS Criminal Record Centre?

SAPS processes Police Clearance Certificates centrally through its Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management unit in Pretoria. You do not necessarily have to travel to Pretoria to start your application: SAPS lists local police-station and postal or courier routes. Check the official SAPS instructions for the current physical or postal address before dispatching originals.

See the Criminal Record Centre address and submission guide.

Police Clearance Cost: Government Fee vs Private Assistance

There is a difference between the SAPS application fee and a private document-assistance fee. SAPS currently publishes a government fee of R190 per PCC application. Certificate Assistance's private Police Clearance service fee is R2,550 per document. The private fee is for assistance with the process and should not be confused with the government fee. Check our Police Clearance Certificate service page for current service inclusions and pricing.

How Long Does a Police Clearance Take?

SAPS publishes approximately 15 working days from receipt of all complete documents at the Pretoria processing centre, excluding postal time. SAPS also warns that backlogs are extending waiting periods. Our private-service estimates may differ, but neither we nor another intermediary can guarantee the time SAPS will take for every application.

For detailed planning, see how long a South African police clearance takes and the urgent PCC guide.

How Do I Track My Police Clearance?

SAPS provides an online status enquiry service. Keep the reference or enquiry number and the identity information requested by the tracker. If a record cannot be found immediately, check that the application has been registered before assuming it has been lost.

Use our step-by-step SAPS tracking guide, which links to the official tracking service.

Does the Certificate Need an Apostille or Authentication?

Not automatically. Requirements depend on the country and authority receiving the document. For legalisation through the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), an original SAPS Police Clearance Certificate must be no older than six months from its date of issue. Other authorities may apply their own document-age rules.

See police clearance validity and Apostilling a Police Clearance Certificate.

Common Application Mistakes to Avoid

• Sending photographs or scans instead of the original fingerprint form.
• Using a misspelled surname or forgetting to document a previous surname.
• Omitting the prescribed application form, identity copy or proof of payment.
• Booking a visa appointment before allowing for processing, legalisation and courier time.
• Confusing an official SAPS certificate with a privately issued background-check report.
• Using an outdated certificate without checking the receiving authority's recency requirement.

Need Help with Your Police Clearance Application?

Certificate Assistance supports South African and overseas applicants with document assistance, application preparation, collection arrangements and related legalisation where appropriate. Tell us where the certificate will be used, the deadline and whether you already have your fingerprints. See our Police Clearance service or send an enquiry.

Official Sources

Verify the current rules, payment arrangements and turnaround guidance directly on the official SAPS Police Clearance application page. For Apostille or Authentication, check DIRCO Legalisation Services.