Can Foreign Nationals Get a South African Police Clearance Certificate?
You do not have to be a South African citizen to need a South African Police Clearance Certificate.
Foreign nationals who previously lived, worked, studied or spent an extended period in South Africa may later be asked for a South African Police Clearance Certificate when applying for immigration, residency, citizenship, employment or another official process in another country.
This often comes as a surprise to people who left South Africa years ago and no longer have a South African ID document.
The important point is that a South African Police Clearance Certificate relates to your criminal record history in South Africa — not simply your nationality.
Can a Non-South African Apply for a South African Police Clearance?
Yes.
Foreign nationals can apply for a South African Police Clearance Certificate if they need confirmation of their criminal record status in South Africa.
SAPS provides for applicants who are not South African citizens, including people who do not have a South African identity number.
This means that if you previously lived or worked in South Africa, you may still be able to obtain the Police Clearance Certificate you need even though you now live permanently in another country.
Why Would a Foreign National Need a South African Police Clearance?
Immigration and other authorities commonly ask applicants to provide police certificates from countries where they previously lived.
You may therefore need a South African Police Clearance Certificate if you previously spent time in South Africa and are now applying for:
Immigration
Permanent residency
Citizenship
A work visa
Foreign employment
Professional registration
A family visa
A spouse visa
Residency renewal
International adoption
Government employment
Background screening
The exact requirement depends on the country and organisation processing your application.
Always check the official document checklist provided by the receiving authority.
Do I Need to Have Been a South African Citizen?
No.
A South African Police Clearance Certificate is not limited to South African citizens.
The purpose of the certificate is to determine whether criminal convictions have been recorded against the applicant in South Africa.
Foreign nationals who lived in South Africa can therefore require exactly the same type of certificate when an overseas authority asks for their South African criminal record history.
What if I Never Had a South African ID Number?
You may still apply.
Foreign nationals may not have been issued a South African identity number, particularly if they lived in South Africa on a visa or temporary permit.
Your application can instead rely on your passport and personal identification information.
It is important that the names, date of birth, place of birth and passport information supplied with the application are accurate.
If you previously used another passport or surname while living in South Africa, tell us before the application is submitted.
What Documents Are Generally Required?
The requirements will depend on the individual application, but a foreign national will generally need:
A complete set of fingerprints
A copy of a valid passport or identification document
Full names and surname
Date of birth
Place of birth
Previous South African address information where required
Completed application documentation
Any previous or maiden surnames that need to be included
Supporting documents where a name has changed
Clear and accurate information is important because the Police Clearance Certificate is processed using the personal details and fingerprints supplied by the applicant.
Are Fingerprints Required?
Yes.
Fingerprints are an important part of a South African Police Clearance Certificate application.
SAPS uses fingerprints as part of the criminal-record verification process.
A scanned or emailed image of fingerprints should not be treated as a replacement for the proper original fingerprint documentation required for processing.
If you are already overseas, you can arrange for your fingerprints to be taken in the country where you currently live.
Where Can I Have My Fingerprints Taken Overseas?
If you live outside South Africa, you do not necessarily need to travel back to South Africa simply to have fingerprints taken.
SAPS states that people outside South Africa may have fingerprints taken at a police station in the country where they currently live or at a South African Embassy.
The fingerprints may be taken on the official fingerprint form used in that country or, where available, on the SAPS fingerprint form.
Before couriering your originals to South Africa, make sure:
Your fingerprints are clear
Your full personal details are correct
The form has been properly completed
The fingerprinting authority has completed any required sections
Your passport details match the information on the application
Do I Need to Return to South Africa?
Generally, no.
One of the biggest advantages for foreign nationals living overseas is that much of the process can be arranged remotely.
You can obtain the fingerprints in your current country and then arrange for the original application documentation to be sent to South Africa.
Certificate Assistance helps clients overseas manage the South African processing side of their Police Clearance Certificate applications.
This can remove the need to travel back to South Africa simply to submit and collect documents.
What if I Left South Africa Many Years Ago?
You can still require a South African Police Clearance Certificate.
There is no rule that says you only need the certificate if you recently left South Africa.
An immigration or citizenship authority may look at your previous countries of residence and require police certificates covering parts of your history.
For example, someone who worked in South Africa ten years ago could later be asked to provide a South African Police Clearance Certificate during a citizenship or permanent residency application.
The receiving authority decides which countries and periods need to be covered.
What if My Passport Has Changed?
This is common.
You may have lived in South Africa under an older passport and now hold a new passport.
Make sure you provide your current identification and inform us of relevant previous passport or identity details where necessary.
The more accurately your historical information matches the details used while you were living in South Africa, the easier it is to prepare the application correctly.
What if My Name Has Changed?
If your name or surname has changed since you lived in South Africa, this should be addressed before submission.
Common examples include:
Marriage
Divorce
Change of surname
Maiden surname
Legal name changes
SAPS specifically allows applicants to request a maiden surname or other surname to be reflected where applicable, provided the required supporting documentary proof is supplied.
If your current passport uses a different surname from the one you used while living in South Africa, let Certificate Assistance know before we prepare your application.
Can My Maiden Name Appear on the Police Clearance Certificate?
Yes, where properly requested and supported.
SAPS states that where a maiden surname or another surname is required on the Police Clearance Certificate, this should be mentioned in the application and documentary proof must be supplied.
A marriage certificate is a common example of supporting proof.
This can be particularly important for foreign nationals who were married after leaving South Africa and now use a different surname.
How Long Does a South African Police Clearance Take?
Processing times can vary depending on SAPS processing, application completeness and any additional verification that may be required.
Certificate Assistance currently offers Police Clearance assistance with different processing options.
Our priority service has an estimated processing time of approximately 8–10 working days.
Processing times remain estimates and may be affected by government processing, verification requirements or other circumstances.
International applicants should also allow time for couriering original fingerprints to South Africa and sending the completed certificate to the destination country.
Can My Completed Police Clearance Be Couriered Overseas?
Yes.
Once the Police Clearance Certificate has been completed and collected, international courier delivery can be arranged.
This is particularly useful for foreign nationals who no longer have anyone in South Africa who can assist with collection and delivery.
Always provide a reliable international delivery address and contact number.
Does a South African Police Clearance Expire?
The receiving authority normally determines how recent your Police Clearance Certificate needs to be.
A Police Clearance Certificate reflects your criminal record status at the time it is issued.
Many immigration, residency and visa authorities therefore require a recently issued Police Clearance Certificate.
Do not order your Police Clearance too early without first checking your application timeline.
Likewise, do not wait until the last minute, because fingerprint courier time and processing must also be considered.
Can the Police Clearance Be Apostilled?
Yes.
If the South African Police Clearance Certificate will be used internationally, you may also be asked to have it Apostilled or authenticated.
The correct process depends on the destination country.
For countries where the Hague Apostille Convention applies, an Apostille may be required.
For countries where the Convention does not apply, a different authentication and embassy legalisation process may be necessary.
Certificate Assistance can help arrange the appropriate Apostille or authentication process after the Police Clearance Certificate has been obtained.
Do I Need an Apostille for Every Country?
No.
Whether your Police Clearance Certificate needs an Apostille depends on:
The destination country
The authority requesting the certificate
The purpose for which it will be used
The legalisation requirements of that country
Always check the instructions given by the receiving authority before ordering additional legalisation.
Can Certificate Assistance Help Foreign Nationals?
Yes.
Certificate Assistance assists both South Africans and foreign nationals who need official South African documents.
You do not need to be living in South Africa.
If you previously lived or worked in South Africa and now require a South African Police Clearance Certificate, we can guide you through the requirements, help prepare the application, manage the South African processing and arrange international delivery.
We can also assist with Apostille or authentication where required.
How to Start Your Application
The process is straightforward.
Step 1
Contact Certificate Assistance and tell us that you are a foreign national requiring a South African Police Clearance Certificate.
Step 2
Tell us where you currently live and approximately when you lived in South Africa.
Step 3
We provide guidance regarding the application documentation and fingerprints.
Step 4
Arrange your fingerprints in your current country.
Step 5
Send the required original documentation to South Africa.
Step 6
Certificate Assistance handles the South African processing and collection.
Step 7
If required, we can arrange Apostille or authentication.
Step 8
Your completed documentation can be couriered to you internationally.
How Certificate Assistance Can Help
If you previously lived, worked or studied in South Africa, you may need a South African Police Clearance Certificate even if you were never a South African citizen.
Certificate Assistance helps clients around the world obtain South African Police Clearance Certificates without having to travel back to South Africa.
We assist with:
Application guidance
Fingerprint requirements
Document preparation
South African submission and processing assistance
Collection
Apostille or authentication
International courier delivery
If an immigration authority, employer or government department has asked you for a South African Police Clearance Certificate, contact Certificate Assistance with the requirements you received and we will guide you through the next step.
