If you have already applied for a South African Police Clearance Certificate, you can check the progress of the application using the official SAPS online status enquiry.
The SAPS tracker can show whether an application is still outstanding or has been finalised, together with useful details such as registration date, finalisation date and dispatch method where available.
Certificate Assistance can also help clients with South African Police Clearance Certificate applications, collection and related document services.
How to Track Your SAPS Police Clearance Certificate
Use the official SAPS Police Clearance Certificate enquiry page:
SAPS Police Clearance Certificate Status Enquiry
SAPS allows you to search using your Police Clearance enquiry/reference number together with identifying information.
What Information Do You Need?
If you have already received a PCC enquiry number, SAPS asks you to enter that reference together with your South African ID number or other identifying information.
If you do not have the enquiry number, the tracker may also allow a search using surname and date of birth.
SAPS advises that reference numbers should be entered without the backslash.
What Information Can the SAPS Tracker Show?
The online enquiry can display information such as:
- Your PCC enquiry number
- Your identity details
- The date the application was registered
- The date the certificate was finalised, where completed
- The dispatch or collection method where recorded
A finalised date generally means the Police Clearance process has been completed, but you may still need to allow for collection, courier or postal delivery depending on the method selected.
What If the Tracker Shows No Record?
A missing result does not always mean the application has failed.
Possible reasons include:
- The application has not yet been captured on the tracking system
- The reference number was entered incorrectly
- The ID number, surname or date of birth does not match the application
- The status database has not yet been updated
- The application was submitted recently and has not yet been registered
Check the information carefully and try again later if the application was only recently submitted.
How Current Is the SAPS Status Page?
The SAPS status page displays the date on which its data was last updated. At the time this guide was updated, SAPS stated that the tracker includes both finalised and outstanding applications from the preceding year.
This means the online record may not always change immediately when an internal processing step happens.
How Long Is SAPS Currently Taking?
SAPS currently states that finalisation takes approximately 15 working days from the date that all required documents are received by Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management. Postal time is excluded from that estimate.
SAPS also currently notes that it is experiencing a backlog in the issuing of Police Clearance Certificates, so actual turnaround can be longer than the published estimate.
For a broader explanation of processing time, read our guide: How Long Does a Police Clearance Certificate Take?
Will SAPS Send You an SMS?
SAPS states that applicants who provide a South African cellphone number on the application can receive an SMS acknowledging receipt and providing the reference number.
A follow-up SMS may also be sent once the application has been completed.
Applicants living overseas should not rely only on SMS updates and should use the online tracker or their appointed representative where applicable.
Can SAPS Email the Completed Certificate?
No. SAPS states that completed Police Clearance Certificates are not scanned and emailed to applicants.
The original certificate must be collected or dispatched according to the arrangement made for the application.
Read more: Can SAPS Email a South African Police Clearance Certificate?
What If Your Certificate Is Finalised but You Have Not Received It?
If the tracker shows a finalised date but you still do not have the certificate, check the dispatch method shown on the status result.
If the certificate was marked for hand collection, confirm where it must be collected. If courier or post was arranged, allow for delivery time and follow up with the relevant service provider if necessary.
SAPS warns that certificates that remain uncollected for an extended period can be destroyed, so do not leave a completed certificate uncollected indefinitely.
Who Can You Contact If You Cannot Trace the Application?
SAPS currently lists the Police Clearance Certificate office contact number as +27 (0)12 393 3928 for applicants who cannot trace an application or need more information.
Because phone availability can vary, the online tracker is usually the quickest first check.
Can Certificate Assistance Track the Application for You?
If Certificate Assistance is handling your Police Clearance application, we can assist with the South African side of the process, including application handling, follow-up, collection and related services where applicable.
If you applied directly to SAPS, you can still use the official tracker yourself using your application details.
Need Help With a South African Police Clearance Certificate?
Certificate Assistance helps clients in South Africa and overseas with SAPS Police Clearance Certificates, Apostille or Authentication where required, and international courier arrangements.
View our Police Clearance Certificate service.
Certificate Assistance is a private document assistance service and is not affiliated with SAPS or any South African government department.
Official Source
This guide is based on current information published by the South African Police Service. Applicants should use the official SAPS status enquiry for the most recent available application status.
