Last updated 8 July 2026
Quick Answer
To get a police clearance certificate in South Africa: have a full set of ink fingerprints taken on the SAPS 91(1) form at any police station, attach a certified copy of your SA ID or passport, pay the R190 SAPS fee directly to SAPS, and submit the application to the SAPS Criminal Record Centre in Pretoria. Official processing is 6-8 weeks, though backlogs often stretch it to months. Once SAPS has issued your certificate and you need it for use abroad, Easy Services Group apostilles it for R1,650 (~1 week via DIRCO, 1-3 days via the High Court).
In This Guide
What Is a Police Clearance Certificate?
A police clearance certificate (PCC) is an official document issued by the South African Police Service (SAPS) Criminal Record Centre in Pretoria. It confirms whether you have a criminal record in South Africa — or states that no criminal record exists against your name.
Three things make the South African PCC different from a simple background check:
- It is fingerprint-based. The search is run against your actual fingerprints, not just your name and ID number, which is why ink fingerprints are compulsory.
- It is centrally issued. Every application in the country — from every province and every police station — is processed by one facility: the Criminal Record Centre (CRC) in Pretoria.
- It is internationally recognised once apostilled or authenticated, which is why nearly every visa, emigration, and foreign-employment process asks for it.
Who Needs a Police Clearance?
You will almost certainly need a PCC if you are:
- Emigrating — most countries require a police clearance from every country you lived in for 12 months or more
- Applying for a work, study, or residency visa — UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the USA, Ireland, and the Schengen states all ask for it
- Working abroad — foreign employers and recruitment agencies routinely require one, especially for healthcare, teaching, and transport roles
- Registering with a foreign professional body — nursing councils, medical boards, and teaching regulators
- Undergoing local screening — some South African employers and security roles require a current PCC
Step-by-Step: How to Apply for a Police Clearance
Step 1: Have Your Fingerprints Taken
Visit any South African police station and ask for a full set of ink fingerprints on the SAPS 91(1) form. This is the foundation of the whole application — and the most common point of failure. SAPS does not accept digital fingerprints, and smudged or illegible prints are the number one reason applications are rejected and delayed. Ask the officer to check print quality before you leave.
Step 2: Prepare Your Supporting Documents
Attach a certified copy of your SA ID or passport and complete your personal particulars in full: all names exactly as they appear on your ID, every previous surname (including maiden names), and your address history.
Step 3: Pay the R190 SAPS Fee
The government fee is R190 per application, payable at the police station. Keep the proof of payment — an application without it goes nowhere.
Step 4: Submit to the Criminal Record Centre
Your application must reach the SAPS Criminal Record Centre in Pretoria. If you apply through a police station, the station forwards it — often by internal post, which is where applications get lost. If you courier it yourself, use a tracked service and keep your reference number.
Step 5: Wait for Processing and Collect
SAPS officially quotes 6-8 weeks; applications regularly take 3-6 months during backlog periods. Once issued, the certificate is collected (or posted) — and if it's going overseas, the apostille step begins.
Documents Required for a Police Clearance Certificate
The full checklist:
- SAPS 91(1) fingerprint form — full set of ink fingerprints, taken at a police station
- Certified copy of your SA ID or passport — certified within the last 3 months
- Personal particulars — full names, all previous surnames, date of birth, and address history
- Proof of payment — the R190 SAPS fee
- For applicants abroad: fingerprints taken at a local police station or SA embassy/consulate (ink only)
How Much a Police Clearance Costs
- R190 — the SAPS government fee, paid directly to SAPS
- R1,650 — DIRCO apostille per document once the certificate is issued, if it's for use in a Hague Convention country (~1 week)
- R250 — local courier delivery; international courier from R800 depending on zone
How Long a Police Clearance Takes
Realistic timelines in 2026:
- Official SAPS estimate: 6-8 weeks
- During backlogs: 3-6 months is common — see our delays and backlog guide
- Peak periods: December-January and June-July add 4-6 weeks
- Apostille once issued: ~1 week via DIRCO, 1-3 days via the High Court
Remember the validity window: most destination countries treat a PCC as expired 6 months after issue (some insist on under 3 months). Time your application so the certificate is still fresh when you submit your visa or job application.
Applying from Outside South Africa
Already abroad? You can still get a South African police clearance:
- Have ink fingerprints taken at a local police station or the nearest South African embassy or consulate — digital prints are not accepted
- Courier the fingerprint form and certified ID/passport copy to South Africa for submission to the CRC (or apply through the SA embassy directly)
- Once SAPS has issued the certificate, we arrange the apostille and courier the legalised certificate to you anywhere in the world
After It's Issued: Apostille for Use Abroad
A South African police clearance is only recognised by foreign authorities once it has been legalised:
- Hague Convention countries (UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, most of Europe): a DIRCO apostille — R1,650, about 1 week
- Non-Hague countries (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, China): DIRCO authentication plus embassy attestation
We handle both routes — see our complete police clearance apostille guide for details.
Got Your Certificate? We'll Apostille It.
Once SAPS has issued your police clearance, Easy Services Group legalises it for international use: we submit it for DIRCO or High Court apostille, follow up on your behalf, and courier the legalised certificate to your door.
- Apostille for use abroad — R1,650 (~1 week via DIRCO, 1-3 days via High Court)
- Embassy attestation for non-Hague destinations
- Document check before submission to prevent rejections
- Courier delivery to your door, anywhere in the world
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a police clearance certificate in South Africa?
Have a full set of ink fingerprints taken on the SAPS 91(1) form at any police station, attach a certified copy of your SA ID or passport, pay the R190 SAPS fee, and submit the application to the SAPS Criminal Record Centre in Pretoria. SAPS quotes 6-8 weeks processing, though backlogs often stretch it longer. Once SAPS has issued your certificate, Easy Services Group can apostille it for international use.
What is a police clearance certificate?
A police clearance certificate (PCC) is an official document issued by the SAPS Criminal Record Centre confirming whether you have a criminal record in South Africa. It is required for work visas, emigration, foreign employment, professional registration abroad, and some local employment screening. It is based on your fingerprints, not just your name.
How much does a police clearance certificate cost?
The SAPS government fee is R190 per application, paid directly to SAPS. If you also need the certificate apostilled for use abroad once it has been issued, a DIRCO apostille costs R1,650 per document (about 1 week).
How long does a police clearance certificate take?
What documents are required for a police clearance certificate?
You need: a full set of ink fingerprints on the SAPS 91(1) form taken at a police station, a certified copy of your SA ID or passport, your personal particulars (full names, all previous surnames, and address history), and proof of payment of the R190 SAPS fee.
Can I apply for a police clearance online in South Africa?
SAPS offers an online application channel through its eServices portal, but you must still have ink fingerprints taken in person — SAPS does not accept digital fingerprints. Most applicants still submit the full application at a police station or through a professional service.
How long is a police clearance certificate valid?
The certificate has no printed expiry date — validity is set by the receiving institution. Most embassies and employers treat a police clearance as expired 6 months after the issue date, and some countries require one less than 3 months old. Australia accepts certificates up to 12 months old.
Do I need to apostille my police clearance for use overseas?
Yes — if the certificate will be used in another country. For Hague Convention countries (UK, Australia, Canada, most of Europe) you need a DIRCO apostille (R1,650, about 1 week). For non-Hague countries (UAE, Saudi Arabia, China) the certificate needs authentication plus embassy attestation instead.