How long is a South African Police Clearance Certificate valid?

Most receiving countries and embassies require a PCC issued within the last 6 months. Always check the specific requirement of the country or employer requesting it.

Home Affairs

How to Get a South African Police Clearance Certificate (PCC)

The SAPS Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) confirms your criminal record status in South Africa. It is required for immigration applications abroad, some work permits, and adoption processes.

Who needs this

Anyone applying for a foreign visa, permanent residence abroad, an international job, or an adoption that requires a clean SA police record.

What you need before you start

Full set of fingerprints on SAPS 91(a) form (taken at a police station)
Certified copy of ID or passport
Proof of payment of the SAPS PCC fee
Cover letter with your postal address for delivery

Step-by-step process

1
Get fingerprints taken at SAPS
Go to any SAPS station and ask for the SAPS 91(a) fingerprint form. Some stations charge a small admin fee.
2
Pay the PCC fee
Pay the current PCC fee into the SAPS Criminal Record Centre bank account (details available at SAPS). TODO: confirm current PCC fee.
3
Post or courier your application
Send the fingerprint form, ID copy, proof of payment, and cover letter to the SAPS Criminal Record Centre in Pretoria. Registered post or courier is strongly recommended.
4
Wait for issue
TODO: confirm current SAPS PCC turnaround (often several months).

Where, how much, how long

Where to submit

SAPS Criminal Record Centre, Pretoria (via courier or registered post).

Fees

TODO: confirm current PCC fee.

Processing time

TODO: SAPS PCC turnaround varies — historically several months.

Common rejection reasons

Poor-quality fingerprints
Missing certified ID copy

Official sources

SAPS — Police Clearance Certificate

Always confirm the latest requirements and fees on the official website before submitting.

Frequently asked questions

Read