Do foreign nationals who lived in SA need a police clearance?

Yes. If you lived in South Africa and are applying for immigration or employment elsewhere, you may need an SA police clearance certificate, even if you are not a citizen.

How long is the police clearance certificate valid?

6 months from the date of issue. Plan your timeline carefully if you also need an apostille.

Can I apply online for a police clearance?

No. SAPS requires original fingerprints on the SAPS 91(a) form, which must be physically submitted.

What if my fingerprints are rejected?

You must have them retaken and resubmit. Have fingerprints taken by an experienced professional to avoid rejection.

Does my embassy send the application to SAPS?

It depends. Some missions forward applications, others only take fingerprints. Confirm with your specific embassy.

Do I need an apostille on my police clearance?

Most countries require it. South Africa is a Hague Convention member since 1995. Check with the destination country's requirements.

How much does the entire process cost from abroad?

Approximately R1,000-R2,500 self-managed (R190 SAPS fee + courier + apostille), or R1,500-R4,000 through a service provider.

Official Documents

South African Police Clearance Certificate from Abroad 2026

A South African Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) confirms whether you have a criminal record in South Africa. It is required for immigration, employment, and visa applications in many countries. This guide explains exactly how to apply from overseas, including fees, fingerprinting options, processing times, and apostille requirements.

Key Facts at a Glance

Detail	Information
Issuing authority	SAPS Criminal Record & Crime Scene Management (CR&CSM)
Fee	R190 per application
Processing time (in SA)	Approximately 15 working days
Processing time (from abroad)	Approximately 6-8 weeks
Validity	6 months from date of issue
Fingerprints required	Yes — all 10 fingerprints on SAPS 91(a) form
Online application	Not available (original fingerprints required)

Source: SAPS Police Clearance Application

When Do You Need a Police Clearance?

Immigration & Visas

Required for permanent residence, citizenship applications, and most long-term visa applications in countries like Australia, UK, Canada, New Zealand, UAE, Germany, Ireland, and many others. Typically required from every country where you lived for 12+ months.

Employment

Many international employers require police clearance from all countries of residence. Essential for government jobs, healthcare, education, childcare, security, and financial services roles.

Professional Registration

Professional bodies in many countries require police clearance for registration. Applies to teachers, nurses, doctors, engineers, accountants, and legal professionals seeking to practise abroad.

Adoption & Other

International adoption agencies require clearance from all countries of residence. Also needed for some volunteer positions, foster care applications, and legal proceedings.

Foreign nationals who lived in South Africa also need an SA police clearance if applying for immigration or employment in another country. You do not need to be a South African citizen.

How to Apply from Abroad — Step by Step

Step 1Get Your Fingerprints Taken

You have three options for fingerprinting:

SA embassy or consulate: Contact the consular section for an appointment. They use the SAPS 91(a) form. Best option for quality assurance.
Local police station: Have fingerprints taken at any police station in your country of residence. Use the SAPS 91(a) form if available, or the local equivalent.
Authorised fingerprinting service: Private fingerprinting companies can take prints on the correct forms.

Quality matters: Poor-quality fingerprints are the most common reason for delays and rejections. Ensure your hands are clean and dry. Each fingerprint must be clear and complete. Have them taken by an experienced professional.

Step 2Prepare Your Documents

Completed fingerprint form (original — not a copy)
Certified copy of South African ID or passport
Proof of payment: R190
Cover letter stating the reason for application (immigration, employment, etc.)
Return address: specify the SA embassy address for collection, or a South African address

Step 3Submit Your Application

Option A — Through your SA embassy: Submit at the consular section. The embassy may forward your application to SAPS, or you may need to courier it yourself (check with the embassy).

Option B — Direct to SAPS by post:

The Head: Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management
(For attention: Police Clearance Certificates)
South African Police Service
Private Bag X308
PRETORIA, South Africa
0001

Important: Many embassies do not forward the application to SAPS on your behalf. The applicant is usually responsible for couriering the fingerprint form to Pretoria. Confirm the process with your specific embassy.

Step 4Pay the Fee (R190)

Payment options:

Cash: At any South African police station (if you have someone in SA who can pay on your behalf)
Electronic transfer: Into the SAPS bank account (contact SAPS for current banking details)
At the embassy: Some embassies accept payment and include it with the application

Step 5Track and Collect

Monitor progress via the SAPS website. Processing takes approximately 6-8 weeks from abroad.

Collection: The certificate will be sent to the address specified in your application. If you requested delivery to an embassy, collect from the embassy. SAPS does not automatically return applications submitted from abroad — you must specify a return/collection method.

Apostille for International Use

Most countries require the police clearance certificate to be apostilled before it can be used internationally.

Competent Authority: DIRCO (Department of International Relations and Cooperation) in Pretoria
Standard processing: 5-10 working days at DIRCO
Expedited (via service providers): 1-2 weeks, higher cost
South Africa has been a Hague Apostille Convention member since 1995

Timeline warning: The PCC is only valid for 6 months. SAPS processing (6-8 weeks) plus DIRCO apostille (5-10 working days + transit time) can eat into that window. Plan your timeline carefully. Consider using an expedited apostille service, or arrange for someone in South Africa to submit the PCC to DIRCO as soon as it is issued.

See our detailed apostille guide for the full DIRCO process.

Third-Party Service Providers

Several companies specialise in managing the police clearance process for overseas applicants. They typically handle:

Providing the correct fingerprint forms
Submitting the application to SAPS on your behalf
Tracking progress
Collecting the certificate from SAPS
Submitting to DIRCO for apostille
Couriering the final apostilled PCC to you internationally

Third-party services charge between R1,500 and R4,000+ depending on the level of service and urgency. This can be worth it given the complexity of managing the process from overseas.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. If you are a foreign national who lived in South Africa and are now applying for immigration or employment in another country, you may need a South African police clearance certificate. This applies even if you are not a South African citizen. You will need your passport details and the South African visa or permit you held during your stay.

The SA police clearance certificate is valid for 6 months from the date of issue. If it expires before you can use it, you must apply for a new one. Plan your timeline carefully, especially if you also need an apostille (which adds processing time).

No. SAPS does not currently offer online applications for police clearance certificates. Applications must include original fingerprints on the SAPS 91(a) form, which requires physical submission. You cannot submit digital or scanned fingerprints.

Poor-quality fingerprints are the most common reason for delays. If SAPS rejects your fingerprints, you must have them retaken and resubmit. To avoid this: have them taken by an experienced professional (preferably at the embassy), ensure your hands are clean and dry, and check that each print is clear and complete before submission.

It depends on the embassy. Some missions forward the application to SAPS in Pretoria on your behalf, while others only take your fingerprints and require you to courier the application yourself. Always confirm the process with your specific embassy before visiting. Most embassies in the UK, USA, and Australia require the applicant to send the application directly.

Most countries require the PCC to be apostilled by DIRCO before accepting it. South Africa is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention (since 1995). Some countries accept the PCC without apostille — check with the specific embassy or immigration authority of the country where you will use the document.

Budget for: SAPS application fee (R190) + fingerprinting at embassy (some charge a consular fee) + international courier to SAPS (~R500-R1,000) + DIRCO apostille (~R100-R200) + courier back to you. Total: approximately R1,000-R2,500 if managing it yourself. Third-party services charge R1,500-R4,000 all-inclusive.

Timeline Planner

Fingerprinting: 1-2 weeks (book embassy appointment)
Courier to SAPS: 1-2 weeks
SAPS processing: 6-8 weeks
DIRCO apostille: 1-2 weeks
Total: 10-14 weeks from start

Start early! The PCC expires after 6 months.