Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) in South Africa: Fee, Application and Turnaround (2026)

A Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) is the document South African employers, visa offices, professional bodies and emigration authorities ask for to see what, if anything, is recorded against an applicant's fingerprints. This guide covers who issues it, how to apply, the fee, and how long it takes.

This guide is general legal information, not legal advice. For advice on your own situation, consult an attorney, or contact Legal Aid South Africa (0800 110 110) if you cannot afford one.

Information last verified on 23 July 2026. Fee, turnaround target and application steps confirmed against SAPS's own live pages on this date.

What a Police Clearance Certificate Shows

A Police Clearance Certificate is an official document issued by Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management (CR and CSM), stating whether or not any criminal convictions have been recorded against the applicant, based on their fingerprints. Issuing it is the sole responsibility of CR and CSM in Pretoria; there is no regional or provincial issuing office for the PCC itself.

The certificate speaks to recorded convictions. SAPS's own material does not separately state whether withdrawn charges, diversions, or cases still awaiting a court outcome ever appear on a PCC, so this guide does not assert either way beyond what SAPS itself describes.

How to Apply

Applying for a PCC in South Africa requires:

• A full set of fingerprints taken at a police station on form SAPS 91(a).
• A completed application form.
• A certified copy of the applicant's identity document or passport.
• Proof of payment of the R190 fee.

There is no way to complete the fingerprint step remotely. It must be done in person at a police station, or, for applicants abroad, at a foreign police station or a South African embassy (see below).

The Fee: R190

The prescribed fee is R190 per application, and it is non-refundable. It can be paid in cash at the police station where the application is lodged, or by electronic transfer into SAPS's account, held in favour of the National Commissioner of the South African Police Service:

ABSA cheque account number 4054522787, branch code 632005, SWIFT code ABSAZAJJXXX.

The fee has risen over time. A 2018 government announcement recorded it at R114 per application; the current, confirmed fee is R190.

Turnaround Time: 15 Working Days, Plus a Current Backlog

SAPS states that finalising a PCC application takes approximately 15 working days from the date all required documents reach CR and CSM, excluding postal time. At the same time, SAPS's own site currently carries this notice:

"Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management (CR and CSM) is currently experiencing a backlog with the issuing of Police Clearance Certificates (PCC) which has extended the waiting period for finalization."

Applicants should plan around the 15-working-day target and this active backlog notice together, not the target alone.

No Online Application, Only a Status Enquiry

SAPS's website offers an online tool for checking the status of a PCC application that has already been lodged, using the enquiry number allocated to it. This is a status lookup only. There is no way to submit a new PCC application, or the required fingerprints, online. The in-person fingerprint appointment cannot be skipped.

Applying From Outside South Africa

An applicant living abroad can have their fingerprints taken at a police station in that country, or at a South African embassy, using either that country's own fingerprint forms or, where available, form SAPS 91(a). The completed application and documents are then posted directly to CR and CSM for processing. Applications received from abroad are not returned to the applicant. A certificate that is not collected within three months of being finalised is destroyed.

Where to Send It

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

Physical address for applications lodged in person: Bothongo Plaza West, CRC Client Service Centre, 1st Floor, Room 14, 271 Francis Baard Street, Pretoria.

Applicants living in South Africa do not have to post or courier the application themselves. SAPS states that, at no additional cost, the police station where the fingerprints are taken can be asked to forward the application to CR and CSM in Pretoria.

How Long Is a PCC Valid?

Neither SAPS nor the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development publishes a stated expiry period for a PCC. The commonly quoted "six months" comes from embassies, foreign visa offices and employers, who apply it as their own cut-off, not from any SAPS rule. If a specific application needs a certificate within a set age, confirm the requirement with the office asking for it rather than assuming six months applies everywhere.

A Cheaper Option for Expungement: the Police Clearance Report (PCR)

Anyone applying to have an old conviction expunged does not necessarily need the full PCC. SAPS also issues a Police Clearance Report (PCR), available at any Local Criminal Record Centre rather than only in Pretoria, for R95. It confirms an applicant's criminal status specifically for expungement purposes and is handed to the applicant in person on collection. See the criminal record expungement guide for how the PCR fits into that application.

Related Reading

For clearing an old conviction rather than proving your current record, see criminal record expungement in South Africa. For an overview of both processes, see the criminal records section. For the wider site, see South Africa Laws.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Police Clearance Certificate cost in South Africa?

The fee is R190 per application, non-refundable. It can be paid in cash at the police station where the application is lodged, or by electronic transfer into SAPS's bank account.

Can I apply for a Police Clearance Certificate online?

No. SAPS offers an online tool to check the status of an application already lodged, using its enquiry number, but there is no online submission. Fingerprints on form SAPS 91(a) must be taken in person at a police station.

How long does a Police Clearance Certificate take to be issued?

SAPS targets about 15 working days to finalise an application once all required documents reach Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management, excluding postal time. SAPS's own website currently also discloses an active backlog that has extended real-world waiting times beyond that target.

How do I get a Police Clearance Certificate if I live outside South Africa?

Fingerprints can be taken at a police station in the country where the applicant lives, or at a South African embassy, using that country's fingerprint forms or form SAPS 91(a) where available. The completed application is then posted directly to Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management in Pretoria for processing.

How long is a Police Clearance Certificate valid for?

Neither SAPS nor the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development publishes a stated validity period. The commonly quoted six months is a cut-off applied by embassies, visa offices and employers, not a rule set by SAPS.

What is the difference between a Police Clearance Certificate and a Police Clearance Report?

A Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) costs R190 and is issued only by Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management in Pretoria, for general purposes such as employment or visas. A Police Clearance Report (PCR) costs R95, is available at any Local Criminal Record Centre, and is intended specifically for expungement applications.