A criminal record from 10 years ago can still cost you a job offer today or flag on a background check when you least expect it. It can affect international travel and even stop you from coaching your child’s rugby team.

What makes this harder is that a criminal record does not only follow serious offenders. You can end up with one for drunk driving, reckless driving, shoplifting or even something said that is considered defamation. These are the kinds of convictions people often forget about until they surface at exactly the wrong moment.

South African law provides a legal process to permanently remove qualifying convictions from the SAPS database. It is called criminal record expungement, and if you qualify, we can handle the entire process on your behalf.

Get your fresh start today. Contact Police Clear and get your criminal record expunged affordably.

Do You Qualify to Expunge Your Criminal Record?

Serious offences, including murder and sexual offences, do not qualify. For minor offences such as petty theft, shoplifting or fraud, here is what you need:

• At least 10 years must have passed since your conviction, with no further convictions in that period.
• Your sentence must have been a fine, not a prison term.
• Your fine must not have exceeded R20,000.
• You may also qualify if you were told a fine would not create a criminal record, but later discovered one exists.

If you are unsure whether your offence qualifies, it is worth checking before you assume the worst. Many people who carry a criminal record are eligible for expungement and simply do not know it.

What Happens After Your Record Is Expunged?

Once your criminal record is expunged, it is permanently removed from the SAPS database. It does not get sealed or flagged. It is gone. This means it will no longer appear on a criminal background check, which affects employment applications, visa applications and volunteer screening processes.

This is the practical difference expungement makes. A police clearance certificate issued after a successful expungement will reflect a clean record.

The 3-Step Process to Expunge Your Criminal Record

The expungement process involves several stages, a fair amount of paperwork and patience. Here is how it works from start to finish.

Step 1: Apply for a Police Clearance Certificate

To begin, you need an official police clearance certificate (PCC) from SAPS. This document confirms your criminal record details and verifies that 10 years have passed since your conviction. We are an accredited SAPS agency with direct links to the Criminal Record Centre in Pretoria, and we can obtain this certificate on your behalf.

Step 2: Submit Form J744

Next, complete Form J744, the official expungement application, and submit it to the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development in Pretoria. Every section of this form needs to be accurate and complete. Errors or missing information can delay the process significantly.

Step 3: Wait for Confirmation

The process typically takes between three and six months. Once approved, the Director-General issues an expungement certificate and SAPS removes the record from their system. Your record is permanently removed, not sealed or hidden.

Why People Use Police Clear for Criminal Record Expungement

The expungement process is intricate and requires careful planning. Getting the paperwork wrong, missing a step or submitting to the wrong department can set you back months.

Many applicants also underestimate how much documentation is involved. Between obtaining your PCC, completing Form J744 accurately and following up with the correct government departments, the process is easy to get wrong without guidance.

That’s where we come in.

Police Clear: Accredited Help for Criminal Record Expungement

We are an accredited SAPS agency with offices in Cape Town and Sandton. We manage the complete criminal record expungement process on your behalf, from obtaining your PCC to final confirmation. You do not need to navigate government departments or manage the paperwork yourself.

We also assist with:

• Document attestation
• Unabridged marriage certificates
• Unabridged birth certificates
• Sworn translation services

Whether you are based in South Africa or abroad. Our clients include both residents and South Africans living overseas who need their records cleared for foreign employment or immigration purposes.

Finding work in South Africa is difficult enough. A criminal record should not be the reason a door closes. If you qualify for expungement, the sooner you apply, the sooner you can move forward.

Clear your record and open new doors. Call us on 021 462 8203 or get in touch online.