Police Clearance Certificates in South Africa
Handled end to end from our Cape Town and Johannesburg offices, in 5 to 7 business days, with faster options available.
A South African police clearance certificate is issued by the South African Police Service and states whether a criminal record exists against your name. It is the document embassies, immigration authorities, employers and professional bodies ask for when they need proof of a clean record.
It is issued centrally in Pretoria and applies nationally, regardless of where in the country you live.
Police Clear handles the application end to end. Standard turnaround is 5 to 7 business days, with 3 to 5 and 1 to 3 business day options available.
Police Clear (Pty) Ltd is an independent document facilitation company with offices in Cape Town and Johannesburg. We are not the South African Police Service and we do not issue certificates. SAPS issues them.
Who needs a police clearance certificate
- A visa or immigration application. Most countries require one as part of a residence, work or spousal visa application.
- Emigration. Permanent residency applications almost always include a police clearance from every country you have lived in.
- Employment. Both South African employers and overseas employers request them, particularly in finance, education, healthcare and security.
- Professional registration. Regulatory and licensing bodies frequently require one.
- Adoption, fostering and firearm licensing.
What an application requires
A complete application includes:
A full set of fingerprints on the SAPS 91(a) form
This is the official fingerprint form. Older versions still circulate online, and an outdated form is not accepted.
A certified copy of your identity document or passport
Your personal details as they appear on that identity document
Including any previous surnames or identity numbers.
Applications are returned where fingerprints are unclear, documents are not certified, or names do not match across the documents supplied. Requirements also differ if you are applying from outside South Africa.
Send us your details and we will confirm exactly what applies to your situation.
We collect, we expedite, and we deliver.
Applications are submitted directly to the Criminal Record Centre in Pretoria and handled end to end by our Cape Town and Johannesburg teams.
Speed you can plan around.
Standard turnaround is 5 to 7 business days, with 3 to 5 and 1 to 3 business day options available, and approximately 80% of cases completed sooner than the timeframe quoted. When you are working to a visa appointment or an employer start date, a timeframe that holds is worth more than a cheaper one that does not.
A direct departmental route.
We work directly with the Criminal Record Centre in Pretoria, rather than sending an application into a queue and waiting to hear.
Documents prepared before they are submitted.
Applications that arrive incomplete are returned, and a return costs weeks. Getting the paperwork right the first time is the difference between one submission and three.
Two real offices.
Cape Town and Johannesburg, staffed by people you can speak to. Police Clear (Pty) Ltd is a registered South African company.
Individuals, businesses and South Africans abroad.
We handle single applications, corporate volume and international clients who cannot manage the process from where they are.
How long it takes
Police Clear completes police clearance applications in 5 to 7 business days as standard, with 3 to 5 and 1 to 3 business day options available, and approximately 80% of cases are completed sooner than the timeframe quoted.
SAPS publishes a standard finalisation time of approximately 15 working days and periodically reports backlogs, so departmental timeframes can extend for reasons outside anyone’s control.
Police clearance certificate cost
| Police clearance certificate | From R4,600 including VAT |
| Official SAPS fee | R190, paid to SAPS |
| Standard turnaround | 5 to 7 business days |
| Need it sooner | 3 to 5 or 1 to 3 business days, priced higher |
The R190 is the fee SAPS charges to run the check. Our fee is separate and covers handling the application. Faster turnarounds are priced above the standard figure.
Pricing correct as at 28 August 2026. Prices include VAT at 15%, are quoted in South African rand, are subject to change without notice, and are indicative rather than an offer. A binding price is given in a written quotation for your specific matter. Statutory fees payable to SAPS, Home Affairs or DIRCO are set by those authorities and are payable in addition. Our refund and cancellation terms are set out in our terms and conditions.
Applying for a police clearance certificate from abroad
South Africans living overseas apply for police clearance certificates regularly, usually as part of a visa, residency or employment application.
The requirements differ from a local application. Fingerprints have to be taken and certified according to the rules of the country you are in, and the finished certificate has to reach you there. Both are worth confirming before you start, because a rejected overseas application is slow and expensive to correct.
Our offices in Cape Town and Johannesburg
Cape Town
9 Helene Avenue, Blackheath, Cape Town, 7581
021 462 8203
Johannesburg
Rivonia Village, Second Floor
Cnr Mutual and Rivonia Boulevard, Rivonia, 2128
011 568 0827
WhatsApp 068 222 3776 · info@policeclear.co.za
Frequently asked questions
Is Police Clear a legitimate service, and is my application processed directly with the department?
Police Clear (Pty) Ltd is a registered South African company with offices in Cape Town and Johannesburg. We are a document facilitation service, working directly with the relevant department. SAPS issues the certificate, not us.
Why does your price differ from the SAPS fee?
R190 is the fee SAPS charges to run the check itself. Our fee is separate and covers handling the application on your behalf. You are paying for the handling and the turnaround, not for the certificate.
How long does it take?
5 to 7 business days as standard, with 3 to 5 and 1 to 3 business day options available at a higher price, and approximately 80% of cases completed sooner than the timeframe quoted. SAPS publishes a standard finalisation time of approximately 15 working days and periodically reports backlogs, so departmental timeframes can extend for reasons outside our control. Timeframes are estimates, not guarantees.
How long is a police clearance certificate valid?
A South African police clearance certificate is not issued with a stated expiry date. How recent it must be is decided by whoever is asking for it. Many embassies and immigration authorities ask for one issued within the last 3 to 6 months, so confirm the requirement with the authority you are applying to.
Can I apply from outside South Africa?
Yes. The fingerprint and certification requirements differ by country, so speak to us before you have your fingerprints taken.
What documents do I need?
Fingerprints on the SAPS 91(a) form and a certified copy of your identity document or passport. What else applies depends on your situation, including previous surnames and identity numbers. Message us and we will confirm what you need.
Do you handle anything besides police clearance?
Yes. Criminal background checks, criminal record expungement, apostilles and attestation, sworn translations, vehicle clearance, unabridged birth and marriage certificates, qualification verification and visa assistance.
This page describes a document facilitation service. It is general information and is not legal or immigration advice. Requirements are set by the relevant department, embassy or authority and you should confirm them with that body.