How much is police clearance at PostNet?

PostNet does not issue police clearance certificates. Participating PostNet stores offer a criminal background check, which is a different document produced by a third-party provider. PostNet publishes what that service includes, what it is accepted for and what it costs on its own website: postnet.co.za/services.

The 2 documents are not interchangeable. A SAPS police clearance certificate is the official certificate issued by the South African Police Service through the Criminal Record Centre in Pretoria. It is the document embassies, immigration authorities and overseas employers normally ask for. If that is what you have been asked for, a background check will not stand in for it.

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What a SAPS police clearance certificate is

	SAPS police clearance certificate
Issued by	The South African Police Service, Criminal Record Centre, Pretoria
What it is	The official certificate stating whether any criminal convictions are recorded against you
Fingerprints	Taken by SAPS if you live in South Africa, on the SAPS 91(a) form
Typical use	Emigration, visas, permanent residency, and work or study abroad
How you receive it	An original certificate. SAPS does not scan or email completed certificates
Fee	R190 to SAPS, plus the cost of any service you use to handle it

Before you pay for anything, check which document the organisation asking for it will accept. PostNet lists on its own site the purposes its background check is and is not accepted for, and that list does not cover every visa route. The organisation requesting the document is the one that decides.

Police clearance certificate or background check: which do you need?

You need a SAPS police clearance certificate if the document is for a visa, emigration, permanent residency, or a job or study programme outside South Africa. This is usually what embassies, immigration authorities and overseas employers mean when they ask for a police clearance.

A background check may be enough if a local employer or platform has asked specifically for a criminal background check for its own screening.

If you are not sure, ask whoever requested it which document they will accept, before you pay for either. Getting it wrong costs time, not just the fee.

Why getting the wrong document is expensive

A criminal background check is generally a same-week document. A SAPS police clearance certificate is not: SAPS states that finalisation takes approximately 15 working days from the date all required documents are received, excluding postal time, and it currently reports a backlog.

That gap is exactly what catches people out. Someone who discovers at a visa appointment that they have the wrong document is not a few hours from fixing it. Even an expedited SAPS certificate takes business days, not hours, against a date that usually does not move.

Getting a SAPS police clearance certificate quickly

Where you need the SAPS certificate itself, and quickly:

We collect, we expedite, and we deliver. Applications are submitted directly to the Criminal Record Centre in Pretoria and handled end to end.

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 are completed sooner than quoted. Timeframes are estimates, not guarantees.

Confirm first, then apply. The organisation asking for the document decides which one it accepts, so confirm with it first, then chat to us.

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What a police clearance certificate costs through Police Clear

Official SAPS fee	R190, paid to SAPS
Police Clear service fee	Private service fee, quoted on request
Standard turnaround	5 to 7 business days
Need it sooner	3 to 5 or 1 to 3 business days

The R190 is the fee SAPS charges to run the check, and it is payable whether you apply yourself or through a service. Police Clear charges a separate private service fee for handling the application, quoted on request. Turnaround times are estimates, not guarantees.

Send us your details and we will confirm what your application needs and what it costs.

Fees are quoted in South African rand and include VAT at 15%. A binding price is given in a written quotation. 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 in our terms and conditions.

Frequently asked questions

How much is police clearance at PostNet?

PostNet does not issue police clearance certificates. It offers a criminal background check, which is a different document, and publishes its own prices for it on its website.

Can I get a police clearance certificate at PostNet?

No. Police clearance certificates are issued by the South African Police Service, through the Criminal Record Centre in Pretoria.

Is a background check valid for a visa?

Do not assume so. Embassies and immigration authorities generally ask for the SAPS police clearance certificate. Confirm with the authority handling your application before you pay for anything.

How long does a SAPS police clearance certificate take?

SAPS states that finalisation takes approximately 15 working days from the date all required documents are received, excluding postal time, and it currently reports a backlog. Through Police Clear the standard turnaround is 5 to 7 business days, with 3 to 5 and 1 to 3 business day options available. Timeframes are estimates, not guarantees.

Who takes the fingerprints for a police clearance certificate?

SAPS requires that applicants living in South Africa have their fingerprints taken by SAPS, on the SAPS 91(a) form. Fingerprints captured for any other kind of check are not a substitute.

Which document does my employer or embassy want?

Ask them directly, and get it in writing if you can. The organisation requesting the document is the only one that can tell you which it will accept.

This page is general information about a document facilitation service. It is not legal advice. For what PostNet’s own services include and cost, see PostNet’s website. Confirm current details directly with PostNet. Requirements for any document are set by the organisation asking for it.