Police Clearance Certificates: The 2026 Apostille Guide
Police Clearance Certificates: The 2026 Apostille Guide
Apostille or authentication, DIRCO’s rules for police clearance certificates, and the six-month limit that catches people out.
The short answer
A South African police clearance certificate usually has to be legalised before a foreign authority will accept it. Legalisation is done by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), Legalisation Section, in Pretoria.
Which form it takes depends on where the certificate is going. For countries that are party to the Apostille Convention, DIRCO issues an apostille. For countries that are not, DIRCO issues a certificate of authentication, and the destination country’s representative in Pretoria then authenticates it as well.
DIRCO only legalises original certificates that are less than six months old. That six-month limit is where most people get caught.
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Police Clear (Pty) Ltd is an independent document facilitation company. We are not the South African Police Service or DIRCO. SAPS issues police clearance certificates, and DIRCO legalises them.
Who does what
- SAPS, Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management, in Pretoria, runs the check and issues the original police clearance certificate.
- DIRCO, Legalisation Section, in Pretoria, legalises the original certificate for use abroad, with either an apostille or a certificate of authentication.
- The destination country’s representative in Pretoria authenticates it further, but only where the destination is not party to the Apostille Convention.
Apostille or authentication?
| Where the certificate is going | What it needs |
| A country party to the Apostille Convention | An apostille from DIRCO. DIRCO notes that where the Convention applies, the apostille is the only formality required. |
| A country not party to the Convention | A certificate of authentication from DIRCO, then authentication by that country’s representative in Pretoria |
The Apostille Convention is the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961. Check whether your destination is party to it before you plan the timeline, because the authentication route adds a step.
DIRCO’s rules for police clearance certificates
- Originals only. DIRCO accepts only original, valid police clearance certificates issued by SAPS. Copies are not legalised.
- Less than six months old. Certificates older than six months from the date of issue are not accepted for legalisation.
- Not laminated. Laminated documents are not accepted.
- Free of charge. DIRCO does not charge for legalisation.
The six-month limit, and why timing matters
An apostille is the last step, not the first. Before DIRCO can legalise anything, SAPS has to issue the certificate. SAPS states that finalisation takes approximately 15 working days once all documents are received, excluding postal time, and it currently reports a backlog.
That puts two clocks on the same document. The certificate has to reach DIRCO within six months of being issued, and your destination country may have its own limit on how old the certificate can be when you submit it, which is often stricter. Our guides for the United Kingdom, United States and Australia cover those rules.
If a certificate is already older than six months, DIRCO states that SAPS can re-issue it against a minimal fee, provided it is within a further six months. Past that point, it means a new application.
What goes wrong, and what it costs you
A certificate that is too old. The most common problem. It means a re-issue or a new application, and weeks added to the plan.
A laminated certificate. Laminating the original to protect it makes it unusable for legalisation.
A copy instead of the original. Certified copies are not legalised.
The wrong route. Planning for an apostille when the destination needs authentication, or the other way round, costs a trip and time.
Steps in the wrong order. Applying for the certificate too early, then waiting on a visa appointment, can push it past six months before it is legalised.
Each of these sends the document back a step, and where a visa or job start date is fixed, a step can be the difference between making it and not.
How Police Clear helps
Listed by DIRCO. Police Clear appears on the list of service providers on DIRCO’s legalisation page. DIRCO states that it does not endorse, sponsor or have any formal association with the providers it lists, so the listing is a matter of record, not a recommendation.
The certificate and its legalisation, together. We handle the police clearance certificate and assist with legalisation and apostille of South African documents, so the two steps are planned as one rather than chased separately.
Timed to your deadline. Standard turnaround for the certificate is 5 to 7 business days, with 3 to 5 and 1 to 3 business day options, and approximately 80% of cases are completed sooner than quoted. Timeframes are estimates, not guarantees.
For applicants in South Africa and abroad. Applications are submitted directly to the Criminal Record Centre in Pretoria and handled end to end. If you are overseas, see getting your police clearance from abroad.
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Apostilled police clearance certificate cost
| Official SAPS fee | R190, paid to SAPS |
| DIRCO legalisation | Free of charge |
| Police Clear service fee | Private service fee, quoted on request |
| Certificate turnaround | 5 to 7 business days standard, with 3 to 5 and 1 to 3 business day options |
The R190 is the fee SAPS charges to run the check, and DIRCO does not charge for legalisation. Police Clear charges a private service fee for handling the application and the legalisation, quoted on request. Tell us where the certificate is going and by when, and we will confirm the route 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
What is an apostille on a police clearance certificate?
It is a certificate issued by DIRCO that legalises your South African police clearance certificate for use in a country that is party to the Apostille Convention.
Do all countries need an apostille?
No. Countries party to the Apostille Convention need an apostille. Countries that are not need a certificate of authentication from DIRCO, followed by authentication by that country’s representative in Pretoria.
How old can my police clearance certificate be for an apostille?
Less than six months from the date of issue. DIRCO does not legalise older certificates. Your destination country may set a stricter limit of its own.
Can I apostille a copy of my police clearance certificate?
No. DIRCO legalises only original certificates issued by SAPS, and laminated documents are not accepted.
Does DIRCO charge for an apostille?
No. DIRCO’s legalisation services are free of charge. The R190 SAPS fee applies to the certificate itself.
Is Police Clear listed by DIRCO?
Yes. Police Clear appears on the list of service providers on DIRCO’s legalisation page. DIRCO does not endorse, sponsor or have any formal association with the providers it lists.
Is an apostille enough on its own?
For countries party to the Apostille Convention, DIRCO notes that the apostille is the only formality required to establish the origin of the document.
This page is general information about a document facilitation service. It is not legal or immigration advice. Legalisation requirements are set by DIRCO and by the destination country, and change from time to time. Confirm them with the relevant authority before you rely on them.
