Are you planning a trip abroad or seeking employment abroad? Are you required to produce a police clearance certificate?. In this article, I will give you some information about what documents are needed in order to obtain a police clearance certificate in South Africa.

A Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) is an official document issued by the Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management (CR & CSM) that proves whether an individual has prior convictions and what their current criminal status is.

In this post, you will learn everything you need on how to get a Police Clearance Certificate in South Africa.

Individuals can collect Police Clearance Certificate forms at their nearest police stations or they can access them online by visiting the South African Police Service (SAPS) official website.

How to Get a Police Clearance Certificate in South Africa

To obtain a Police Clearance Certificate in South Africa, the applicant will need to provide the following documents:

• A full set of his/her fingerprints on a SAPS 91(a) when living in South Africa. The fingerprints must be taken by the South African Police Service. Persons living outside South Africa, may apply at any police station in that country or at the South African Embassy. Fingerprints must be taken on the official fingerprint forms of the applicable country or, if available, on the SAPS 91(a) fingerprint enquiry form.
• An application form must be duly completed.
• A certified copy of the applicant’s identity document/passport. The applicant must present his/her identity document/passport at the police station, as proof of identity will be required.
• Should a maiden surname and/or other surnames be required on a Police Clearance Certificate, mention must be made thereof in the application and documentary proof of the maiden surname and/or other surnames (for example a certified copy of marriage certificate) must be attached to the application.
• Proof of payment. The prescribed fee is R160,00 per application. The required non-refundable tariff is payable in cash at the nearest police station or electronically into the South Africa Police Service’s account in favour of the National Commissioner of the South African Police Service. The banking details are as follows:  ABSA cheque account number 4054522787; branch code 632005; Swift code ABSAZAJJXXX. In the case of an electronic payment, the letters “PCC” followed by the initials and surname of the applicant must be indicated as reference.

Applicants who live in South Africa can request the police station to forward the applications to CR & CSM in Pretoria. They could also deliver the application in person to CR & CSM in Pretoria or use the service of a postal or courier service at his/her own cost.

Once processing is completed the certificate will be handed back to the applicant via courier service or by the police station.

Applicants living abroad may forward the application and required documents directly to CR & CSM for processing.

The applicant living abroad will be required to monitor progress via the SAPS website and upon completion arrange for collection as indicated on the application form.

Incomplete applications will not be processed and the applicant will be notified by SMS. Processing could take up to 15 days excluding postal time.

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

Physical address: The Head: Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management (For attention: Police Clearance Certificates)
South African Police Service
Bothongo Plaza West
CRC Client Service Centre
1^st Floor, Room 14
271 Francis Baard Street
PRETORIA