Quick answer, verified 8 September 2026 against SAPS: a police clearance certificate costs R190 per application and takes about 15 working days once your documents reach the Criminal Record Centre — but SAPS currently reports a backlog, so allow longer.
| Official SAPS fee | R190,00 per application, non-refundable |
| Official turnaround | ~15 working days from receipt at CR & CSM (excludes postal time) |
| Current status | SAPS reports a backlog extending the waiting period |
| How to pay | Cash at any police station, or EFT to SAPS — reference PCC + your initials and surname |
| Related document | Police Clearance Report, for expungement only — R95 |
What is a police clearance certificate?
A South African police clearance certificate (PCC) is an official document from the South African Police Service (SAPS) Criminal Record Centre stating whether you have a criminal record. Almost every work visa — Ireland, the UK, Australia, Canada, the Gulf — requires one, sometimes for every country you have lived in. It is built from your fingerprints, so it cannot be rushed by paying an agent. Treat it as one of the first things you organise.
Do not confuse it with a Police Clearance Report (PCR), which costs R95 and exists for expunging a criminal record. Visa applications want the PCC.
How do you apply for a SAPS police clearance?
The official route is through the SAPS police clearance service. In short:
- Get your fingerprints taken on the official SAPS 91(a) form. Inside South Africa they must be taken by SAPS. SAPS will not process copies or scanned fingerprints.
- Pay the R190 fee — cash at the police station, or EFT with
PCCplus your initials and surname as the reference. - Submit the form, fingerprints, a certified copy of your ID or passport, and proof of payment to the SAPS Criminal Record Centre in Pretoria. If you are in South Africa, the police station will forward it to Pretoria for you at no extra cost — you do not need to pay a courier for this leg.
- Track and collect. SAPS will not scan or email the finished certificate. It is handed to you, to a person you nominate, or to your chosen courier.
Always confirm the current steps and banking details on the official SAPS page before paying anyone — the process and channels change.
How long does it take and what does it cost?
The prescribed fee is R190,00 per application, non-refundable. SAPS states that finalisation takes approximately 15 working days from the date all required documents are received at Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management — a figure that excludes postal time in both directions.
Treat that as a floor, not a promise. SAPS's own website currently carries a notice that CR & CSM is experiencing a backlog which has extended the waiting period for finalisation. Real-world waits reported by applicants are frequently longer.
On top of the R190, budget for fingerprinting if you use a private service, courier costs if you choose not to use the free police-station route, and document authentication if your destination requires it. Many countries only accept a PCC issued within the last 6 months, so do not get it too early either: time it so it is still valid when you submit your visa application.
Applying from outside South Africa
South Africans abroad can apply. Have your fingerprints taken at a local police station or the South African embassy, on that country's official fingerprint form or on the SAPS 91(a) if it is available, and send the application directly to CR & CSM in Pretoria.
Two things to plan for. Applications received from abroad are not returned to the applicant — you monitor progress on the SAPS website and arrange collection as indicated on your form. And certificates not collected within three months of finalisation are destroyed, so nominate someone in South Africa or a courier before you apply, not after.
Common mistakes that cause delays
- Smudged or incorrect fingerprints — get them done carefully on the correct SAPS 91(a) form.
- Sending copies or scans of fingerprints, which SAPS will not process.
- Paying the wrong amount, or omitting the
PCCpayment reference so SAPS cannot match it. - Leaving it too late — it is often the slowest document in the whole application, and the current backlog makes that worse.
- Getting it too early — it can expire before you submit your visa.
- Not arranging collection, then losing the certificate to the three-month destruction rule.
- Forgetting authentication — some visas need the PCC apostilled (see our apostille & DIRCO guide).
Where this fits in your work-abroad plan
A police clearance is a core document for almost every route on Jobabroad — from a registered nurse moving to Ireland to trades and seasonal work. Start it early, keep a certified copy, and never pay anyone who promises to "skip" the fingerprint step. To see whether your overall route is realistic before you spend on documents, start with the relevant pathway guide and a free eligibility check.