Applying for a visa? Moving abroad? There are many reasons why you may need to apply for a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC). What you might not know is that the South African Police Service (SAPS) recently changed the police clearance certificate application process. Here’s what you should know…
This might be the first time you read about police clearance certificates. If so, then it’s worth knowing two things:
Now before we continue, it’s important to distinguish between a police clearance certificate, and a police clearance report.
A Police Clearance Certificate is best suited for travel, and requires a hard copy of your fingerprints.
Police Clearance Reports, on the other hand, are more suited for use within South African borders (such as applying for or renewing SACE registration or a pre-employment criminal record check), and can be completed by means of electronic fingerprint submission within 48 hours. (Get in touch here if you require a police clearance report.)
Given the change in procedure – the reason of which is to minimise the potential for identity theft – the weight of the application procedure for a police clearance certificate is now on the shoulders of the applicant alone. It requires that you follow the process outlined below:
You will be contacted as soon as your police clearance certificate is ready for collection. Remember to bring your ID or passport along for identification purposes.
If you’ve read between the lines, you’ll realise that SAPS essentially just freed up a lot of time for those individuals who’ve been handling the application process on behalf of clients for years. But that doesn’t mean all the valuable skills and knowledge need go to waste.
Expert advice and guidance on the application process is now available to anyone in need of assistance with their police clearance certificate applications. After all, while the process may seem pretty straightforward, experience suggests it can be anything but, and seasoned expertise may be just what you need to move things along a little faster.
As such, if you have any questions about the process or require expert insight, call us on 0861 274 911 or send an email to info@csinvestigate.co.za before submitting your police clearance certificate application at SAPS.
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15 Responses
Good day Peggy
If you require a Police Clearance Report for SA purposes (pre-employment, SACE application, NCR application, Gambling license applications etc) then we can assist with a turnaround time of anything from 1 to 48 hours. The costs differ in terms of the turnaround time. If you however need a Police Clearance Certificate for emigration, VISA or other purposes there is another process involved. A set of fingerprints and a copy of ID is required and the turnaround time is anything between 6 to 12 weeks. Please send me a mail to info@csinvestigate.co.za in order to assist you in the best possible way.
I’ve been waiting longer than 7 weeks to receive mine! Is there no way of checking so I need to go to the police station and find out what’s happening ?
Somila – why do you need the clearance for? We can assist you – although you are going to pay another fee – within 48 hours if it is needed for SA purposes…
I was arrested in Oct 2010 and the two charges where withdrawn in court.
This came up on a employer back ground check in 2015, however after providing my version of events they where satisfied and this did not affect my application and I got the job.
Last year I approached FreshStartLawCentre ( to my regret) to have this expunged. Its been 8 months and zip nothing. Cannot even get hold of them.However at that time FreshStart did a Afis check which came back with “no illicit activity” however I am now in the process of applying for work in the UAE and scared this could affect any future employment.
I am approaching my local SAPS to do a Clearance Cert (PCC) – Will this show up on my PCC as I was never convicted?
Good day Andries – i am sorry to hear about your ordeal. If the Afis Check indicated that you do not have an illicit activity the PCC will say the same as the checks is done in exactly the same way – one with electronic fingerprints (Afis) and one with hardcopy fingerprints. Let me know if we can assist you with your PCC in future.
I have a case but i was never been court not even a single day ,when i do a fingerprint clearance it shows case awaiting trial..what can i do its been a year now ..nothing was communicated from the day i was released in the police custody
Good day – this is a common problem and have been discussed many times. The system needs to be updated. Please send any official documentation to info@csinvestigate.co.za – my office can submit these documents to the CRC to update the information. If you have no documents please send an email explaining that and my office will attend and assist as best as they can.
Good evening,,,,hw can clear my fingers
Good day
you can send an email to: info@csinvestigate.co.za – or you can follow the process of answering a few questions on our website.
Hi Amelia, I am currently based in Rusternburg and I need the clearance certificate for SACE application. How can you assist me?
HI
Would you be able to assist me with the following. I have applied for Police Clearance in October last year , this is for a AV Visa to the UK, I still have not received an enquiry/reference number, I dont know if this the norm. Could you assist and also could you give me a quote
CSI assists many clients with the process to apply for a Police Clearance for Visa or emigration purposes. Please send an email to info@csinvestigate.co.za and we would gladly assist with the documentation, procedures and costs.
Would you please help me I need to clear my criminal record. I commit in 2013 for shoplifting. I get any opportunity to work in UK. What must I do to clear my criminal record. This is the only opportunity I have in my life to Change my family.
https://csiafrica.bcard.mobi
https://csiafrica.bcard.mobi
Please follow that link and look for expungement