The DHA wants a certificate from every country you lived in for 12+ months in the last five years — and South Africa's own PCC costs R114 and is processed centrally in Pretoria.
Overview
Police clearance runs in two directions for migrants to South Africa. Incoming: the Department of Home Affairs requires, for work visas and most long-stay applications, a police clearance certificate issued by the police or security authority of every country where the applicant (aged 18 or over) resided for longer than 12 months in the five years before the application — originals only, not older than six months at submission. This five-year scope was set by the 2024 amendments to the Immigration Regulations, replacing the older 'every country since age 18' rule and materially reducing the document burden. Outgoing and in-country: the South African Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) is issued exclusively by the SAPS Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management (CR & CSM) in Pretoria. You apply at any police station with a full set of fingerprints on form SAPS 91(a); the fee is R114, the SAPS service standard is approximately 15 working days from receipt at CR & CSM, and the certificate is treated as valid for six months. Verified against saps.gov.za, dha.gov.za and dirco.gov.za as of June 2026.
What the DHA Requires From Applicants
- The 12-month / 5-year rule: The gazetted checklists (effective 9 October 2024) require a police clearance certificate from each country where you resided for longer than 12 months in the last 5 years prior to the application.
- Age threshold: Certificates are required for applicants 18 years of age and older.
- Freshness: Each certificate must not be older than six months at the time of submission — sequence your gathering so nothing lapses before you lodge.
- Originals only: Only originals issued by the relevant police or security authority are accepted; copies and printouts are not.
- Plan for renewals: If the application is delayed past a certificate's six-month window before lodgement, you will need a fresh one — order the slowest country's certificate first.
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See Paid Plans →Frequently Asked Questions
Which countries do I need police clearance certificates from for a South African work visa?
Every country where you resided for longer than 12 months in the five years before submitting the application, if you are 18 or older. This is the rule on the DHA's gazetted checklists effective 9 October 2024, and it replaced the far heavier historical requirement of certificates from every country of residence since age 18. Each certificate must be an original issued by that country's police or security authority and must not be older than six months when you submit. Short stays under 12 months in a country within the window do not trigger the requirement.
How do I get a South African police clearance certificate and what does it cost?
Apply at any South African police station: a full set of fingerprints is taken on form SAPS 91(a), and you provide your ID or passport with a copy, proof of payment of the R114 fee, and a South African mobile number for SMS updates. The station forwards everything to the SAPS Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management in Pretoria — the only issuing authority. Payment is by bank-guaranteed cheque, banker's draft or EFT into the SAPS ABSA account with your initials, surname and 'PCC' as reference; processing does not start until proof of payment is received.
How long does the SAPS police clearance take?
The SAPS service standard is approximately 15 working days from the day the completed application reaches the Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management in Pretoria until the certificate is issued — but SAPS has acknowledged backlogs that extend the wait, and time in transit between your police station and Pretoria adds to it. If you provided a South African mobile number you receive an SMS with a reference number on receipt and another on completion, and you can track progress through the online enquiry tool on saps.gov.za. The finished certificate is sent back to the police station where you applied; bring your original ID or passport to collect it.
Can I get a South African police clearance from outside South Africa?
Yes. South African citizens and former residents living abroad can apply at any police station in their country of residence or at the South African embassy or high commission. The application must include a completed set of fingerprints (taken by the local police or the mission — scanned or photocopied prints are not accepted), a certified copy of your ID or passport, documentary proof of maiden or other surnames where applicable, and proof of payment of the R114 fee, which can be paid by telegraphic transfer into the SAPS account from abroad. Allow generously for two-way international document transit on top of the ~15-working-day processing standard.
How long is a police clearance certificate valid?
Six months is the operative window on both sides. For applications to the DHA, every police clearance certificate — South African or foreign — must not be older than six months at the time of submission. For South African PCCs used abroad, DIRCO's legalisation guidance likewise treats the certificate as valid for six months from issue and will not apostille an older one. Because the SAPS issue time (~15 working days plus transit) and a DIRCO apostille (~6–7 weeks) both eat into that window, order the PCC as one of your first documents but lodge the application before it staleness out.
Do I need my South African PCC apostilled, and how?
If a foreign immigration authority in a Hague Apostille Convention country requires your SA police clearance, the original certificate (under six months old) goes directly to the DIRCO Legalisation Section in Pretoria — by courier with a cover letter stating the destination country, in person by online booking, or via an SA mission's diplomatic bag. DIRCO's apostille is free of charge but takes roughly 6–7 weeks. For non-Hague destinations DIRCO issues a Certificate of Authentication instead, usually followed by certification at that country's embassy. Note that since 2 September 2024 DIRCO refuses notarised copies of PCCs — only the SAPS original is accepted.