You can have your fingerprints taken at any South African Police Service (SAPS) station nationwide during official service hours. To complete the process, bring an original South African ID or valid passport along with certified copies to be captured on the official SAPS 91(a) fingerprint form at the station’s Community Service Centre. The service is available on a walk-in basis across all local police stations for employment screening, professional licensing, visa applications, and Police Clearance Certificates (PCC).
How to Find Your Nearest SAPS Station for Fingerprinting
South Africa has more than 1,100 police stations distributed across all nine provinces. For routine administrative services like fingerprinting and document certification, you are not strictly bound by residential zoning—you can visit any operational SAPS Community Service Centre (CSC) that is most convenient for you.
To locate your nearest police station:
- Use the SAPS Station Directory: Check the official SAPS portal or local police station directories to find physical addresses, contact numbers, and station boundary details.
- Confirm Operating Hours: While police station Community Service Centres operate 24 hours a day for emergency reporting, administrative services like fingerprinting and clearance certificate intake are best handled during standard daytime office hours (Monday to Friday, 07:30 to 16:00).
- Call Ahead: Contact the station’s client service desk before visiting to ensure that dedicated fingerprint officers and official SAPS 91(a) forms are readily available.
Reasons You May Need Police Station Fingerprints
Fingerprint verification serves as the primary biometric method for verifying identity and checking criminal history records against the SAPS Criminal Record Centre (CRC) database in Pretoria.
┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ SAPS Fingerprint Request Triggers │
└────────────────────┬────────────────────┘
│
┌───────────────────┬─────────────┴───────┬───────────────────┐
▼ ▼ ▼ ▼
┌──────────────┐ ┌──────────────┐ ┌──────────────┐ ┌──────────────┐
│Police Clear- │ │Pre-Employment│ │Professional │ │ Visas & │
│ance (PCC) │ │Vetting │ │Registration │ │ Immigration │
└──────────────┘ └──────────────┘ └──────────────┘ └──────────────┘
Common requirements include:
- Police Clearance Certificates (PCC): Required for emigration, foreign work permits, international adoptions, or corporate visa sponsorships abroad.
- Pre-Employment Background Checks: Mandatory for roles in private security (PSIRA), public service, financial institutions, childcare, education, and transport.
- Professional Body Admissions: Required by statutory councils such as the South African Council for Educators (SACE), Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), and the Legal Practice Council (LPC).
- Firearm Licence Applications: Necessary for competency certificates and initial firearm licence applications under the Firearms Control Act.
- Expungement of Criminal Records: Required to verify eligibility when applying to the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development to clear past convictions.
What to Bring: Document Checklist
Arriving prepared prevents unnecessary delays and repeat visits. Ensure you carry the following items:
| Required Item | Details & Instructions |
| Original Identity Document | Green barcoded ID book, Smart ID card, or valid foreign passport. Temporary ID certificates are accepted if valid. |
| Certified ID Copies | At least 2 clear photocopies of your identification document. |
| Third-Party Forms (If Applicable) | Any company-specific or international fingerprint cards provided by your employer, embassy, or background screening vendor. |
| Proof of Surname Change | Certified copy of a marriage certificate or official Home Affairs amendment if previous records exist under a maiden name. |
| Application Fee / Proof of Payment | R190 in cash or printed electronic bank transfer receipt if submitting a full Police Clearance Certificate application simultaneously. |
| Black Ink Pen | Recommended for completing personal details on intake forms. |
Step-by-Step Guide to the SAPS Fingerprint Process
Taking fingerprints at a police station follows a standardized protocol to ensure print legibility and legal compliance.
[Step 1: CSC Check-in] ──> [Step 2: ID Verification] ──> [Step 3: SAPS 91(a) Ink Rolling]
│
[Step 5: Handover/Dispatch] <── [Step 4: Officer Stamp & Signature] ┘
1. Report to the Community Service Centre (CSC)
Enter the station and request assistance for fingerprint capturing at the main counter. You will be directed to the administrative desk or a dedicated fingerprint cubicle.
2. Verification of Identification
The attending officer inspects your original identification document to confirm your details against the application before recording your information in the station register.
3. Fingerprint Recording on Form SAPS 91(a)
The officer applies specialized fingerprint ink across your fingers and rolls each digit individually across the designated blocks on the SAPS 91(a) form. Both rolled impressions (individual fingers from nail-edge to nail-edge) and flat/plain impressions (four fingers simultaneously plus flat thumbs) are captured.
4. Officer Endorsement
The officer who captured the prints must write their full name, rank, force number, date, and official station date stamp directly on the form. Unstamped or unsigned fingerprint forms are automatically rejected by processing authorities.
5. Final Handover or Application Submission
- For Private/Corporate Screening: The officer hands the completed, stamped SAPS 91(a) form back to you to deliver to your employer or screening agency.
- For Official SAPS Clearance (PCC): You can submit the fingerprint form along with the completed PCC application form and payment directly at the station for courier dispatch to the Criminal Record Centre in Pretoria.
Costs and Turnaround Times
The cost structure depends on whether you only require fingerprint taking or a complete police clearance process:
- Fingerprint Taking Only: Having your fingerprints taken on a SAPS 91(a) form for general personal or private screening use is generally a free public service at SAPS stations.
- Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) Fee: The statutory non-refundable tariff set by SAPS is R190.00 per application. This can be paid in cash at the station or via electronic funds transfer (EFT) directly into the official SAPS bank account using the reference format
PCC [Initials] [Surname]. - Processing Timelines:
- Fingerprint capturing at the station takes approximately 15 to 30 minutes.
- Full Police Clearance Certificate processing at the Pretoria Criminal Record Centre typically takes 15 to 30 working days, excluding postal and courier transit times.
Practical Tips for Visiting the Police Station
- Avoid Shift Changeovers: SAPS shifts generally rotate around 05:45 to 06:30 in the morning and 17:45 to 18:30 in the evening. Avoid these changeover windows to minimize waiting times.
- Visit Mid-Morning or Mid-Week: Tuesday through Thursday between 09:00 and 11:30 is typically less congested than Monday mornings or Friday afternoons.
- Care for Your Hands: Avoid harsh chemicals or manual work that may cause deep cuts, peeling, or rough skin on your fingertips prior to your appointment. Keep hands clean and lightly moisturized so ridge patterns register clearly on the ink pads.
- Inspect the Print Quality Before Leaving: Check that the ink prints are crisp, not smudged, and that the officer’s stamp and force number are clearly legible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get my fingerprints taken at any police station in South Africa?
Yes. You are not restricted to the police station in your residential suburb or district. Any operational SAPS station with an active Community Service Centre can take and certify your fingerprints on the standard SAPS 91(a) form.
How much does it cost to have fingerprints taken at a SAPS station?
Having your fingerprints taken and stamped on a SAPS 91(a) form for general employer or verification purposes is free of charge. However, if you are submitting a formal application for an official SAPS Police Clearance Certificate (PCC), a statutory non-refundable fee of R190 per application applies.
What is the SAPS 91(a) form, and do I need to bring my own?
The SAPS 91(a) is the standard South African Police Service Fingerprint Enquiry Form used to record rolled and flat biometric impressions. SAPS stations supply this form on-site at no cost, so you do not need to bring a blank copy with you unless your employer or an international embassy requires a specific external form.
Do I need to book an appointment to get fingerprinted at a police station?
No. SAPS stations operate administrative and Community Service Centre desks on a walk-in basis without prior appointments. It is recommended to visit during daytime business hours (07:30 to 16:00, Monday to Friday) when administrative officers and dedicated fingerprint staff are on duty.
Can South Africans living abroad get their fingerprints taken for a SAPS clearance?
Yes. South Africans residing outside the country can have their fingerprints taken at any local police station in their country of residence or at the nearest South African Embassy, High Commission, or Consulate. Foreign police stations may capture the prints on their own national fingerprint cards or a downloaded SAPS 91(a) form, which must be stamped, signed, and couriered to the SAPS Criminal Record Centre in Pretoria.
What is the difference between standard SAPS ink fingerprinting and digital biometric scanning?
Standard SAPS fingerprinting uses physical black ink rolled onto official paper forms (SAPS 91(a)), which is required for official government police clearance certificates and legal documentation. Digital biometric scanning utilizes electronic glass optical scanners (such as AFIS/Afiswitch systems) commonly operated by private background screening agencies, corporate recruiters, and select postal outlets for instant criminal record checks.