To obtain fingerprints for a South African Police Clearance Certificate (PCC), you can visit any South African Police Service (SAPS) station nationwide. You are not restricted to the station in your residential precinct and do not need to schedule an appointment in advance. To complete the process, bring your original South African ID or passport, a certified copy of your identification, the official SAPS 91(a) fingerprint form, and the R190 application fee.
How to Find Your Nearest SAPS Station for Fingerprinting
You can have your fingerprints taken at any operational SAPS police station across South Africa. The SAPS network operates in every municipal district, and all stations with a Community Service Centre (CSC) are equipped to take ink impressions on the standard SAPS 91(a) document.
Station Jurisdiction Rules
Under SAPS regulations, fingerprint capture for civil administrative requests (such as emigration, visa applications, professional registrations, or employment screenings) does not have jurisdictional boundaries. You can visit a station near your workplace, home, or while traveling in another province.
Locating an Operational Station
To confirm the address and operating hours of your local branch:
- Use the official SAPS Station Finder on the South African Police Service portal.
- Search local municipal directories for the contact details of the nearest Community Service Centre.
- Larger urban stations (such as Cape Town Central, Johannesburg Central, or Durban Central) maintain dedicated administrative desks, whereas smaller rural stations handle fingerprinting directly at the front counter.
What Documents and Items to Bring
Showing up with incomplete documentation can result in delays or rejection of your application. Ensure you have the following items before visiting the station:
- Original Identity Document or Passport: A green barcoded South African ID book, Smart ID card, or a valid foreign passport. Temporary ID certificates issued by the Department of Home Affairs are also accepted.
- Certified Copy of ID/Passport: Bring at least two clear photocopies of your identification document. Most stations can certify copies on-site if you present the original.
- Proof of Maiden Name or Previous Surnames: If you are married or have changed your name and require your maiden or previous surname to reflect on the final certificate, bring your original marriage certificate or official name-change documentation alongside certified copies.
- SAPS 91(a) Application Form: While police stations stock physical copies of the SAPS 91(a) form, bringing a pre-printed copy can save time. Fill out the personal details section in black ink using block letters, leaving the fingerprint boxes blank for the police officer.
- Application Fee (R190): The official tariff is R190 per certificate. This can be paid in cash directly at the police station (ensure you receive an official SAPS receipt) or paid in advance via Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) into the SAPS national bank account.
- Black Ballpoint Pen: SAPS requires all forms to be completed strictly in black ink.
Step-by-Step Guide: What to Expect at the Police Station
The fingerprinting process typically takes between 15 and 45 minutes, depending on station queues and officer availability.
Step 1: Visit the Community Service Centre (CSC)
Enter the station and report to the Community Service Centre (often referred to as the charge office). Inform the officer at the desk that you require fingerprints for a Police Clearance Certificate (Form SAPS 91a).
Step 2: Identity Verification and Form Completion
The attending officer will inspect your original ID or passport to verify your identity. You will complete the personal information fields on the front and back of the form, including your full legal name, ID number, date of birth, contact details, and residential address.
Step 3: Rolling and Capturing Fingerprints
The police official will apply black fingerprint ink to your fingers and palms. They will systematically roll each individual finger (thumb to pinky on both hands) in the designated numbered blocks, followed by flat, simultaneous impressions of both palms and four-finger slaps at the bottom of the form.
Step 4: Quality Inspection and Station Stamping
Before you leave the desk, a senior officer or the attending official must review the clarity of the fingerprint ridges. If any prints are smudged, too faint, or over-inked, they must be retaken immediately to prevent rejection by the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) at head office. The officer will sign the form, record their PERSAL (police staff) number, and apply the official SAPS station date stamp.
Step 5: Application Submission Choices
Once your fingerprints are taken, you have three primary methods to submit your full application to the Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management (CR & CSM) unit in Pretoria:
- Free Station Dispatch: You can leave the completed application, certified ID copy, and proof of payment with the station to be forwarded to Pretoria via internal SAPS diplomatic bag/post. Note: While free, this route often experiences transit delays.
- Private Courier: You take the stamped SAPS 91(a) form and documents with you and courier them directly to the CRC Client Service Centre in Pretoria.
- In-Person Delivery / Document Agency: You or an authorized representative/courier can hand-deliver the pack directly to the CRC walk-in office at Bothongo Plaza West, Francis Baard Street, Pretoria.
Fingerprinting Options for South Africans Abroad
If you are currently outside South Africa and require a South African Police Clearance Certificate, you do not need to return home to have your fingerprints captured.
- Foreign Police Stations: You can visit your local police station in your country of residence. Most foreign jurisdictions will take your fingerprints on their official national fingerprint card or directly onto a printed SAPS 91(a) form. Ensure the foreign police department applies their official stamp and includes the officer’s signature.
- South African Embassies and Consulates: You can book an appointment at the nearest South African Embassy, High Commission, or Consulate-General, where consular staff can capture fingerprints on official SAPS stationery.
- Dispatching to South Africa: Foreign applicants must courier their original fingerprint sheet, certified passport copy, written application, and proof of payment directly to the Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management division in Pretoria.
Best Practices to Avoid Fingerprint Rejections
Applications submitted to the SAPS Criminal Record Centre are routinely rejected or delayed due to basic procedural errors. Follow these best practices to ensure first-time approval:
| Potential Issue | Preventative Measure |
| Smudged Ridge Detail | Ensure hands are clean and completely dry before inking. Do not move fingers while being rolled. |
| Missing Station Stamp | Verify that the official station date stamp is clearly legible on the designated space of the SAPS 91(a) form. |
| Incorrect Payment Reference | When paying via EFT, use strictly PCC followed by your initials and surname (e.g., PCC J DOE). |
| Missing Maiden Name Link | Always attach a certified marriage certificate if you need a maiden name listed on the clearance certificate. |
| Damaged Forms | Keep the completed fingerprint form flat inside a stiff folder. Never fold across the fingerprint boxes. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to go to the police station in my own residential area?
No. You are permitted to have your fingerprints taken at any South African Police Service station in the country, regardless of where you live or where your ID was issued. You can choose the station closest to your office, home, or any location convenient for you.
What are the operating hours for fingerprinting at police stations?
While SAPS Community Service Centres operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, dedicated administrative desks and designated fingerprint officers are most reliably available during standard office hours (Monday to Friday, 07:30 to 16:00). Visiting during standard daytime hours reduces wait times and ensures a certifying officer is present.
How much does it cost to get fingerprints taken at a police station?
The physical act of capturing fingerprints on the SAPS 91(a) form at a police station is a free public service. However, the statutory processing fee charged by SAPS Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management to issue the actual Police Clearance Certificate is R190 per application.
Can I take my own fingerprints at home using standard ink?
No. SAPS Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management requires fingerprints to be captured by a recognized official (such as a SAPS member, a foreign police officer, or an authorized consular agent) who must sign the form and certify that the prints were taken in their presence. Self-administered fingerprints are rejected.
What should I do if my fingerprints are rejected for poor quality?
If the Criminal Record Centre flags your fingerprints as unclassifiable or smudged, you will receive a reprint request. You must visit a police station again to have a fresh set of prints taken on a new SAPS 91(a) form. When resubmitting, include the original reference number provided by the CRC to avoid paying the R190 processing fee a second time.
Is digital biometric fingerprint scanning accepted for SAPS Police Clearance?
No. The South African Criminal Record Centre currently processes Police Clearance Certificate applications using physical, rolled ink impressions on paper forms (SAPS 91a). Digital inkless or electronic scanner prints from private third parties are not accepted for official SAPS PCC applications.