If you reside outside South Africa, you can obtain a South African Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) by having your fingerprints taken at a local police station, a South African embassy or consulate, or an accredited fingerprint technician in your host country. The physical fingerprint forms—ideally on the SAPS 91(a) form or standard local law enforcement cards—must be couriered along with your certified identification, completed application, and proof of payment directly to the SAPS Criminal Record Centre (CRC) in Pretoria or handled via a specialized document agent.
Where to Get Fingerprints Taken When Living Abroad
Obtaining acceptable fingerprints from outside South Africa requires visiting an authorized official who can administer ink-and-roll or digital-to-paper impressions.
Local Police Stations in Your Host Country
Most municipal, county, or state police departments abroad offer fingerprinting services for foreign background checks. When attending:
- Request a full 10-finger rolled and flat impression sheet.
- Ensure the attending officer completes the official details, including their name, rank, badge number, police station stamp, and signature.
- Verify that your identity details on the form match your South African identity document or passport exactly.
South African Diplomatic Missions
South African Embassies, High Commissions, and Consulates General frequently provide fingerprinting services for expatriates. While applying directly through the embassy is an option, diplomatic mail bags move slowly, often adding several months to the overall processing time. A faster alternative is having the consular staff take your fingerprints on-site, taking the physical cards with you, and couriering them independently to South Africa.
Certified Fingerprint Technicians and Commercial Agencies
In countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, private accredited agencies (such as authorized LiveScan fingerprint providers or notary agencies) can capture impressions on standard cards. As long as the agency provides an authentic stamp, signature, and technician credential on the document, the SAPS Criminal Record Centre will accept the prints.
Fingerprint Forms Accepted by SAPS
The SAPS Criminal Record Centre in Pretoria enforces strict standards regarding fingerprint legibility and layout.Submitting prints on an unapproved or poorly completed sheet will lead to application rejection.
The SAPS 91(a) Enquiry Form
The SAPS 91(a) is the official fingerprint form used within South Africa. Expatriates can download and print this form on high-quality white paper (preferably card stock, 120–160 gsm) and present it to the local fingerprint technician. Using the genuine SAPS 91(a) eliminates compatibility questions during intake at the Pretoria CRC.
Standard Foreign Fingerprint Cards
If the local police station or agency insists on using their domestic stationery, SAPS accepts standard foreign law enforcement cards, including:
- FBI Standard Fingerprint Card (FD-258) (commonly used in the United States and international private agencies)
- RCMP C-216C Form (Canada)
- National Police / ACRO Fingerprint Forms (United Kingdom)
- Standard State Police Fingerprint Cards (Australia, New Zealand, EU members)
Ensuring High-Quality, Legible Impressions
Fingerprint rejection is the primary cause of clearance delays. Follow these technical guidelines:
- Complete Sets: Provide all 10 individual rolled prints across the upper blocks and simultaneous flat impressions (slaps) along the bottom row.
- Ink Consistency: Use dark, non-smearing fingerprint ink or certified inkless pads. Avoid heavy blotches or faint, incomplete ridges.
- Full Ridge Detail: Impressions must run from nail-edge to nail-edge and from the tip down past the first joint crease.
- Physical Conditions: If you have scars, amputations, or damaged ridges, ensure the technician records the appropriate notation (e.g., “amputated” or “bandaged”) in the corresponding box.
Required Documents for an Overseas Application
Assemble a complete application dossier before dispatching your package to South Africa:
| Document | Specifications |
| Original Fingerprint Form | SAPS 91(a) or approved foreign card (FD-258), fully signed and stamped by the official. |
| Identity Document / Passport | Certified copy of your valid South African ID card/book or foreign/South African passport. |
| Application / Cover Letter | A clear cover sheet stating your full names, surname, maiden name (if applicable), date of birth, ID number, contact email, and return courier address. |
| Proof of Payment | Official electronic bank transfer receipt displaying the mandatory SAPS reference format. |
| Marriage Certificate | Certified copy of your marriage certificate if you require your maiden name or previous married surname endorsed on the certificate. |
Step-by-Step Submission Process
[Take Fingerprints Abroad] ➔ [Pay SAPS Tariff] ➔ [Courier Dossier to Pretoria] ➔ [CRC Verification & Print] ➔ [DIRCO Legalisation (Optional)] ➔ [Return Courier Delivery]
Step 1: Capture Fingerprints and Certify IDs
Book an appointment with your local police, embassy, or commercial provider. Have your identification certified by a notary public, commissioner of oaths, or consular official simultaneously.
Step 2: Pay the Official SAPS Fee
SAPS charges a statutory fee per clearance application (payable directly to the South African Police Service ABSA account).
- Bank: ABSA Bank
- Account Number: 4054522787
- Branch Code: 632005
- Swift Code: ABSAZAJJXXX
- Reference Format: Must read
PCCfollowed by your Initials and Surname (e.g.,PCC J SMITH).
Step 3: Courier the Physical Documents to Pretoria
Do not send documents via standard postal mail, as international postal items to South African government departments suffer severe transit delays or loss. Use a reliable door-to-door international courier service (e.g., DHL, FedEx, UPS) addressed directly to the client service intake:
The Head: Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management
(For Attention: Police Clearance Certificates)
South African Police Service
Bothongo Plaza West, CRC Client Service Centre
1st Floor, Room 14, 271 Francis Baard Street
Pretoria, South Africa, 0001
Step 4: Tracking and Collection
Once received by the CRC, your file is assigned an enquiry number and logged into the SAPS database. Because SAPS does not ship original certificates overseas by default, you must either arrange a prepaid return courier collection with instructions for collection from the CRC Client Service Centre or contract an authorized South African document agency to collect the physical certificate upon issue.
Legalisation, Apostille, and Translation
If you are using your South African Police Clearance Certificate for immigration, permanent residency, work permits, or marriage registration in a foreign country, domestic authorities generally require the document to be legalized:
- Hague Apostille Convention Countries: The original certificate must be submitted to the Legalisation Section at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) in Pretoria, where an official Apostille certificate is affixed.
- Non-Hague Countries: Requires a multi-step authentication process involving DIRCO authentication followed by embassy attestation at the destination country’s embassy in Pretoria.
- Sworn Translations: If your host country’s official language is not English, the certificate must be translated by an accredited High Court Sworn Translator following authentication.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I submit digitally scanned fingerprints via email for a South African Police Clearance?
No. The SAPS Criminal Record Centre strictly requires original, physical fingerprint impressions on paper. Scanned, emailed, or photocopied fingerprint sheets are rejected during intake because biometric ridge analysis requires direct physical examination of ink or digitally printed card impressions.
How long is a South African Police Clearance Certificate valid?
Under South African law, a Police Clearance Certificate does not have an explicit expiry date; it reflects your criminal record status on the date of issuance. However, most foreign immigration departments, embassies, and prospective employers treat the document as valid for only 6 months from the date of issue.
What is the official fee for a SAPS Police Clearance Certificate, and how do I pay it from overseas?
The statutory processing fee set by the South African Police Service is R150.00 per application. Applicants applying from abroad must pay this via electronic funds transfer (EFT) or international SWIFT wire into the official SAPS bank account at ABSA Bank, ensuring the payment reference starts with PCC followed by their initials and surname.
Can foreign nationals who previously lived in South Africa apply for a clearance certificate from abroad?
Yes. Anyone who has resided, studied, or worked in South Africa—regardless of nationality or citizenship—can apply for a South African Police Clearance Certificate. The process is identical: provide full personal details, a certified copy of your foreign passport, and a complete set of original fingerprints taken in your current country of residence.
What should I do if my maiden name or previous surnames need to be included on the certificate?
If you require your maiden name or previous married surnames to appear on the final certificate (a common requirement for female applicants for visa and immigration purposes), state all previous surnames clearly on your application cover letter and attach certified copies of your marriage certificate or divorce decree.
How do I arrange for a courier to collect my completed certificate from the SAPS CRC in Pretoria?
SAPS does not cover international courier dispatch costs. You must either schedule a prepaid collection with a courier service once the online status reflects that the certificate has been printed, or hire an independent Pretoria-based document clearance agency to physically collect the certificate from the CRC Client Service Centre on Francis Baard Street.