To obtain a South African Police Clearance Certificate (PCC), you must have a complete, clear set of ink fingerprints taken on the official SAPS 91(a) form by an authorized officer at any South African Police Service (SAPS) station, or at an embassy or local police station if you are abroad. These physical fingerprints are submitted alongside your identity documentation, application form, and the required fee to the SAPS Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management (CR & CSM) center in Pretoria for criminal record verification. Crisp, unsmudged impressions with proper ridge detail are mandatory, as defective prints are the leading cause of application rejections and processing delays.
Understanding the SAPS 91(a) Fingerprint Form
What Is the SAPS 91(a)?
The SAPS 91(a) is the standard government fingerprint enquiry form used across South Africa for background vetting, employment screening, and official Police Clearance Certificate applications. The form captures rolled impressions of all ten individual fingers alongside flat (plain/simultaneous) slap impressions of both hands. It also records vital demographic information, including your full legal names, date of birth, place of birth, and national identification or passport number.
Why Fingerprint Quality Is Critical
The South African Criminal Record Centre relies on automated biometric identification systems (AFIS) and forensic fingerprint examiners to cross-reference your prints against the national criminal database. If ridges are faded, ink is heavily smudged, or the margins of the finger patterns are cut off, the biometric scanner cannot read the minutiae points. Low-quality prints trigger an immediate rejection notice, requiring you to re-take your fingerprints and restart the waiting period from scratch.
Where to Get Fingerprints Taken
Applying Within South Africa
If you reside in South Africa, you can visit the Community Service Centre (CSC) at any local SAPS police station. You are not restricted to the station closest to your residential address; any operational SAPS branch can administer the fingerprints. The police station supplies the official SAPS 91(a) form directly at no additional charge beyond the standard certificate processing fee.
Applying from Abroad
If you are living outside South Africa, you have two primary options for obtaining acceptable fingerprint cards:
- South African Diplomatic Missions: Visit the nearest South African Embassy, High Commission, or Consulate General, where consular officials can take your prints on a SAPS 91(a) form.
- Foreign Local Police Stations: Have your prints taken at a local police station or accredited fingerprinting agency in your country of residence. Foreign police forces may take the impressions on their own standardized national fingerprint cards (such as the FBI FD-258 in the United States or equivalent local police sheets) or on a downloaded SAPS 91(a) form. Ensure the foreign technician signs, dates, and applies an official station stamp to the document.
Requirements and Documents to Bring to the Station
Essential Identification and Paperwork
When reporting to the police station or fingerprinting venue, you must present the following items:
- Original Identity Document: A valid South African Smart ID Card, green barcoded ID book, or a valid Passport.
- Certified Copy of Identification: A clear, certified photocopy of your identity document or passport data page.
- Completed PCC Application Form: The official SAPS application form containing your current contact details and physical address.
- Application Fee / Proof of Payment: The statutory processing fee (payable in cash at most local stations, or via electronic funds transfer into the official SAPS bank account with your initials and surname as the reference).
Maiden Names and Name Changes
If you require your maiden name, previous married surnames, or legally changed names to appear on your final Police Clearance Certificate, you must declare them on the application form. You must provide documentary proof, such as a certified copy of your marriage certificate, divorce decree, or official deed poll/amendment certificate issued by the Department of Home Affairs.
The Step-by-Step Fingerprinting Process
1. Preparation and Skin Conditioning
Clean, dry hands are essential for sharp ridge transfer. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before taking your prints to remove excess oils, dirt, or hand lotions. If your hands are exceptionally dry or peeling, apply a light, non-greasy moisturizer a few hours in advance (not immediately before) to soften ridge patterns without creating smearing hazards.
2. Capturing Rolled and Plain Impressions
A trained police official will guide each finger over the ink pad and transfer the pattern to the designated box on the form:
- Rolled Impressions (Individual Fingers): Each digit—from thumb to pinky on both hands—is rolled smoothly from nail edge to nail edge in a single, continuous motion to record the complete delta and core patterns.
- Plain / Slap Impressions (Simultaneous): All four fingers of each hand are pressed flat simultaneously at the bottom of the sheet, followed by both thumbs pressed flat together. These plain impressions serve as a verification check to ensure the individual rolled prints were placed in the correct anatomical sequence.
3. Verification, Officer Signature, and Station Stamping
Before leaving the desk, inspect the fingerprint sheet alongside the official:
- Ensure every box is filled with dark, legible ridge patterns without excessive blotting or white voids.
- Verify that your personal details (full legal name, date of birth, ID number, and gender) match your official identification exactly.
- Confirm that the taking officer has signed, dated, printed their force number/name, and affixed the official police station ink stamp on the document.
Common Fingerprint Mistakes That Cause Application Rejection
- Smudging and Over-Inking: Excessive ink floods the grooves between ridges, turning the print into a solid black blot that automated scanners cannot analyze.
- Under-Inking and Faint Prints: Insufficient ink produces light, broken lines where crucial minutiae points become invisible.
- Partial or Clipped Impressions: Failing to roll the finger fully from side to side omits the outer deltas required for pattern classification.
- Submitting Digital or Scanned Copies: SAPS CRC strictly mandates original physical hard copies; photocopied or printed PDF scans of completed fingerprint cards are automatically rejected upon receipt.
- Missing Official Endorsements: Applications without an authentic officer signature or an official police station date stamp cannot be verified and will not be processed.
Submitting Your Fingerprints to the Criminal Record Centre (CRC)
Once your fingerprints and supporting documents are finalized, they must be delivered to the SAPS Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management headquarters in Pretoria.
| Submission Method | How It Works | Typical Handling Time |
| Local SAPS Station Routing | The station batches applications and sends them via internal government mail to Pretoria. | Adds several weeks to total turnaround due to batching and postal transit. |
| Direct Courier to CRC | You or a representative courier the original documents directly to the CRC Client Service Centre in Pretoria. | Fastest direct method; eliminates local station dispatch delays. |
| Document Concierge Agency | An accredited third-party service reviews your prints for quality, hand-delivers them to the CRC, and collects the completed certificate. | Expedited submission with direct tracking and error checking. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I submit digital or scanned copies of my fingerprints for a Police Clearance Certificate?
No. The SAPS Criminal Record Centre strictly requires the original physical ink fingerprint document. Photocopied, scanned, or emailed versions of fingerprint sheets are rejected immediately upon intake because digital scans lack the fine resolution and tactile ridge characteristics required for forensic comparison.
How much does it cost to have fingerprints taken at a South African police station?
Taking fingerprints at a local SAPS station is a free public service, but the statutory processing fee for the Police Clearance Certificate itself is R190 per application. This fee can be paid in cash directly at most police stations or electronically into the SAPS ABSA bank account before dispatching the application to Pretoria.
Can I get my fingerprints taken at any police station in South Africa?
Yes. You are not required to visit the police station in the precinct where you live or work. Any operational South African Police Service station across the country can administer your fingerprints on the SAPS 91(a) form.
What should I do if my fingerprints are faint or worn down due to age or manual labor?
Inform the police officer taking your prints beforehand. The officer should use specialized fingerprint ink pads or ridge-enhancing conditioning liquids to maximize contrast. If certain fingers have scars, amputations, or permanent deformities, the officer must record the specific condition (e.g., “amputated” or “scarred”) directly inside the corresponding box on the SAPS 91(a) form so the CRC does not treat it as a missing print.
How do I take fingerprints for a South African PCC if I live overseas?
You can have your fingerprints taken at the nearest South African Embassy, High Commission, or Consulate, or visit a local foreign police station or authorized fingerprinting technician. Foreign stations can take the prints on their standard national fingerprint forms or a printed SAPS 91(a). The attending officer must sign, date, and officially stamp the document before you courier the original paper to the CRC in Pretoria.
How long are the fingerprints valid before I must submit my PCC application?
While fingerprint ridge patterns do not change, SAPS standard practice recommends submitting your application within three months of taking the prints. Submitting older fingerprint sheets may lead to queries regarding the currency of your personal details and identity documentation.