South African citizens must submit an apostilled copy of a Police Clearance Certificate. The whole process to get an apostilled Police Clearance Certificate takes at least 1-2 months so you must apply as soon as possible!
If you can provide the Police with a sample contract, the process will be expedited and you can receive your Police Clearance in 7-10 business days. Please contact us to get a sample contract!
The Police Clearance must have been issued within the last 6 months. If you already have a Police Clearance and just need to get it apostilled, please note that the Legalisation (Apostillization) Service only apostilles Police Clearances that are less than 3 months old.
*We STRONGLY recommend that if you live in/near Pretoria to go to the Legalisation Office in person to apostille your Police Clearance. You can get it back the same day! If you cannot go in person to the Legalisation Officein Pretoria, when you first request your Police Clearance, please ask that it be legalised (apostilled) before it is returned to you. This will save you time & money so please carefully follow the directions below!
Getting a Police Clearance Certificate
Step 1: Fill out an application form (Annex 23B), click and download here.
Step 2: Get a full set of your fingerprints taken by your closest Police Station or nearest South African Diplomatic or Consular Representative, if you are abroad. Step 3: Mail the following documents & payment to SAPS Criminal Record Centre in Pretoria:
- A completed & signed application form (Annex 23B)
- A full set of fingerprints
- A photocopy of ID document/passport
- Cover letter to SAPS – Criminal Record Centre. Request a signature & stamp by the Criminal Record Centre of the South African Police Service so you can get it legalised (apostilled). If you cannot go to Pretoria in person to apostille it, it is important that you say in the letter for the Police Clearance to be sent for legalisation before it is returned to you.
- Proof of payment
- A fee of ZAR59-00 (either a South African bank guaranteed cheque, bankers draft, money order, or electronic payment into the South African Police Service account made payable to the South African Police Service, is acceptable).
- **For expedited requests only: A copy of your employment contract
- **Only If you cannot go to Pretoria in person to apostille your Police Clearance:
- Include a cover letter to the Department of Foreign Affairs – Legalisation Section indicating country in which certificate will be used (Korea), how many documents you want legalized (one), and your full contact details (Name, address, and phone number).
- Include a self-addressed, pre-paid (no cash will be accepted) A4 size envelope to allow the Legalisation Section to return the documents to the customer upon completion.
Mailing Address:
The Head (Attention: Police Clearance Certificates)
Criminal Record Center – SAPS
1st Floor, Room 14 Botongo Plaza West
271 Schoeman Street
Pretoria, 0001
Republic of South Africa
Below is contact information for the Criminal Record Centre if you want to inquire about the status of your Police Certificate.
Tel. Number: (012) 393-3928 Fax Number: (012) 393-3900
Email: crcnameclear@saps.org.za / crc.client@saps.org.za or crc.clientserv.sec@saps.org.za
Website: www.saps.gov.za – refer to information under the heading FAQ’s – Application for Police Clearance Certificates (PCC) for further information
**If you can go to Pretoria in person to apostille your Police Clearance: Office Hours Opening hours to the public (Monday – Friday, excluding public holidays) 08:30 to 12:30 The Legalisation Section will give 7 days notice of any closure that is not a public holiday.
Physical Address: Legalisation Section NE2A-Ground Floor 460 Soutpansberg Road Rietondale Pretoria
Tel: (012) 351 1269, (012) 351 0033, (012) 351 1232, (012) 351 1490, (012) 323 4372
Email: legalisation@foreign.gov.za