Easy Police ClearancePolice clearance guides
Straight answers to the questions people actually ask about South African police clearance certificates — no jargon, and honest about the parts that are not up to us.
How to track your police clearance
Check your SAPS status online with your enquiry number — and what to do if your application does not show up.
The SAPS fingerprint form
The SAPS 91(a), where to get fingerprints taken in South Africa or abroad, and how to avoid a rejection.
How long is a police clearance valid?
No printed expiry, but the authority you submit to usually wants it under six months old. Why starting too early is its own risk.
Apostille or attestation?
One question decides it: is the destination in the Hague Convention? A guide to which legalisation your certificate needs.
Do I need one for my visa?
Not every visa requires a PCC. When it is required, when it is not, and how to be sure.
PCC vs criminal record check
Police clearance, PCC, police check, certificate of good conduct — usually the same SAPS document under different names.
What shows on a police clearance
What a criminal record actually includes, whether old offences appear, and how expungement removes eligible ones.
By destination
Requirements differ by country. We have written each corridor out in full: United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, UAE, Germany.