South African police clearance for US immigration

When the US requires a South African police certificate

For immigrant visas (green cards processed through the National Visa Center and a US embassy or consulate), the State Department generally requires police certificates from applicants aged 16 or older for countries where they lived for a qualifying period — typically a year or more, and from their country of nationality and current residence after a shorter stay. For most South African applicants, that includes South Africa. The State Department's South Africa reciprocity page and your NVC instructions are the final word for your case.

Visitor, student and most temporary work visas do not usually require one.

How long it stays valid

Since June 2021, the State Department treats police certificates as valid for two years from issue. A certificate from a country you used to live in stays valid if you have not lived there again since it was issued. Bring the original to your interview, and follow your NVC instructions for uploading it.

Do you need an apostille for the USA?

The US immigrant-visa process does not generally require an apostille on the SAPS certificate. The US is a Hague Convention country, so if another authority asks for legalisation, an apostille is the correct route — R1,650 with us, and DIRCO will only apostille a certificate that is under six months old.

Getting fingerprinted in the US

SAPS accepts fingerprints taken at a police station in the country where you live, on that country's official fingerprint form or the SAPS 91(a). In the US, people use a local police department or a fingerprinting service. Ask for ink prints on the physical card — SAPS does not process scanned or electronic prints. The South African consulate in New York tells applicants to send applications directly to SAPS in Pretoria, not to the consulate. See the SAPS fingerprint form.

How we do it

1. We send you the formThe fingerprint form, the application form and a short note for whoever takes your prints.
2. You get fingerprinted in the USAInk prints, fully rolled — see where to get prints taken.
3. You courier the originals to usFingerprint form, application form and a certified copy of your ID or passport.
4. We submit, track and collectWe pay the SAPS fee at cost (R190), lodge the application in Pretoria, track it and collect it.
5. We courier it to youZone 3 (USA, Canada and Mexico) courier to the USA is R1,050.

You can also post an application to SAPS yourself — SAPS accepts applications directly from abroad. People use us so that someone in Pretoria checks the file before it goes in, follows it up, and collects it before the three-month collection deadline.

Sources: US Department of State, South Africa reciprocity schedule and immigrant visa police certificate guidance; South African Consulate-General, New York; SAPS, Applying for a Police Clearance Certificate. Checked 23 October 2026. Rules change — confirm with the authority handling your application.

Frequently asked questions