How to get a police clearan ce certificate

Need to get a police clearance certificate (PCC) for criminal record, emigration, or travel and employment overseas? Scorpion Legal Protection explains the steps you need to take.

The issuing of police clearance certificates (PCC) can only be done by Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management in Pretoria. In addition to completing the application form, you must also provide these documents. • A full set of your fingerprints on an SAPS 91(a) form. The fingerprints must be taken by the South African Police Service. People living outside of South Africa may apply at any police station in that country or at the South African Embassy. Fingerprints must be taken on the official fingerprint forms of the applicable country or, if available, on the SAPS 91(a) fingerprint enquiry form. • A certified copy of your ID/passport. You will need to present your ID/passport at the police station as proof of identity. • Should a maiden surname and/ or other surnames be required on a Police Clearance Certificate, you must mention this in the application and provide documentary proof of the maiden surname and/or other surnames (for ex ample a certified copy of marriage certificate) with the application. • Proof of payment. The current fee is R160,00 per application.

This fee is non-refundable.

If you do not live near Pretoria, you can ask the police station nearest to you to forward the applications to CR & CSM in Pretoria or use the service of a postal or courier service (but this will be at your

own cost).

You can monitor the progress of your application via the SAPS website or, if you are still living in South Africa and you provided your cell number on the application, you will be sent an SMS acknowledging receipt of the application and the reference number allocated to your certificate. You will get a follow-up SMS when the application is complete. If you want to check on the status of the application while it’s being processed, you can use the SAPS’ website. Certificates must be collected within 3 months of being finalised or they will be destroyed.

The department has indicated that they currently have a backlog with the issuing of Police Clearance Certificates (PCC), which means the wait times will be longer.

If you have a query, follow Scorpion Legal Protection on Facebook and ask your question during our nex t Live Q&A (every first Thursday of the month from 11:30- 13:30).

*This is only basic legal advice and cannot be relied on solely. The information is correct at the time of being sent to publishing.