Police Clearance Certificate Cost in South Africa (2026)
Police Clearance Certificate Cost in South Africa (2026)
The Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) from the South African Police Service costs R190.00 in 2026. That fee is paid at your local police station or by EFT — it is non-refundable regardless of outcome, and it does not expire the moment it is issued (though social workers and government departments typically accept certificates issued within 6 to 12 months).
If you are applying for foster care, adoption, or any role that involves working with children, the PCC is mandatory. Every adult living in the household must obtain one. Here is what the process actually looks like, how long it takes, and what your criminal record does — and does not — mean for your application.
How Much the Police Clearance Certificate Costs
R190.00 per application. This is the prescribed statutory fee set by the South African Police Service. It has not changed in recent years.
Payment options:
- Cash at the reception desk of your local SAPS station when you submit fingerprints
- Electronic funds transfer (EFT) to the official SAPS ABSA account:
- Account number: 4054522787
- Branch code: 632005
- Reference: PCC (use this exact reference — no variations, no names, no ID numbers)
If you pay by EFT, bring your proof of payment to the police station when submitting your fingerprints. The station will not process your fingerprints without payment confirmation.
There are no additional fees. You do not pay for collection, delivery, or processing — R190 covers the full cost of the certificate.
The Step-by-Step Application Process
Step 1: Visit your local SAPS station in person. You cannot apply online or send a representative. You must appear in person because the process requires your fingerprints.
Step 2: Bring the right identification. SAPS accepts:
- A green barcoded ID book
- A smart ID card
- A valid South African passport (for citizens)
- A valid foreign passport with a South African visa or permit (for non-citizens applying within SA)
Step 3: Have your fingerprints taken. A SAPS official will take your full set of fingerprints on the official SAPS 91(a) fingerprint enquiry form. This is a paper-based form — inkless digital fingerprinting is used at some larger stations but the process is the same.
Step 4: Pay the R190 fee — either cash at the counter or by EFT before the appointment.
Step 5: Provide a South African cellular number. SAPS will send you SMS updates with your unique reference number as your application moves through the system. This is the main way to track progress. If you do not have a South African number, ask the station to assist with alternative tracking options.
Your fingerprints and payment are sent to the Criminal Record Centre in Pretoria, which processes all PCC applications centrally. The local police station does not hold or store the results.
How Long It Takes
Processing at the Criminal Record Centre typically takes approximately 15 working days (three calendar weeks) from the date your fingerprints are received in Pretoria. This does not include postage time if your local station sends forms by mail rather than electronically — at some rural stations, allow an additional week for transit.
Delays can occur if:
- Your fingerprints are rejected due to poor quality (smudging, incomplete ridges). Elderly applicants and people who work with their hands are at higher risk of this. If fingerprints are rejected, you will need to return to the station for a second attempt.
- Your name matches another individual in the database and requires manual verification to resolve the ambiguity.
If you have not received your certificate within five working weeks and have received no SMS updates, contact the Criminal Record Centre directly at 012 393 3337.
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What the Certificate Shows — and What It Does Not
The PCC confirms whether you have a criminal conviction recorded on the SAPS national database. It does not record:
- Arrests that did not result in a conviction
- Cases that were withdrawn, struck off the roll, or where you were acquitted
- Matters pending in court (though your social worker may ask about these separately)
- Traffic fines (not criminal convictions)
A conviction does not automatically disqualify you from fostering. This is the most widespread misconception among prospective foster parents. The law focuses on the nature and severity of the offence, not on the bare existence of a record.
Social workers and presiding magistrates evaluate criminal records specifically looking for:
- Violent offences
- Sexual misconduct
- Domestic abuse
- Child neglect or abandonment
- Offences against children
A minor, non-violent offence — particularly one that is old and for which you have served any relevant sentence — does not trigger automatic disqualification. The social worker compiles a suitability report that presents your full profile, and the magistrate makes a holistic assessment. Transparency during your suitability interview is more important than an unblemished record: undisclosed convictions that surface later are far more damaging than disclosed ones.
The Two-Track Vetting System: PCC Plus Form 30
For foster care applications, the police clearance certificate is only one part of the vetting process. A second and distinct check runs in parallel: the National Child Protection Register (CPR) inquiry, submitted via Form 30.
The Form 30 inquiry checks whether your name appears on Part B of the National Child Protection Register — the list of persons formally found unsuitable to work with children by a court or disciplinary process. Being listed on Part B is an absolute statutory bar to fostering or adoption.
The Form 30 is submitted to the DSD Director-General in Pretoria by your social worker. It is separate from SAPS and operates on a different timeline — frequently taking three to six months to process, making it the bottleneck in the vetting pipeline, not the PCC.
If you are starting the foster care application process, submit the Form 30 as early as possible. Do not wait for your PCC to come back first.
Police Clearance for Foster Care vs. Other Purposes
The SAPS Police Clearance Certificate is the same document whether you need it for:
- Foster care or adoption vetting in South Africa
- Emigration or immigration applications
- Employment vetting (positions requiring a clearance)
- Visa applications abroad
For international purposes (emigration, foreign visa applications), the certificate typically needs to be apostilled by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO). For foster care applications within South Africa, no apostille is required — the original certificate is submitted directly to your social worker.
Practical Tips for Foster Care Applicants
Get your PCC early. Processing times are fixed and there is no way to expedite a standard application. Social workers cannot proceed with your suitability report until your PCC is in hand, so a three-week wait early in the process costs you three weeks at the end.
Every adult in the household needs their own certificate. A partner, adult sibling, adult child, or any other adult living at the address must apply separately and pay the R190 fee individually. Budget for this from the outset.
Keep the original. SASSA and the Children's Court require original documents, not certified copies, for critical submissions. Make your own copies for reference but keep the originals intact.
Understanding the full document checklist for a South African foster care application — including the PCC, Form 30, medical certificates, home assessment requirements, and the documents your social worker needs to compile the Section 181 suitability report — is part of what the South Africa Foster Care Guide covers in detail.
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