A police clearance certificate costs R190 per application in 2026. That is the prescribed fee, published by the South African Police Service. Almost every other page you will find quotes R150, R180, or R100 to R120. They are out of date. And there is a second, cheaper document at R95 that hardly anyone mentions.
Quick facts
| Item | 2026 amount | Set by |
|---|---|---|
| Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) | R190 per application | SAPS prescribed fee |
| Police Clearance Report (PCR), for expungement | R95 per report | SAPS prescribed fee |
| Fingerprints at a police station | May attract a fee | Station |
| Two way courier | Frequently more than the certificate itself | Courier |
| Private agency service fee | R700 to R2 750 | Market |
| Official processing time | 6 to 8 weeks | SAPS |
| Actual processing time | Longer, backlog acknowledged | SAPS |
| Certificate validity | Usually 6 months | Requesting authority |
| Uncollected certificates | Destroyed after 3 months | SAPS |
| Issuing body | Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management, Pretoria | SAPS |
The fee is R190, and almost everyone is wrong
The South African Police Service publishes the fee on its own services page. It reads: the prescribed fee is R190,00 per application.
Here is what the first page of search results currently tells you instead:
| Source | What it says | Correct? |
|---|---|---|
| SAPS | R190 | Yes |
| Clearance Pros | R190 | Yes |
| Nevetec | R190 | Yes |
| DocAssist | R180 | No |
| Apostille Legalisation | R180 | No |
| idchecker | R150 | No |
| South African Consulate, Hong Kong | R150 | No |
| Visa Logistics | R150 in one article, R100 to R120 in another | No, and it contradicts itself |
Pay R190. If a police station or an agent tells you a different number, ask them to show you the SAPS schedule.
The R95 document nobody mentions
There are two documents, not one.
The Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) is what you need for emigration, a visa, or employment abroad. It costs R190. It is issued only by Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management in Pretoria.
The Police Clearance Report (PCR) is for people who need confirmation of their criminal status for the purpose of expungement of a criminal record. It costs R95, and it can be issued by any Local Criminal Record Centre. It must be handed to the applicant in person on collection.
If your purpose is expungement rather than emigration, you are looking at the wrong document and paying double. Not one page currently ranking for this search mentions the PCR.
The certificate is R190. The process is not.
This is where the money actually goes.
Fingerprints. A full set of ink fingerprints on form SAPS 91(a), taken by a SAPS officer. Some stations charge for this. Digital scans and photocopies are not accepted. Fingerprints from a previous application cannot be reused. Every new application needs a fresh set in ink.
Courier. The application must reach Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management in Pretoria, and the certificate must come back. A trackable two way courier frequently costs several times the R190 fee itself. If you live in Cape Town or Durban, or you are applying from abroad, this is your largest line item by a wide margin.
Apostille. If the certificate is for use outside South Africa, you will usually need it legalised by DIRCO. Confirm with the requesting authority before you send anything, because doing it afterwards means sending the original away a second time.
Photos and certified copies. Minor, but real.
So the honest answer to “what does a police clearance certificate cost” is: R190 to SAPS, plus fingerprints, plus courier both ways, plus apostille if you need it.
What the agencies charge
Private services will queue, submit and chase on your behalf. They do not issue the certificate, and they cannot change what it says. SAPS issues it either way.
| Agency | What they charge |
|---|---|
| Frenchside | R2 750, priority service, 7 working day turnaround |
| Nevetec | R700 to collect and deliver your documents |
| Clearance Pros | Service fee on quotation, 7 to 15 working days |
| Global Apostille | Fast track, on quotation |
You are paying for speed and for someone else to stand in the queue. Given the SAPS backlog, that can be worth it if a visa or a job start date is on the line. Given that the state fee is R190, it is worth knowing exactly what portion of an agent’s invoice is theirs.
Ask any agent for a breakdown: how much is SAPS, and how much is you.
What you need to apply
- A full set of fingerprints on form SAPS 91(a), taken in ink at a police station. Applicants abroad go to any police station in their country of residence, or a South African embassy.
- A certified copy of your identity document or passport.
- Your marriage certificate, if you need both your maiden and married surname on the certificate.
- Proof of payment of the R190.
- Your contact details, including a cell number, so SAPS can SMS you a reference number and confirm completion.
Payment is by cash at a police station, or electronically into the SAPS account in favour of the National Commissioner. Do not post cash with the application.
Incomplete applications are not processed. You will get an SMS telling you so, and you will start again.
How long it takes
SAPS works to a 6 to 8 week turnaround. It is not currently meeting it, and it says so: the Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management division publicly acknowledges a backlog that has extended the waiting period.
Reports from the industry put the real wait anywhere between 3 and 6 months. Plan accordingly. If you have a visa deadline, apply now, not later.
Three traps
Fingerprints must be fresh. You cannot reuse the set from your last application. New application, new prints, in ink.
Uncollected certificates are destroyed after three months. If yours is returned to a police station and you do not fetch it, it will be shredded and you will pay R190 again.
If you are flagged as wanted, no certificate is issued. A criminal record does not prevent you from applying, and the certificate will simply reflect any convictions. But if SAPS identifies you as wanted, the application stops there.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a police clearance certificate in South Africa? R190 per application. That is the prescribed SAPS fee in 2026. Pages quoting R150 or R180 are out of date.
What is the difference between a PCC and a PCR? A Police Clearance Certificate costs R190 and is used for emigration, visas and employment abroad. A Police Clearance Report costs R95, is issued by any Local Criminal Record Centre, and is used for expungement of a criminal record.
Can I apply online? No. The certificate is fingerprint based, and your prints must be taken in person, in ink, on form SAPS 91(a). There is no self service portal that produces a certificate.
How long is it valid? Most authorities accept a certificate for six months from the date of issue. Some allow up to twelve. Confirm with whoever is asking for it, and time your application so it does not expire mid-application.
Can I get one if I have a criminal record? Yes. The certificate will reflect any convictions. If SAPS identifies you as wanted, no certificate will be issued.
Do I have to use an agent? No. The direct SAPS route is the cheapest by a wide margin. Agents buy you speed, not a different certificate.
Why is my certificate taking so long? SAPS has acknowledged a backlog at the Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management division in Pretoria. The official 6 to 8 weeks is frequently not being met.
Methodology
The fees on this page come from the South African Police Service’s published services page, which sets the prescribed fee for a Police Clearance Certificate at R190,00 per application, and the prescribed fee for a Police Clearance Report at R95,00 per report.
Where other published sources conflict with the SAPS figure, we have named them and identified the SAPS figure as correct rather than averaging them.
Agency service fees are market prices, set by each business, and are labelled as such.
SAPS adjusts its prescribed fees from time to time. Confirm the current amount before you pay.
Related
- Home Affairs certificate fees — birth, death and marriage certificate tariffs
Disclaimer
The figures on this page reflect the SAPS prescribed fees at the time of our last review. Government fees are adjusted from time to time and can change without notice.
This article is general information about published government fees. Confirm the current amount with SAPS before making any payment, and confirm with the requesting authority whether an apostille is required before you submit.
