Police Clearance Apostille

Need your South African police clearance certificate for a visa, work permit, or immigration application? We provide fast, reliable apostille services through our registered DIRCO agent access. Our Turnaround:

• DIRCO Apostille: 7 Working Days
• SAPS PCC: 1 - 3 Weeks
• Complete Service: 3-4 Weeks Total

What is a Police Clearance Certificate?

A Police Clearance Certificate (PCC), also known as a SAPS Criminal Record Check, is an official document confirming whether you have any criminal convictions recorded in South Africa. You need an apostilled police clearance for:

• Work visas (UK, UAE, Australia, Germany)
• Immigration and emigration
• Permanent residence applications
• Teaching positions abroad
• Professional registrations
• Adoption applications

Why Does Your Police Clearance Need Apostilling?

A police clearance certificate on its own is only valid within South Africa. For use abroad, it must be legalised. For Hague Convention countries (UK, Australia, Germany, Netherlands): Your PCC needs a DIRCO apostille. For non-Hague countries (UAE, Vietnam, Kuwait): Your PCC needs DIRCO authentication PLUS embassy attestation.

Our Service Options

Option 1: Apostille Only

You already have your SAPS police clearance

• DIRCO Processing: 7 working days
• Price: From R1000
• Total time: Approximately 10 days

Process:

1. You courier your original PCC to us
2. We submit to DIRCO (every Wednesday)
3. We collect after 7 working days
4. We courier back to you

Option 2: Complete Service (PCC + Apostille)

We obtain your police clearance and apostille it

• SAPS PCC: 1 - 3  Weeks
• DIRCO Apostille: 7 working days
• Price: From R1950
• Total time: 3-4 weeks

Process:

1. Take your fingerprints at the nearest SAPS station and provide us with the fingerprint bundle
2. We submit to CRC for processing
3. We collect your PCC
4. We submit to DIRCO
5. We courier the apostilled document to you

Requirements

For SAPS Application:

• Copy of ID document (South African citizens) or -
• Copy of passport (foreign nationals)
• Full set of fingerprints (ink on card)
• Completed application form

For DIRCO Apostille:

• Original PCC (not copies)
• Document in good condition
• Recent issue (within 6 months for most countries)

Important: Validity Period

Police clearance certificates are typically valid for 6 months from the issue date. Plan your timeline carefully:

• Don't apply too early (it may expire before you need it)
• Allow 6-8 weeks before your deadline
• Factor in courier time

Why Choose Apostille.co.za?

Complete Service: We can handle everything from fingerprints to final apostille. Attorney-Backed: Operated by Louwrens Koen, admitted attorney and notary public since 1995. Pretoria-Based: Direct access to SAPS Criminal Record Centre and DIRCO.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a SAPS police clearance take? Standard processing is 6 - 12 weeks. Our service takes 1 - 3 weeks. How long is a police clearance valid? Most countries accept PCCs issued within 3 - 6 months. Can you apostille a PCC that shows a conviction? Yes. DIRCO apostilles the certificate regardless of its content. The conviction may affect your visa application separately. Can I get a police clearance from abroad? Yes. You'll need fingerprints taken at a South African embassy or local police service.

Get Your Police Clearance Apostilled

Ready to start? Contact us for a free quote. 

Phone: 087 001 0733 

Email:info@apostille.co.za 

Office: Pretoria

Document Legalisation Services (Pty) Ltd is a private company and registered DIRCO agent. We are not affiliated with SAPS, DIRCO, or any government department.