Quick Answer: Police Clearance for Visa
A police clearance certificate confirms whether you have a criminal record. It is required on many longer-stay visa routes, and normally from every country where you have lived for an extended period as an adult, not only your country of citizenship.
It is also the document most likely to delay an application. Obtaining clearances from other countries can take months, and the certificates themselves normally have a limited validity. Requirements.co.za is an independent information website. It is not a visa agency, embassy or government department, and nothing here is immigration advice.
Who This Requirement Applies To
This guide is for anyone applying for a visa route that requires a criminal record check.
For legalisation of a South African certificate for use abroad, see Apostille Police Clearance for Visa.
Eligibility Requirements
Establish which clearances you need before applying for any of them, since the answer depends on where you have lived.
Applicant type
- South African clearance. Issued by the South African Police Service, on application with fingerprints.
- Foreign clearances. Normally required from countries where you lived for an extended period as an adult. Each country has its own process and timeline.
- Applicants abroad. A South African clearance can normally be applied for from outside the country, often through a mission, with fingerprints taken locally.
- Legalisation. A clearance for use in another country may need an apostille or authentication before it is accepted.
- Validity. Certificates normally expire after a limited period, so timing matters.
Documents You May Need
The application itself is relatively simple; the timeline is the hard part.
Required proof
- Completed application form for the issuing authority.
- A full set of fingerprints taken as the authority specifies.
- Identity document or passport.
- Proof of payment of the applicable fee.
- Legalisation of the issued certificate, where the receiving country requires it.
Steps to Apply or Prepare
List every country you have lived in as an adult, then check what each requires and how long it takes.
Apply for the slowest clearances first, and time them so they will still be valid when you submit your visa application.
Arrange any apostille or authentication after the certificate is issued, since legalisation applies to the finished document.
Costs, Processing Times and Validity
Each issuing authority charges its own fee, and legalisation is a further cost. Processing times vary widely by country and can run to months. Validity is limited, so a certificate obtained too early may expire before your visa is decided.
Common Mistakes and Delays
Common mistake
- Obtaining clearance too early and having it expire before submission.
- Assuming only your country of citizenship needs to issue one.
- Leaving foreign clearances until last, when they are the slowest.
- Forgetting that the certificate may need legalisation before a foreign authority accepts it.
- Fingerprints taken in a format the issuing authority does not accept.
Where to Confirm Official Requirements
Confirm the exact requirement with the authority deciding your application, whether that is the Department of Home Affairs or the embassy or application centre of your destination. The Official Requirements Sources South Africa page links to the responsible bodies. For South African certificates, confirm with the South African Police Service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which countries must issue police clearance?
Normally every country where you have lived for an extended period as an adult, not only your country of citizenship. Confirm the requirement for your route.
How long does police clearance take?
It varies widely by country and can take months. Start with the slowest and plan accordingly.
How long is it valid?
Certificates normally have a limited validity. Confirm the period the receiving authority accepts and time your application around it.
Can I apply from outside South Africa?
A South African certificate can normally be applied for from abroad, often through a mission, with fingerprints taken locally. Confirm the current process.
Does it need an apostille?
Often, where it is being used in another country. Confirm what the receiving authority requires.