Police Clearance Certificate also known as Arrest Record, Behaviour Certificate, No Objection Certificate,Certificate of Good Conduct, Certificate of Character, Rap Sheet, Criminal Record Certificate is a certificate issued by government agencies. In South Africa a police clearance certificate is issued by the Criminal Record Centre of the South African Police Cervices pertaining the criminal record of a individual in South Africa.The police Clearance Certificate is valid for a period of 12 months. To obtain a Police clearance certificate a full set of fingerprints with identification of the applicant must be lodged at the Criminal Record Centre in Pretoria. The issue of a Police Clearance Certificate usually takes between 28 and 45 working days. It is advisable to apply for a second copy of your Police Clearance Certificate with your initial application.
Process to Obtain a South Africa Police Clearance Certificate
Introduction to Police Clearance Certificate: If you want to immigrate, work or study in a foreign country , you and your dependants may have to provide police certificates when you submit your applications. Visa offices may also request certificates from students and temporary foreign workers
What is a police clearance certificate?: A police certificate is a copy of your criminal record or a declaration of the absence of any criminal record. The issue Police Clearance Certificates differs from country to country and may be called different names I.e. police clearance certificates, good conduct certificates, judicial record extracts, rap sheet, arrest record etc. They are issued by police authorities or government departments and used by immigration authorities to asses the risk a individual poses for the specific country.
Who needs a police clearance certificate? In general, you and everyone in your family from the age of 18 need a police clearance certificate.
When do you need a Police Clearance Certificate? The requirements differ from country and requirements must be obtained from the relevant authorities but as a rule of thumb the following guidelines can be followed. You must obtain a police certificate from each country where you:
• Have lived, studied or worked for more than six months
How old must the Police Clearance Certificate be? Again the requirements differ from country to country but the following can be used as a rule of thumb.
• The certificate must have been issued no more than three months before you submit your application.
• Usually Police Clearance Certificates are valid for 12 months.
Translation of for Police Clearance Certificates?
When a Police Clearance Certificate is issued in a language that is not the official language of the country you apply for you may be required to obtain a translation from a recognised official translator. The translation with the original document must be
Submitted.
Authentication and Apostille of Police Clearance Certificate.
Certain countries require that the original police clearance certificate be apostilled or legalised.
How to obtain a police certificate?: In most cases, it is your responsibility to contact the police or relevant authorities and request the certificate. When doing so, you may have to:
provide information or documentation such as photographs, fingerprints or your addresses and periods of residence in the country or territory; and a fee for the service.
To find out if you need a police certificate from a country or territory in which you lived consult the local authorities. You will find information on how and where to obtain police certificates, including police or government contact information. If this information is unavailable, contact the national police agency or the country's or territory’s embassy or consulate.
NEWS FLASH ON SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE CLEARANCE CERTIFICATES
To obtain a South African Police Clearance Certificate takes between 28 and 45 working days. If you have a prior conviction it can take substantially longer. At this stage add 3 weeks to normal issue period.
URGENT APPLICATIONS!!!
It is only in extreme circumstances that the CRC will entertain expediting applications. Such applications must be motivated.
We can assist you to expedite your application for a Police Clearance Certificate.
Application for Police Clearance Certificate
South Africans that work, travel and reside abroad require Police Clearance Certificates for purposes such as court requirements, residence permission or securing employment. Therefore the service from the South African Police Services (SAPS) _ Criminal Record Centre is available to South Africans who require confirmation on their criminal status.
The application for a police clearance certificate is a personal matter that the applicant must attend to and the issuing of a Clearance Certificate is the sole responsibility of the SAPS - Criminal Record Centre in Pretoria.
In some countries Police Clearance Certificates are also known as _ No Objection Certificates_ or _ Certificates of Character_ .
Note:
The South African Police Services (SAPS) is planning to outsource services for the police clearance certificates. South African Diplomatic and Consular Representatives abroad will be informed of any new procedures in due course. Until such time, the guidelines as per this chapter should be followed.
Procedures
1. Customers must forward applications/requests directly to the SAPS - Criminal Record Centre in Pretoria.
2. If forwarded from abroad, the application may be forwarded via any reputable
courier company. The courier company must be PREPAID to collect the documents from the Criminal Record Centre and return the documents to the sender.
3. It is important to find out whether the requesting authority would need the police clearance certificate to be legalised. It will save time and money to submit the original Police Clearance Certificate to the Department of Foreign Affairs _ Legalisation Section before it is returned to the applicant. Customers must specify this in their application to the SAPS - Criminal Record Centre. Refer to http://www.dfa.gov.za/consular/legalisation.htm for further information regarding legalisation (authentication) of official documentation.
4. The customer must present his/her green bar-coded Identity Document or valid passport at the South African Diplomatic and/or Consular Representatives, as proof of identification, when abroad. Note: The South African Diplomatic and/or Consular Representative abroad are only able to assist to take fingerprints. The customer is responsible to forward the application/request for a Police Clearance Certificate directly to the SAPS _ Criminal Record Centre in Pretoria.
5. There is no specific application form available from the SAPS, however the following information must be contained in the applicant_ s letter/request addressed to the SAPS _ Criminal Record Centre when submitting their application for a Police Clearance Certificate or refer to attached Annex 23B (Application for a Police Clearance Certificate) which has been designed to facilitate inquiries. The following details are required:
a) Surname, b) Maiden name (if applicable, also specify in which surname the certificate
should to be issued) , c) Given names, d) Date of birth, e) Place of birth, ) South African ID number (if applicable), g) Last residential address in South Africa , h) Last SA business / employer's address
i) Telephone number of the above (h) j) Date , k) Signature, l) Mailing address in the country of application, m) Zip/Postal Code, n) Telephone number
6. An application, consisting of the written request (containing abovementioned information), full set of fingerprints, and copy of ID document/passport and proof of payment must be forwarded directly to the SAPS - Criminal Record Centre in Pretoria. Fingerprints are done by your closest Police Station or nearest South African Diplomatic or Consular Representative, if you are abroad.
7. The application has to be accompanied by:
A fee of ZAR 59-00 (either a South African bank guaranteed cheque, bankers draft, money order, or electronic payment into the South African Police Service account made payable to the South African Police Service, is acceptable). Note: It is advisable not to forward cash with the application.
· A self-addressed and franked envelope if you want the application to be returned to you by post. 8. The application, copy of ID document/passport, original fingerprints and fee, should be forwarded by the applicant to:
The Head (Attention: Police Clearance Certificates), Criminal Record Centere - SAPS, st Floor, Room 14 Botongo Plaza West, 271 Schoeman Street, Pretoria, 0001, Republic of South Africa
Website: www.saps.gov.za _ refer to information under the heading FAQ_ s _ Application for Police Clearance Certificates (PCC) for further information.
9. Office hours are from 07:30 to 16:00 (Monday to Friday).
Pretoria Criminal Record Centre (SAPS) until the Clearance Certificate is issued
