If you need to know how to apostille a South African Police Clearance Certificate, the process involves both SAPS and DIRCO. The apostille confirms that the document is genuine and allows it to be accepted in countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention.
Without an apostille, many foreign authorities may not accept your police clearance certificate.
This guide explains what an apostille is, how to get a South African police clearance certificate apostilled, and what to expect if you're applying from outside South Africa.
Looking for a complete overview? Read our guide to Apostille Certificate South Africa to understand the apostille process for South African public documents.
An apostille is an official certificate issued by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) that verifies the authenticity of a South African public document.
South Africa is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, which means an apostille issued by DIRCO is recognised by other member countries without the need for further legalisation.
For police clearance certificates, the apostille is attached after the South African Police Service (SAPS) has issued the original certificate. It does not replace the certificate; it confirms that the signature and official stamp on the document are genuine.
If your destination country is not a Hague Convention member, a different authentication or legalisation process may be required.
These terms are often confused, but they serve different purposes.
A certified copy is a photocopy that has been certified as a true copy of the original document by an authorised person. It does not verify the authenticity of the original document for international use.
Notarisation is carried out by a Notary Public and is generally used for private documents such as affidavits, declarations or powers of attorney.
An apostille confirms the authenticity of the signature, stamp or seal appearing on a public document for use in another Hague Convention country.
If a foreign authority specifically requests an apostilled police clearance certificate, a certified copy or notarised copy is not the same as an apostilled original police clearance certificate.
Obtaining an apostilled police clearance certificate is a two-step process.
You must first obtain the police clearance certificate from SAPS before the original certificate can proceed to the apostille stage.
Your application starts with the South African Police Service.
You'll generally need:
Applications can be submitted at a South African police station or through a representative, such as CertificatesRSA.
If you need assistance obtaining your certificate, CertificatesRSA can manage your South African Police Clearance Certificate application on your behalf.
It's important that fingerprints are taken correctly. Poor-quality fingerprints are one of the most common reasons applications are delayed.
Once submitted, SAPS processes the application through the Criminal Record Centre.
Once SAPS issues your police clearance certificate, it can be submitted to DIRCO for the apostille.
DIRCO verifies:
If everything is correct, DIRCO attaches the apostille certificate.
DIRCO requires the original police clearance certificate. Certified copies or altered documents cannot be apostilled.
CertificatesRSA can manage the DIRCO process on your behalf through our Apostille Services.
Many applicants needing an apostilled police clearance certificate already live overseas.
Fortunately, you do not need to travel back to South Africa.
Yes.
Both the SAPS application and DIRCO apostille process can be completed using an authorised representative in South Africa.
The only part that usually requires your direct involvement is having your fingerprints taken.
Depending on your country, fingerprints may be taken at:
The completed fingerprint forms are then sent to South Africa for submission.
After your fingerprints have been completed, a representative in South Africa can usually manage the remainder of the process.
This often requires:
Your representative can:
This option is particularly popular with South Africans living in:
CertificatesRSA can assist overseas clients with both the Police Clearance Certificate application and subsequent Apostille Service, allowing both stages to be managed through one service.
Most delays happen because of avoidable mistakes.
Common problems include:
Carefully checking your documents before submission can prevent unnecessary delays.
There is no guaranteed processing time.
The application consists of two separate government processes:
Processing times can vary depending on current workloads, the service selected and the circumstances of the application.
CertificatesRSA can assist with expedited police clearance and apostille services where available, helping to reduce turnaround times while ensuring your application and supporting documents are prepared correctly before submission.
If you're applying for immigration, employment or a visa, it's advisable to begin the process well before your submission deadline.
Managing the process yourself can be time-consuming, especially if you're overseas.
A document assistance service may be worthwhile if:
CertificatesRSA can assist with expedited police clearance and apostille services where available, while helping to minimise delays by ensuring your application and supporting documents are prepared correctly before submission.
If you're preparing documents for an overseas application, you may also find these guides useful:
If you're ready to begin, CertificatesRSA can assist with obtaining your South African Police Clearance Certificate and managing the Apostille Service once your certificate is ready.
Please note that from time to time the CRC and HA experiences backlogs and turnaround times listed on our website cannot be guaranteed. Loadshedding is putting a lot of pressure on the system and affecting applications and turnaround times. Kindly take this into consideration when making travelling plans or have deadlines.
