South Africa
If you now live in Canada and previously lived, worked, or studied in South Africa,
many immigration, employment, and licensing processes will ask you for a South Africa Police Clearance Certificate (PCC)
in addition to your Canadian one. Getting fingerprinted correctly is usually the first step. This guide walks through how that works
while you’re based in Canada, and how Surrey Fingerprint Company can help with the fingerprinting part.
Visit Surrey Fingerprint Company for professional, correctly-formatted fingerprints for your South Africa police clearance
application. Email info@surreyfingerprint.com
beforehand so we can confirm the exact form and format South African Police Service (SAPS) — Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management, Pretoria currently requires.
Why Would Someone in Canada Need a South Africa PCC?
- Canadian immigration & citizenship (IRCC): if you lived in South Africa for 6 months or more before moving to Canada, IRCC may require a police certificate from South Africa as part of permanent residency, sponsorship, or citizenship applications.
- Immigration to a third country: if you are applying to move from Canada to another country (e.g. Australia, the UK, the US, or elsewhere), that country’s character/background check requirements often ask for a clearance from every country you’ve lived in for an extended period, including South Africa.
- Employment & licensing: some regulated professions and international employers request a background check covering your time in South Africa.
- Legal, banking, or property matters: some processes back in South Africa may themselves ask you to complete identity verification via fingerprints while abroad.
The General Process From Canada
Because you’re applying from outside South Africa, the typical path is: get fingerprinted locally in Canada in the exact
format South African Police Service (SAPS) — Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management, Pretoria accepts, then send that fingerprint record to them along with the rest of your
application package.
Contact South Africa’s issuing authority first
Confirm the current application form, required fingerprint format, fee, and mailing/submission method directly with
South African Police Service (SAPS) — Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management, Pretoria — requirements can change, so always check before your appointment.
Get fingerprinted at Surrey Fingerprint Company
Bring valid photo ID and any required form. The fingerprint format usually requested for a South Africa PCC is:
Ink-and-Roll Fingerprinting (Paper Card). We offer both ink-and-roll and digital fingerprinting on-site.
We complete your card correctly
We take your fingerprints on the correct form, complete any required identity/witness sections, and provide the card or
document ready to send.
Send your package to South Africa
Mail or submit your fingerprint card along with your application form, ID copies, photos, and fee (as required) to
South African Police Service (SAPS) — Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management, Pretoria. Use a tracked courier for original documents.
Per SAPS's own website: fingerprints must be taken on the official fingerprint form of the country where the applicant lives, or on SAPS's own Form 91(a) if available — and can be taken anywhere, with the form stamped by "any lawyer, commissioner of oaths, and sometimes even a company representative" (supporting the use of an RCMP-accredited agency such as Surrey Fingerprint Company). Courier the completed form directly to SAPS in Pretoria along with proof of payment; SAPS does not accept scanned or copied fingerprints, and does not email back completed certificates — everything must be original and physical.
Mailing address:
Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management, SAPS, Bothongo Plaza West, CRC Client Service Centre, 1st floor, room 14, 271 Francis Baard Street, Pretoria. Fee: R190 (non-refundable), payable in cash at a police station or electronically to SAPS's account.
Receive your South Africa PCC
Processing time is About 15 working days from when SAPS receives all required documents (excludes postal time) — allow 3-6 months in total if applying from abroad. Some authorities mail the certificate directly to your Canadian
address; others may require pickup via a consulate or representative.
Source: Official guidance for South Africa. Requirements can change; always confirm current details on the official page before applying.
the current requirement before your appointment so you don’t need to redo it.
clearance applications can change without notice. Always confirm current requirements directly with
South African Police Service (SAPS) — Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management, Pretoria before your appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get fingerprinted in Surrey for a South Africa PCC?
Yes. Surrey Fingerprint Company offers both ink-and-roll and digital fingerprinting, and can prepare your fingerprint card or document in the format most commonly requested for South Africa applications. Contact us to confirm the exact form before your visit.
How long does it take to get a PCC from South Africa while living in Canada?
Timelines vary widely by country and by how the application is submitted. As a general estimate: About 15 working days from when SAPS receives all required documents (excludes postal time) — allow 3-6 months in total if applying from abroad. Confirm current processing times with the issuing authority.
Do I need an original fingerprint card, or is a scan acceptable?
This depends on South Africa's current requirements — some authorities require original ink cards mailed physically, others accept digital submissions. We'll help you confirm which applies before you leave our office.
Can Surrey Fingerprint Company submit my application to South Africa for me?
We handle the fingerprinting step. Submission of the full application package is generally your responsibility (or your immigration consultant/lawyer's), unless otherwise noted for a specific country.
Get Fingerprinted for Your South Africa PCC — Surrey, BC
Email us before your visit so we can confirm the correct form and format for South Africa.
+1 (604) 825-8882 · info@surreyfingerprint.com