PCC, in the context of SAPS (South African Police Service), stands for “Police Clearance Certificate.” It is a document issued by SAPS that verifies an individual’s criminal record status in South Africa. The certificate is often required for various purposes, such as visa applications, job applications, and immigration.
The PCC is required for an E-2 (Teaching) visa application in South Korea. It is used to ensure that the applicant does not have a criminal history that would make them ineligible for the visa.
Obtaining a PCC can take the most time as you prepare your documents for the application, so we recommend getting started on this as soon as you can!
To obtain a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) from the South African Police Service (SAPS)
to teach English in South Korea, the following steps may be followed:
Step 1: Visit the SAPS website
The SAPS website has information on how to apply for a PCC, including the required forms and documents.
LINK for South African Police Service (SAPS)
We highly recommend applying in person directly in Pretoria SAPS to obtain your PCC as fast as possible. There are also multiple agencies and third-party companies that you can use as well to expedite your PCC. However, please make sure they are credible, as there have been cases in the past of forged PCCs that get denied by the Korean Immigration Office.
| South African Criminal Record Centre | |
|---|---|
| TEL | 012 393 3928 |
| [email protected] | |
| Physical address | Sanlam Plaza West, CRC Client Service Centre, 1st Floor, 271 Schoeman Street, Pretoria |
| Postal address | South African Criminal Record Centre, Private Bag X308, Pretoria 0001, South Africa |
| Web address | https://www.saps.gov.za/ |
Step 2: Fill out the required forms
Step 3: Provide supporting documentation
- From SAPS: “Should a maiden surname and/or other surnames be required on a Police Clearance Certificate, mention must be made thereof in the application and documentary proof of the maiden surname and/or other surnames (for example, a certified copy of the marriage certificate) must be attached to the application.”
- For example, if you had a name change or got married or divorced, you will need to let SAPS know so that they can include all names you have used on the Police Check.
Step 4: Pay the fee
The fee for a PCC can be paid at a designated SAPS branch or through an authorized service provider.
From the SAPS website: “The prescribed fee is R160,00 per application. The required non-refundable tariff is payable in cash at the nearest police station or electronically into the South Africa Police Service’s account in favor of the National Commissioner of the South African Police Service. The banking details are as followed: ABSA cheque account number 4054522787; branch code 632005; Swift code ABSAZAJJXXX. In the case of electronic payment, the letters “PCC” followed by the initials and surname of the applicant must be indicated as a reference.
Applicants living in South Africa may, at no additional cost to the applicant, request the police station to forward the applications to CR & CSM in Pretoria. The applicant may also in person deliver the application to CR & CSM in Pretoria or use the service of postal or courier service at his/her own cost. For security purposes, the certificate will, upon completion, only be handed over to the applicant or person nominated by the applicant or chosen courier service as indicated on the application form. Where the applicant requested the certificate to be returned to the police station, the responsible person at the police station must ensure that the certificate is handed over to the applicant in person. Proof of identity must be presented when the certificate is collected. Note that certificates not collected within three months after finalization will be destroyed.“
Step 5: Submit the application!
Submit the completed forms and supporting documents to the designated SAPS branch or authorized service provider.
Step 6: Wait for processing
The most tedious part… waiting for the result to be ready. The processing time for a PCC can vary, but it typically takes around 4-8 weeks. Of course, if you apply directly in Pretoria, you might be able to obtain it much faster.
**If you provide SAPS with your cell phone number on the application for the PCC, they will send you an SMS confirmation with a reference number for the Police Clearance Check to let you know that they have received it. With the reference number, you can check the status on SAPS’ website.
Step 7: Receive the certificate
Once the PCC has been processed, the certificate will be mailed to the applicant’s address, or you can also pick it up in person in Pretoria!
Now that you have your PCC ready in hand, your next step will be getting it apostilled by DIRCO!
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