A Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) is an official document issued by the Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management (CR & CSM) stating whether or not any criminal convictions have been recorded against an individual. This service is available to people who require confirmation of their criminal status for emigration purposes or for travel or employment abroad.

Frenchside translate Police Clearance Certificate from English to foreign languages like: German, French, Spanish, and Portuguese etc. and vice versa. Our certified translations can be further used for submission to Embassies and Consulate, Immigration Offices,  Government department in South Africa and abroad for Official, Job, Legal, Immigration and PR purposes.

What is PCC?

A police clearance certificate is a document issued by the police officials of any particular nation to the citizens who wish to apply for a passport or foreign visa in the given country. This piece of document is issued by the police after a thorough background check and is meant to enumerate or portray any charges ever filed or pending against the person concerned. One can request for this certificate by the police who can then carry on the background check and The certificate confirms whether you have a criminal record or not. The issuing of a Police Clearance Certificate is the sole responsibility of Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management in Pretoria. 

What does Police Clearance Certificate tell?

A police clearance certificate as mentioned before tells about the criminal history of any person. This certificate helps the authorities concerned determine whether to move a particular candidate’s application forward or not. A PCC generally contains basic contact information of the person involved such as the name, ID number, address of the individual. It does then contain the mention of any criminal charges if filed or still present for the individual. If not then it declares the person fit and eligible for further processing.

Where is Police Clearance Certificate Used?

A police clearance certificate is known to be used and asked for at numerous organizations and authorities. Some of the places where you will be required this document are mentioned below.

Emigration applications

Individuals who wish to apply for an emigration process will have to submit a valid Police Clearance Certificate as part of their application documents. This means that you won’t necessarily have the luxury of waiting six months for your PCC to arrive or you could risk having your application thrown out.

Permanent foreign residency applications

As with Emigration Applications, there is no luxury of time when it comes to applying for permanent foreign residency. Once your temporary visa expires abroad, you will have a limited time in which you are required to submit all your supporting documents for the residency application. In some countries, this process is expected to be completed within a few weeks, which means you’ll need to obtain your SAPS PCC as soon as possible.

Foreign work permit applications

Let’s suppose you just landed in Australia for a family holiday but found yourself being offered the job of a lifetime in a country that promises a better life for you and your family. While you might be over the moon about this offer, you also know that you have a limited time to get your paperwork sorted out in order to apply for a Work Visa or Permit.

Your SAPS Police Clearance Certificate forms part of the vital documents you’ll need to submit, and more often than not, foreign employers won’t wait for would-be employees who don’t have their documentation in order.

Visa applications

In the event that you have to suddenly travel outside of South Africa, you will most probably have to apply for a Visa. Applying for a Visa is a burden on its own, and now you have to add the stress of waiting for a PCC to come through before your application can be submitted. It is in times like these where every second counts.

Applications to work or study abroad

Imagine being a student who is ready to take a Gap year, or even a seasoned employee who wants to start fresh in a new country. Once that bug bites, there will be nothing holding you back. Except maybe waiting times. Waiting for a Police Clearance Certificate for up to six months can totally derail even the most enthusiastic of spirits.

PCC Translation and Apostille

As we have mentioned above, you will require submitting a translated copy of PCC during Foreign work permit and visa application process. You can reach out to well-reputed companies such as Frenchside which will help you through the entire PCC translation and attestation process, therefore, making the process of getting a permit or visa a piece of cake for you.