Navigating the process of applying for a South African Police Clearance Check and getting it apostilled for teaching in China can be a real challenge. With unpredictable processing times and the need to deal with multiple steps—such as fingerprinting, police clearance, and apostille certification—it’s easy to get overwhelmed.
If you plan to teach in China, this guide will walk you through the steps to obtain your police clearance and apostille. We’ll break down the process clearly, so you can avoid the common confusion when applying.
By the end, we’ll also introduce our upgraded service that makes the process faster and easier: Get your police clearance and apostille in just 7 working days, with only fingerprint scan and passport scan required—no more waiting weeks for processing or making in-person visits.
Skip the hassle—let us take care of your Police Clearance + Apostille in 7 days! Email us at support@eslnest.com.
How to Apply for a South African Police Clearance Check (Step by Step)
If you’re planning to work or teach abroad, such as in China, you’ll need a police clearance to confirm whether you have a criminal record.
SAPS 91(a) form
1. Visit Your Nearest Police Station: To get a police clearance check, you need to visit the police station. In South Africa, the police will take your fingerprints on the official SAPS 91(a) form. If you are abroad, go to a police station in your area or the South African Embassy for fingerprinting.
2. Complete the Application: You need to fill out the original application form with your name, surname, date of birth, and ID or passport details. If you have a maiden surname or other names, mention them and attach supporting documents such as a marriage certificate.
Application Form for South African Police Clearance
3. Provide Your Documents: You need to submit a certified copy of your identity document or passport and the proof of payment for application.
4. Submit Your Application: After filling out the form and collecting the required documents, submit them to the police station. If outside the country, submit the application to CR & CSM located in Pretoria for processing.
5. Wait for Your Certificate: The processing time for a South African police clearance can take anywhere from 3 to 8 weeks, and the exact timeline is hard to predict, depending on how busy the CR & CSM office is. Once your police clearance check is ready, you can collect it in person or have it sent by mail or courier.
Since policies can change over time, please visit www.saps.gov.za for the up-to-date information.
How to Apostille Your police clearance check?
Once you’ve received your South African police clearance check, the next step is to get it apostilled. Here’s how to do it:
- Submit the Police Clearance Check to DIRCO: To get your police clearance check apostilled, you must submit it to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) in Pretoria.
- Wait for the Apostille: It takes around 5 working days to get the apostille done. However, if your document needs corrections or extra verification, it may take a little longer.
Once DIRCO affixes the apostille to your document, it will be ready for use in China.
A Faster Way If You Need Your Documents Ready in 7 Days
Don’t have weeks to wait? We offer a faster, reliable apostille service for South African documents. Here’s how we can help:
- 1-week expedited police clearance check.
- 3-day apostille service.
- Receive your Police Clearance + Apostille Scan in just 7–9 working days.
Need it even faster? With a scanned fingerprint, we can have it all ready in 5-7 working days.
*Timelines may vary by region and specific circumstances. Inquire for specifics.
