Find out if you are eligible for criminal record expungement in South Africa. Learn about the requirements and qualifications needed to have your criminal record expunged. Also check out our Online Eligibility Test below.

You can apply for expungement of your criminal record in terms of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977, to the Director-General: Department of Justice and Constitutional Development.

Expungement of a criminal record is a process by which a criminal record of a convicted offender is removed from the criminal record database of the Criminal Record Centre of the South African Police Service.

This allows you to carry on with life without a criminal record is an obstruction to employment opportunities.

You can apply to have your criminal record expunged when:

  • ten years have passed after the conviction for that offence.
  • you have not been convicted and sentenced to a period of imprisonment without the option of a fine during those ten years.
  • the sentence was corporal punishment.
  • the sentence was postponed, or you were cautioned and discharged.
  • the sentence was a fine not exceeding R20 000.
  • the sentence was imprisonment with the option to pay a fine (not more than R20 000) instead of serving the period of incarceration. 
  • the sentence of imprisonment was suspended wholly.
  • the sentence was correctional supervision in terms of section 276(1)(h) of the Act.
  • the sentence was imprisonment in terms of section 276(1)(i) of the Act.
  • the sentence was periodical imprisonment in term of section 276(1)(c) of the Act.
  • proof is provided that your name has been removed from the National Register of Sex Offenders or the National Child Protection Register, if relevant.

Click Here - Online Eligibility Check - Check if you can have your criminal record expunged within one minute.