How long must I wait to expunge my criminal record in South Africa?

Generally, ten years must have passed since the date of the conviction before you can apply for expungement, provided you have not been sentenced to direct imprisonment without the option of a fine during that period.

Do I qualify if I paid an admission of guilt fine?

Yes, many admission of guilt fines result in a criminal record that can be expunged. Certain COVID-19 related admission of guilt fines may now be eligible for immediate expungement under the Judicial Matters Amendment Act.

Can a record be expunged if the fine was over R20,000?

If the sentence was a fine exceeding R20,000, it generally does not qualify for the standard administrative expungement process. In such cases, a Presidential Pardon may be the only available legal route.

Does a criminal record fall away automatically after 10 years?

No. While a record may 'fall away' for courtroom sentencing purposes, it remains on the SAPS National Criminal Register until a formal Section 271B expungement application is successfully processed.

How to Get Your Criminal Record for Expungement in South Africa

Before a criminal record can be expunged, the first step is obtaining an official copy of the record from the South African Police Service (SAPS). This document is essential because it confirms exactly which offences are on file, enabling a proper legal assessment of eligibility.

To retrieve a criminal record from the SAPS National Criminal Record Centre, a fresh set of fingerprints is required. This is a legal requirement — there is no way to obtain an official criminal record without providing fingerprints. There are three ways to have your fingerprints taken, depending on where you are and what is most convenient for you.

Option 1: Electronic Fingerprints at 500+ Partner Locations (Fastest)

This is the fastest and most convenient option. Visit any of our 500+ HURU electronic fingerprint capture partners at PostNet and Jetline stores across South Africa.

Walk-in service: No appointment needed. The process takes approximately 10 minutes.
What to bring: Your South African ID, driver’s licence, or passport.
Cost: Fingerprint capture is free. If you would like us to order and assess the report on your behalf, the fee is R500.
Turnaround: Initial feedback within 24–48 hours. Full SAPS history report within 2–5 working days if a record is found.

Once your fingerprints have been captured, notify us at info@clear-criminal-record.co.za. We will electronically retrieve your criminal record report and provide a free eligibility assessment. → Read the full guide: Electronic Fingerprints at 500+ Locations

Option 2: Fingerprints at a SAPS Police Station

If you are not near one of our electronic fingerprint capture partners, you can have your fingerprints taken manually at any South African Police Service station using the official SAPS 91(a) fingerprint form.

What to bring: Your South African ID, driver’s licence, or passport, and a completed SAPS 91(a) form.
Process: The police officer will take a full set of ink fingerprints on the SAPS 91(a) form.
What to do next: Courier or PostNet the original completed form to our offices. We will personally lodge it at the Criminal Record Centre in Pretoria.
Cost: R500 for lodgement and retrieval of the criminal record report.
Turnaround: 5–10 working days from lodgement.

→ Read the full guide: Fingerprints at a SAPS Police Station

Option 3: Getting Your Criminal Record from Abroad

If you are currently outside South Africa, you can still obtain your criminal record and apply for expungement. We assist clients abroad through a Power of Attorney arrangement that allows us to handle the entire process on your behalf.

Fingerprints: Can be taken at a South African Embassy or Consulate, or at any police station in your country of residence using the SAPS 91(a) form.
Power of Attorney: We draft a Power of Attorney that authorises us to act on your behalf throughout the process.
Documents: Courier the fingerprint form and a certified copy of your ID or passport to our offices.

→ Read the full guide: Getting Your Criminal Record from Abroad

What Happens After We Receive Your Fingerprints?

We retrieve your official criminal record from the SAPS National Criminal Record Centre.
We conduct a professional legal assessment to determine whether the record qualifies for expungement.
We provide you with a written report confirming eligibility, costs, and expected timeframes — free of charge and with no obligation.
If eligible, we handle the full expungement application from preparation through to submission and finalisation — R2,500 all-inclusive.

Can You Check a Criminal Record Without Fingerprints?

No. In South Africa, all criminal record checks are conducted through the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS), which requires a fresh set of fingerprints to match against the SAPS database. There is no alternative method to obtain an official criminal record. This is why fingerprints are the essential first step in any expungement process.

Ready to Get Started? Check if you qualify for expungement with our free assessment. Visit clear-criminal-record.co.za and click “Check If You Qualify — Free”.