How Fingerprinting in South Africa Works: 2026 Guide for International Background Checks

If you need an international background check while living in South Africa, you will usually need to get your fingerprints taken on the correct fingerprint card or form for that country. You can get fingerprinting in South Africa at some police stations, specialised fingerprinting providers, and in some cases through a notary or other approved collection point.

Once your prints are taken, you either send the completed cards to the foreign authority yourself or use a private provider that can courier and submit them on your behalf. The exact process depends on the country you need the check from.

Fingerprinting for an international background check means having your fingerprints recorded by a trained person, usually in black ink on an official card, so a foreign authority can confirm who you are and check whether you have a criminal record in their country.

A name can be misspelled, changed after marriage or shared by thousands of people. Your fingerprints cannot. That is why many immigration departments, licensing bodies and overseas employers rely on them.

Learn About Fingerprint Background Check vs Name-Based Check

In South Africa, this usually applies to people who live here and need a check for another country. It might be for a visa, permanent residence, citizenship, a teaching contract or an adoption. The card is sent to the foreign authority or its approved partner.

This is different from a SAPS Police Clearance Certificate, which is issued by the SAPS Criminal Record Centre in Pretoria and uses form SAPS 91(a). Many applicants end up needing both.

What international checks from South Africa usually require:

• The receiving country's own fingerprint card or form, such as the FD-258 for the US or the C-216C for Canada's RCMP.
• Rolled prints of all ten fingers, taken in black ink.
• Your personal details, written exactly as they appear in your passport.
• The signature and printed name of the person who took the prints.
• The name and address of the agency or provider that took them.
• Your own signature and the date the prints were taken.

Police Clearance Certificate vs Criminal Record Check vs "Good Conduct" Certificate

There is no single global name for this document. Every country uses its own term, and the same check can be called three different things depending on who asks for it. For example, it’s called  a police clearance or police certificate in South Africa, UK, Australia, Ireland, and more. The same document is referred to as a criminal record check in Canada, New Zealand, and a good conduct certificate in the UAE.

You may also see "certificate of good standing", "penal record certificate" or "no objection certificate". Different words, same purpose: proof of your criminal record status.

Be careful with the plain phrase "police check". In everyday South African use, it can also mean a local check, such as one done through your area police station or an employer's screening provider. That is not the same as a fingerprint-based certificate that a foreign government will accept.

International Background Checks vs Digital Employer Checks

If a South African employer has ever screened you online, you might think you have already done this. You have not. A digital employer check answers one company's hiring question, while an international check has to satisfy a foreign government.

Fingerprinting Requirements by Destination

These are the checks most often applied for by people living in South Africa:

• United Kingdom: The check is the ACRO Police Certificate. It is mostly based on your name and ID, but ACRO may ask for ink fingerprints in some cases.
• Australia: The check is the AFP National Police Check. It is usually name based. A fingerprint check is an option when the overseas country or adoption body specifically asks for one, and the original prints are posted to the AFP.
• New Zealand: The check is a Criminal Record Check from the Ministry of Justice. NZ Police say terms like "police clearance" have no official meaning there. Fingerprints are not usually the main requirement.
• Canada: The check is the RCMP Criminal Record Check, which is fingerprint based. From outside Canada, you need ten black ink prints on paper, taken by an authorised agency. An RCMP-accredited company in Canada then converts them to digital and submits them.
• United States: The check is the FBI Identity History Summary. It needs ink prints on the FD-258 or FD-1164 card, and you can apply to the FBI directly or through an approved third-party company.
• Ireland: The check is a Police Certificate from An Garda Síochána. It is issued by the Garda office for the county where you lived, and fingerprints are not usually the main requirement.
• UAE: The check is a Good Conduct Certificate or Police Clearance Certificate. If you lived in the UAE and now live abroad, you generally need a ten finger card attested by the UAE embassy, plus a copy of your last UAE visa.
• South Africa: The check is the SAPS Police Clearance Certificate. You give fingerprints on form SAPS 91(a) at a police station, with a certified copy of your ID or passport and the R190 fee.

Read Fingerprinting Requirements for Police Clearance in 2026

If you have lived in any of these countries and now live in South Africa, you will usually need a check from each country, including South Africa. The same applies if you lived in South Africa and are applying elsewhere.

For example, someone who studied in Canada, worked in the UK and now lives in Cape Town may need an RCMP criminal record check, an ACRO certificate and a SAPS certificate for one visa application.

Not everyone asks for fingerprints for the same reason. These are the groups we see most often.

• South African Emigrants and Expatriates: Young professionals, tech workers, medical professionals, engineers and teachers moving permanently or on long-term work visas to the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the USA or the EU.
• Foreign Nationals and Expats Living in South Africa: British, American, European or African nationals who work, study or live here and are now applying for permanent residence, citizenship, a study visa or a job in another country.
• Overseas Teachers, TEFL Instructors and Cruise Ship Workers: South Africans heading abroad for contract work in East Asia (China, Vietnam, South Korea), the Middle East (UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia) or on international cruise lines.
• South African Staff for Foreign Employers and Remote Jobs: International companies in the US, UK and Europe hiring remote South African talent or contractors, often as part of their onboarding checks.

Where you give your fingerprints matters almost as much as how. Some authorities only accept prints from certain people, such as police, embassies, notaries or approved providers, so check this before you book.

You have three main options in South Africa:

Option 1: SAPS Police Stations (the Standard Route)

For a SAPS Police Clearance Certificate, a police station is where you give your fingerprints on form SAPS 91(a). It is the official route, and it is the one SAPS expects you to use.

For foreign cards like the FD-258, it depends on the station. Some will help if you bring the card and a clear instruction from the receiving authority. Others will decline or may not be familiar with the card.

If you go this way, call ahead, bring the right card and ask the officer to check the prints before you leave.

Option 2: Private Fingerprinting Providers

Private providers specialise in international cards. Good ones take ink prints on the correct country card, check the quality on the spot and retake if needed. Many also offer home visits, an identity verification letter and help with courier or submission. There are also limits. A private provider cannot speed up the processing, and they cannot guarantee that a foreign authority will accept the prints.

Also Read What Is Mobile Fingerprinting and How Does It Work?

Option 3: Notary and Other Collection Points

Some authorities accept prints taken by a notary public or at an embassy or consulate. A notary in South Africa is a specially admitted attorney. Many notaries do not take fingerprints, so ask whether they have ink, the correct card and experience before you go.

Some embassies and high commissions take fingerprints for their own country's checks, usually by appointment. Others only attest cards taken elsewhere, as the UAE does. A commissioner of oaths can certify copies, but that is not the same thing as taking your prints.

How to Choose a Station: Tips for Busy Metro vs Smaller Town

There is no perfect station, but there is a perfect approach: call first, go early and bring everything.

In busy metros, such as Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town and Durban, police stations can be much busier, especially in central areas. Larger cities also have more services connected to international travel and immigration, so you may find staff who have handled similar requests before. The downside is the crowd. If you have a choice, avoid month-end, Mondays, Fridays and school holidays

In smaller towns and regional centres, such as George, Kimberley, Polokwane and Rustenburg, queues may be shorter and the station may be less hectic. However, staff may have less experience with foreign fingerprint cards or specific formats. Ink, stamps or other requirements may also need to be confirmed in advance.

When you call, ask four things:

• Do you take fingerprints on foreign cards?
• Do you have ink, or should I bring my own card only?
• Will the officer sign and stamp the card?
• Are your system and staff available that day?

Step 1: Map Your Residence History

Before you book anything, write down every country where you have lived for six months or more in recent years. Many authorities ask for a certificate from each one. Some use a longer or shorter period, so check the exact rule in your application.

List the countries, the dates and the addresses. This tells you which checks you need, which cards to collect and which instructions to follow.

Step 2: Gather Your Documents

Bring everything you might need to the appointment:

• Two government issued IDs, usually your passport and your South African ID card or driver's licence.
• Certified copies, if the receiving authority asks for them (check how recent the stamp must be.)
• Proof of any name change, such as a marriage certificate, divorce order or deed poll.
• The official fingerprint card, if needed.
• Any application forms the authority requires, filled in exactly as your passport shows.
• The letter or instruction from the receiving authority or embassy, if you have one.
• Passport sized photos, if required.
• Payment and your courier details.

Read More Here What Documents Do I Need for Fingerprinting?

If you are doing a SAPS Police Clearance Certificate, bring the SAPS 91(a) form and a certified copy of your ID or passport. If a maiden name needs to appear, bring proof such as a certified marriage certificate.

Step 3: Get Your Fingerprints Taken

Your fingerprints are taken on the card, usually in black ink, by a trained person. Each finger must be rolled from nail edge to nail edge so the full pattern is captured.

Check that the ridges are clear and that the centre of each print is visible. There should be no smudges, gaps, double images or blank boxes.

The person who took your prints must sign the card and print their name. In many cases, they must add the agency name, address or stamp. You sign it too, and the date must be filled in.

Step 4: Pay the Fee

You pay for the fingerprint capture itself, and fees differ by where you go. The ranges below are approximate and can change, so confirm before you go:

The ranges mentioned above are capture fees only. They do not include the foreign authority's fee, courier costs, apostille or translation.

Police stations mostly prefer cash, and card machines are not always working, so carry some. Private providers usually accept EFT or card, and you should always ask for a receipt or invoice.

Step 5: Courier Fingerprint Cards to the Relevant Authorities

Most providers hand the signed card back to you. You then send it to the foreign authority or its approved partner by courier.

Where the card goes depends on the check. For example, the FBI takes cards directly, the AFP asks for original prints with your application, and the RCMP route goes through an accredited company in Canada. For the UAE, the card usually needs embassy attestation first.

Use a tracked international courier and a stiff, flat envelope. Do not fold, staple or clip the card. Scan or photograph everything before you send it.

Some providers will courier the cards for you, and some can submit them to the authority on your behalf. This usually costs extra, but it can save you time and stress.

Delays and tight visa deadlines create the perfect conditions for scams. When you are under pressure, a confident promise can sound very attractive.

Not everyone offering help is a scammer. Some agents legitimately offer follow-up or hand delivery in Pretoria, and some private providers do excellent work. The problem starts when promises sound too good to be true.

Red flags to watch for:

• "Guaranteed in 5 days": No private agent controls SAPS processing. Anyone who guarantees a date should be questioned.
• "I know someone at the Criminal Record Centre": This is not a service, and it can get you into trouble.
• Pre-signed or pre-stamped cards: Prints must be taken in front of the person who signs. Never accept a card that was filled in beforehand.
• "Digital prints are accepted everywhere": They are not. Some authorities only accept ink on their own card.
• No receipt, no business details: If you can't find a company name, registration or address, walk away.
• Payment only to a personal account or via WhatsApp: Always prefer a registered business and a traceable payment.
• A price far below everyone else's: Very cheap often means skipped quality checks.

How to protect yourself:

• Use official sources, like the receiving authority's website.
• Ask the receiving authority whether the provider type is acceptable.
• Search the company name and look for reviews, a physical address and a contact number.
• Ask what happens if the prints are rejected, and get the answer in writing.
• Keep copies and tracking numbers of everything you send.

A trustworthy provider explains what they can and cannot do. If someone only tells you what you want to hear, be careful.

Fingerprinting for an international check may look like a small step, but it leads to a very important document. Your visa, job or residency can depend on it, and the receiving authority will look closely at every card.

The fingerprinting process itself is simple. The risk is in the small details, such as a smudged print or the wrong card. That is why rejections are common and why they can cost you weeks.

Globeia helps you avoid that. With over 10 years of experience in international fingerprinting, we make sure your prints are accurate and complete, with minimal chances of rejection later.

Globeia's Fingerprinting Services in South Africa:

• Doorstep Fingerprinting: Our trained associates can travel to your location, anywhere in South Africa.
• Multi Country Support: We provide fingerprinting for background checks of multiple countries abroad, including the USA, Canada, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong and the UAE, and more.
• Country Specific Official Cardstock: We always keep a stock of country specific cards for your different fingerprinting needs.
• On Site Quality Checks: Our associates are trained in international submission standards. They check every fingerprint on the spot and retake it immediately if needed.
• Letter of Identity Verification Included: Globeia issues a QR coded letter of identity verification. It serves as verifiable proof of your identity and of the professionalism of the fingerprint collection for receiving authorities.

Book your fingerprinting appointment here!

Additional Background Check Support:

• Global Operational Network: We have processing offices and coordination teams in the USA, Canada, the UK, Australia, India and Europe. We can send your fingerprint cards to the relevant authorities abroad, such as the FBI or RCMP, on your behalf.
• Apostille, Legalisation and Translation: After your background check is issued, we can coordinate the apostille, embassy legalisation and translation based on your needs, all in a single workflow.

Wherever you get your fingerprints taken in South Africa, do not assume that every provider follows the same process. International authorities can have very specific requirements, and a card that works for one country may not work for another. Check the requirements for your specific background check before you book, and make sure you know what happens to your fingerprint cards after the appointment.