Clear Your Criminal Record in South Africa
Section 271B expungement applications prepared and lodged on your behalf. Free eligibility assessment. R2,500 all-inclusive. No hidden costs. POPIA compliant.
Applications lodged at the Department of Justice within days of engagement — not weeks.
How We Help You
Criminal Record Expungement Services (CRES) handles the entire expungement process on your behalf — from evaluating your criminal record to lodging the application with the Department of Justice.
Free Assessment
Send us your details and we will evaluate your eligibility at no cost or obligation. If you already have a copy of your criminal record, send it through — no fee. If you need us to retrieve it via HURU, the retrieval fee is R500.
All-Inclusive Fee
R2,500 covers everything — documentation, legal motivation, in-person lodgement at the Department of Justice, and ongoing follow-ups until finalisation.
30 Years of Experience
Three decades of legal experience. Applications are prepared correctly the first time, avoiding costly delays and rejections.
Is Your Criminal Record Holding You Back?
A criminal record can affect employment, emigration, professional licensing, and business opportunities — even decades after the conviction. Expungement removes these barriers permanently.
- Employment — Failed background checks are blocking job opportunities
- Emigration — Police clearance certificate showing a criminal record
- Professional licensing — PSIRA, SACE, NCR, and other regulatory bodies
- Business — Tenders, contracts, and liquor licences requiring a clean record
Our Process
We handle everything from start to finish. You provide the criminal record — we do the rest.
Step 1: Contact us with your enquiry
Step 2: Obtain your criminal record (we guide you)
Step 3: We evaluate eligibility — free, no obligation
Step 4: We prepare the full application
Step 5: We lodge in person at the Department of Justice
Step 6: We follow up until finalisation
What Our Clients Say
Real outcomes from South Africans who have cleared their criminal records through CRES. Initials used to protect client privacy.
★★★★★
“After 15 years of a shoplifting conviction following me around, my record is finally clear. The process was straightforward and the fee was exactly what was quoted — no surprises. I was able to get the warehouse supervisor job I applied for.”
— M.N., Johannesburg
Admission of guilt fine · 2026
★★★★★
“I contacted CRES from the UK hoping to clear a conviction from my youth so I could apply for Australian permanent residency. Everything was done by email and power of attorney. Nine months later I had the expungement certificate in my inbox.”
— S.P., London (originally Cape Town)
Emigration · Section 271B · 2025
★★★★★
“I was honest and expected to be sold a service. Instead I was told upfront that my conviction did not qualify yet and to come back in two years. I appreciated the honesty — most places would have just taken my money.”
— T.D., Durban
Eligibility assessment · 2026
★★★★★
“Needed the record cleared to renew my PSIRA registration. Supplied my own record copy from SAPS so I only paid the R2,500. Clear communication throughout, and I was kept updated while the DoJ processed the application.”
— R.K., Pretoria
Professional licensing · 2025
★★★★★
“I had a R1,200 admission of guilt fine from 2011 that came up on every background check. Thought it would be complicated. CRES handled everything from retrieving the record to lodging the application. Six months later, it was gone.”
— A.M., East London
Admission of guilt fine · 2025
Testimonials are from actual clients, with names shortened to initials to protect privacy. Individual outcomes depend on the specifics of each conviction and Department of Justice processing times.
Start Your Free Assessment
Complete the short form below and we will evaluate your eligibility under Section 271B of the Criminal Procedure Act — at no cost and with no obligation.
Free assessment · No hidden costs · Response within one business day
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is criminal record expungement?
Expungement is the legal process of permanently removing a criminal record from the SAPS National Criminal Register under Section 271B of the Criminal Procedure Act. Once approved by the Department of Justice, the record is deleted — it will no longer appear on background checks or police clearance certificates.
Do I qualify for expungement?
You may qualify if at least 10 years have passed since your conviction and you were not sentenced to direct imprisonment without the option of a fine. Admission of guilt fines (including certain COVID-19 related fines) are also eligible. We offer a free assessment to confirm your eligibility — no obligation.
How much does it cost?
Our all-inclusive fee for the full expungement is R2,500. The eligibility assessment itself is always free. If we need to retrieve your criminal record from HURU on your behalf, we charge R500 for the retrieval — this is waived entirely if you supply your own copy of the criminal record. When charged, the R500 is credited against the R2,500 full fee if you proceed. No hidden costs.
Does my criminal record fall away after 10 years?
No. While a record may “fall away” for courtroom sentencing purposes, it remains on the SAPS National Criminal Register indefinitely. It will continue to appear on background checks and police clearance certificates until a formal expungement application is successfully processed.
How long does the process take?
The full process typically takes 4–8 months from lodgement to finalisation. Government processing times vary, but we follow up regularly and keep you informed at every stage. Criminal record retrieval takes 2–10 working days depending on the method used.
Do I need to appear in court?
No. The Section 271B expungement process is an administrative application lodged with the Department of Justice — there is no court appearance required. We handle the entire process on your behalf, including in-person lodgement in Pretoria.
Can I apply from abroad?
Yes. We regularly assist clients living in the UK, USA, Australia, Canada, UAE, and across Europe and Africa. Using a Power of Attorney, we handle everything on your behalf — you do not need to return to South Africa at any point.
What if my fine was over R20,000?
If your sentence was a fine exceeding R20,000, it generally does not qualify for the standard Section 271B expungement process. In such cases, a Presidential Pardon may be the only available route. Contact us for an assessment — we can advise on your specific situation.
Ready to Find Out if You Qualify?
Start with a free, no-obligation assessment. Provide a copy of your criminal record and we will evaluate your eligibility and explain the process in full.
Contact Us
Email: hello@expunge.co.za
Tel: +27 12 883 6843
Nationwide Service
We assist clients across South Africa and internationally by correspondence. Electronic fingerprints available at 500+ locations nationwide.