How to Get a Clearance Certificate From the Credit Bureau in SA

If you’ve been through debt mediation, debt review or sequestration in South Africa, the clearance certificate is what finally lifts the legal status from your name. Without it, you stay flagged on the credit bureau even after every cent has been paid. This guide walks you through what the certificate is, who issues it, what you need, and how long it actually takes in 2026.

What is a clearance certificate?

A clearance certificate (sometimes called a “Form 19” under the National Credit Act) is a formal document confirming that a consumer has either:

• Completed their debt review obligations in full, or
• Been rehabilitated after sequestration, or
• Had judgment debts settled or rescinded.

It’s the trigger that allows the credit bureau (TransUnion, Experian, XDS, Compuscan) to remove the relevant status flag from your profile; the step most people miss.

Who issues which clearance certificate

Documents you’ll need

• Certified copy of your ID
• Proof of address (not older than 3 months)
• Final paid-up letters from every credit provider listed under your debt review or sequestration
• The original debt review court order or sequestration order
• Your debt counsellor’s NCR registration details (if applicable)

The step-by-step process

1. Settle every account on your distribution plan or sequestration estate.
2. Collect paid-up letters from each credit provider; these are non-negotiable.
3. Submit to the issuing body (your debt counsellor for debt review; the court for rehabilitation).
4. Receive the certificate: typically 14–30 days after submission for debt review.
5. Send the certificate to all four credit bureau: they have 7 working days under the NCA to update your record.
6. Pull a free credit report 30 days later to confirm the status flag is gone.

How long does it actually take?

For debt review completion: 4–8 weeks from final payment to a clean bureau record. Sequestration rehabilitation is materially longer, usually 4 years or more before you can even apply for rehabilitation. See our timeline guide for the full breakdown.

What if you’ve been waiting forever?

The most common stalls are: a missing paid-up letter, a debt counsellor who has gone inactive, or one of the bureau refusing to update without a court order. Each has a solution, but you’ll save weeks if you escalate early rather than chasing the same dead end.

If you’re not sure where your application has stalled, you can also look at rescission of your debt review order as a faster alternative when the standard route isn’t moving.