{"id":282,"date":"2026-01-30T17:34:29","date_gmt":"2026-01-30T17:34:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bursariesafrica.co.za\/universities\/?p=282"},"modified":"2026-09-18T02:22:45","modified_gmt":"2026-09-18T02:22:45","slug":"lost-matric-certificate-how-to-apply-for-a-replacement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bursariesafrica.co.za\/universities\/lost-matric-certificate-how-to-apply-for-a-replacement\/","title":{"rendered":"Lost Matric Certificate: How to Apply for a Replacement"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Losing your Matric certificate (Grade 12 certificate) can affect job applications, further study, and official verification of your qualification. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your certificate was lost, stolen, or damaged, you can apply for a replacement certificate through official government channels<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Happens If You Lose Your Matric Certificate?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Your original National Senior Certificate (NSC) or Senior Certificate (SC) is an official national document. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If it is lost or damaged, you can request a replacement through the Department of Basic Education (DBE) or the provincial education department where you live. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The replacement process ensures that your qualification remains recognised and valid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who Issues Replacement Matric Certificates?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

For certificates issued since 1992, the quality assurance body Umalusi handles replacement requests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can apply online using Umalusi\u2019s online application system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your certificate was issued before 1992, you must apply through the Department of Basic Education (DBE) or your Provincial Education Department (PED) office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Documents Do You Need to Apply?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

To apply for a replacement certificate, you must prepare the following supporting documents:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. A sworn affidavit explaining how your certificate was lost or damaged. This is usually sworn at a police station or with a Commissioner of Oaths.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. A certified copy of your South African identity document (ID).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. The original certificate if it was damaged (not applicable if it is lost).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Proof of payment of the prescribed fee.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    How Do You Apply for a Replacement Certificate?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    There are two main ways to apply:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1. Online through Umalusi<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    • Register an account on the official Umalusi online portal for replacement certificates.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Complete the replacement form and upload digital copies of your affidavit, certified ID copy, and proof of payment.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Choose whether you want to collect the certificate from the Umalusi office or have it couriered to you.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      2. In Person at a DBE or PED Office<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \n
      • Visit your nearest Department of Basic Education or Provincial Education Department office.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Request the replacement form, complete it, and submit it with your affidavit, certified ID copy, proof of payment, and damaged certificate if applicable.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • This process also applies if your certificate was issued before 1992.
        <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

        How Much Does It Cost?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        The replacement certificate fee set by the Department of Basic Education is currently around R170 for the certificate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        If you also request a statement of results, there may be an additional fee (often around R60). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        These fees applied until 31 March 2026<\/strong>, and the DBE and Umalusi review them each year, so confirm the current amount before you pay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        If you use Umalusi\u2019s online replacement service, fees may vary slightly depending on whether you choose to collect the certificate in person or have it couriered to your address.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        How Long Does It Take to Get Your Replacement?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        The processing time normally takes four to six weeks once your application is submitted and all documents are in order. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        If your records are not yet digitised or archived, it may take longer for officials to locate them and issue your replacement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Can You Get a Statement of Results While You Wait?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        Yes. You can request your Matric statement of results immediately while waiting for your replacement certificate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        This can help with job applications or admissions while you wait for the full certificate to be printed and issued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        What If You Need the Certificate Urgently?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        If you have urgent deadlines for study or work, it is best to apply as soon as possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Submit all required documents correctly the first time. Incorrect or missing documents can delay processing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        If you need evidence of your qualification quickly, the statement of results is usually available faster than the printed certificate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Do You Need a Police Affidavit?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        Yes. A police affidavit explaining how your matric certificate was lost or damaged is a key requirement for the replacement application. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        This sworn statement helps confirm the circumstances under which the certificate is no longer available and must be included with your application.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        What If Your Certificate Was Issued by IEB or SACAI?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        If your Matric certificate was issued by a private assessment body like the Independent Examinations Board (IEB) or the South African Comprehensive Assessment Institute (SACAI), you must contact those bodies directly for replacement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Their processes, contact details, and fees are separate from the Department of Basic Education and Umalusi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        FAQs<\/h3>\n\n\n
        \n
        \n
        \n

        1. What is a replacement Matric certificate?<\/h3>\n
        \n\n

        A replacement Matric certificate is an official re\u2011issued copy of your lost or damaged National Senior Certificate (NSC) or Senior Certificate (SC).<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

        \n

        2. Who issues Matric replacement certificates?<\/h3>\n
        \n\n

        Certificates issued since 1992 are replaced via u003cstrongu003eUmalusi\u2019s online systemu003c\/strongu003e, while certificates issued before 1992 are replaced through the u003cstrongu003eDepartment of Basic Educationu003c\/strongu003e.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

        \n

        3. What documents are required for a replacement?<\/h3>\n
        \n\n

        You need a u003cstrongu003epolice affidavitu003c\/strongu003e, a certified copy of your u003cstrongu003eIDu003c\/strongu003e, proof of payment, and the damaged certificate if available.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

        \n

        4. Can I apply online for a replacement?<\/h3>\n
        \n\n

        Yes. You can apply online through Umalusi\u2019s official replacement certificate portal by registering an account and uploading your documents.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

        \n

        5. How long does the replacement process take?<\/h3>\n
        \n\n

        It usually takes u003cstrongu003efour to six weeksu003c\/strongu003e once all documents are submitted. It may take longer if records need to be located.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

        \n

        6. How much does it cost to replace a Matric certificate?<\/h3>\n
        \n\n

        The typical fee is around u003cstrongu003eR170u003c\/strongu003e for a replacement certificate, with an optional additional fee for a statement of results.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

        \n

        7. Can I get a statement of results while waiting?<\/h3>\n
        \n\n

        Yes. You can request a u003cstrongu003estatement of results immediatelyu003c\/strongu003e while the replacement certificate is processed.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

        \n

        8. What should my police affidavit include?<\/h3>\n
        \n\n

        The affidavit should state what happened to your lost or damaged certificate, include your full name and ID number, and be sworn before a Commissioner of Oaths.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

        \n

        9. Can I have the replacement couriered to me?<\/h3>\n
        \n\n

        Yes. When applying through Umalusi\u2019s online portal, you can choose to have your replacement certificate couriered for an extra fee.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

        \n

        10. Where can I collect my replacement certificate?<\/h3>\n
        \n\n

        You can collect it at the u003cstrongu003eUmalusi officeu003c\/strongu003e or your nearest u003cstrongu003eProvincial Education Departmentu003c\/strongu003e office if applying in person.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        Losing your Matric certificate (Grade 12 certificate) can affect job applications, further study, and official verification of your qualification. If […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":273,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"_ba_keyfacts":"","_ba_provider_contact":"","_ba_provider_name":"","_ba_provider_type":"","_ba_provider_cat":"","_ba_writer":"pieter-van-der-merwe","_ba_reviewer":"naledi-khumalo","iawp_total_views":432,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-282","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bursariesafrica.co.za\/universities\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/282","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bursariesafrica.co.za\/universities\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bursariesafrica.co.za\/universities\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bursariesafrica.co.za\/universities\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bursariesafrica.co.za\/universities\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=282"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.bursariesafrica.co.za\/universities\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/282\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":733,"href":"https:\/\/www.bursariesafrica.co.za\/universities\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/282\/revisions\/733"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bursariesafrica.co.za\/universities\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/273"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bursariesafrica.co.za\/universities\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=282"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bursariesafrica.co.za\/universities\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=282"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bursariesafrica.co.za\/universities\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=282"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}