What do you do if your Matric Certificate is lost or damaged? A replacement is available through the Department of Basic Education (DBE) or your Provincial Education Department (PED) office. The process is document-based: there is a fixed list of items you need to supply, a form to fill in, and a four-to-six-month printing window.
To apply for a replacement Matric Certificate, you will need:
- An affidavit explaining what happened to your certificate
- Your original Matric Certificate (only if it is damaged, not lost)
- Your original ID book or ID cardA certified copy of your ID
The DBE will provide an application form that must be completed and submitted together with the documents above. Once the application is in, the replacement is printed and issued over the following four to six months.
Below, we walk through each step of the application in detail, where to submit your documents, what to do if the original certificate is already lost, and what to expect during the print turnaround.
How Can I Get My Matric Certificate Online?
If you lost or damaged your Matric Certificate, you can apply for a new one online. This is how you can do it:
- Register on the (www.eservices.gov.za)
- Click on this link to download the Matric Certificate replacement form
- Complete the form
- Attach the required documents with the form
- An affidavit with details of what happened to your lost or damaged Certificate
- Your original Matric Certificate (not applicable if the certificate is lost)
- Your original ID book/card
- A certified copy of your ID book/card
- Attach your proof of payment here (you can find the bank details in the form you downloaded online)
- Send these documents to this address (Private Bag X895, Pretoria, 0001)
Another option is to apply online through the official Umalusi application portal. To do this, create an account. Once you have created an account, you will need to select which certificate you want to replace. You will need to upload scanned digital copies of all your documents. These are the same as those listed above.
You will then need to select whether you would like to collect the certificate in person from the Umalusi offices in Pretoria, or have the certificate couriered to you. If you choose to collect it, it will cost R137,00. If you choose to get it couriered, it will cost R202,00.
Please note all fees mentioned above are valid only for the 2022 – 2023 financial year, after which they will be subject to change.
How Much Does It Cost To Reprint A Matric Certificate?
You can reprint your lost or damaged Matric Certificate through the Department of Basic Education (DBE) or Provincial Education Department (PDE) for a fee of R170.00. Each year the price will change, so check the DBE website regularly
How Long Does It Take To Get A Matric Statement?
You can receive your Matric statement of results instantly. This is sent to you through email. To apply, you can do it through the Department of Basic Education (DBE) or the Provincial Education Department (PDE). You will have to pay a fee of R60.00. This fee changes yearly, so make sure you look through the DBE website regularly to know the exact amount.
How Can I Check My Results Online?
You can check your Matric results online by doing the following:
- Go to the Department of Basic Education (DBE) website
- Click on the button written “examination results’’
- Click on the (NSC) National Senior Certificate exam results
- You will be required to put in your examination number
- More personal information will be required
- Press on the search button
Your Matric results should show up
Does A Matric Certificate Expire?
No, a Matric Certificate does not expire. This is a permanent document that is valid forever. The only temporary document is your Matric statement of results. This is a temporary document that is issued to you while you wait for your Matric Certificate.
How Do I Know If My Matric Certificate Is Registered?
If you want to know whether your Matric Certificate is registered or not, you can contact one of the verification clients that work with Umalusi. The Umalusi website provides contact information for the verification clients, which you can use to contact them. Please note that you can not verify your certificate with Umalusi directly.
You can contact the verification clients if your Matric Certificate was issued after November 1992. Please note that fees vary year after year for different services. If you want to check the registration for a Matric Certificate that was issued before 1992, you can contact the Department of Basic Education on 012 357 3000.
Can I Buy A Matric Certificate?
No, you cannot buy a Matric Certificate. You should not buy any qualifications as this is considered an offence to the law. It is best to study in order to get a Matric Certificate. You can get your Matric in High School. This applies if you are younger than the age of 21.
When you have passed Matric in high school, you will receive a Matric Certificate from Umalusi.
If you are 21 years or older, you can complete your Matric through Matric College. These are the Matric Courses you can study:
Adult Matric Course
You can study the Adult Matric Course if you have a Grade 9 or Grade 9 Equivalent Qualification. This course will provide you with the knowledge that gets you ready for higher levels of learning. You receive a Matric Certificate when you have completed this course.
Matric Rewrite Course
You can study the Matric Rewrite Course if you failed Matric. This course helps you prepare for your final exam. You are assisted by our tutors, study material and Grade 12 past exam papers while waiting for the exam. When you pass this course, you are awarded a Matric Certificate.
How Do I Pass Matric?
You can pass your Matric by following these tips:
- Study every day and obtain as much knowledge as you can
- Study to understand at all times
- Ask for help if you do not understand certain topics in your learning material
- Practice for the exam using old exam papers
- Study with other students to share information through discussions
- Attend extra classes to gain more knowledge
- Search topics on the internet for more information
- Complete all your class assessments
- Pass with 50% or higher marks
You can also pass your Matric if you receive one of the following Matric Certificate Passes:
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Highest Pass |
Second Pass |
Third Pass |
Fourth Pass |
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If you have a dream to study at university, you can make it come true if you obtain a Bachelor’s Degree Pass. This is the only pass that can increase your chances of getting into university. If you do not receive a Bachelor’s Degree Pass, you can upgrade your Matric marks.
You can study for the Matric Upgrade Course offered at Matric College. You will have enough resources to study for the marks that can help you get to university. These resources include:
- Tutors
- Grade 12 past exam papers
- Free learning material
- Textbooks
- Study guides
- Learning checklists
- Sturdy calendar
If you lost your Matric certificate, you need to apply for a replacement from the Department of Basic Education. You can do this online, by post, or at your nearest education district office. You’ll need your ID, an affidavit explaining the loss, and a small fee. If you wrote before 1992, apply through UMALUSI. Processing can take a few weeks, so it’s best to start as soon as possible.
Yes, you can redo your Matric online through distance learning colleges like Matric College. They offer programmes such as Matric Rewrite, Matric Upgrade, and Adult Matric for learners who want to improve their results or complete their senior certificate. While your studying is done online or via distance learning, you’ll still write your final exams in person at an approved exam centre.
It usually takes 4 to 6 weeks to receive your replacement Matric certificate once all documents are correctly submitted. In some cases, it may take up to 6 weeks, depending on backlog and processing by the issuing body. If your certificate was issued before November 1992, it may be processed faster—within 1 to 3 weeks.
An unclaimed Matric certificate is usually kept safely at the school or exam centre where you wrote your exams. It doesn’t expire and can still be collected years later. If it gets lost or damaged over time, you can apply for a replacement certificate through the Department of Basic Education.
Author: Mulisa Nethononda
Editor: Sive Ncanywa
Date: July 21, 2022