Updated 2026-11-16
If you have lost your matric certificate, apply for a replacement through the Department of Basic Education, or DBE, or your Provincial Education Department. For a job application, ask for a statement of results at the same time. The DBE describes it as an interim record while the replacement certificate is being issued.
Do not pay a person or recruiter to get you a job. Use official DBE, provincial education or government channels only.
The DBE says that a lost or damaged original matric certificate must be replaced by completing the Replacement application form through the DBE or a Provincial Education Department, or PED. The DBE certification page also says you may apply and pay online through eServices.
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1. Prepare your documents | Get a detailed affidavit explaining what happened to the certificate and a certified copy of your ID. |
| 2. Complete the replacement application | Use the DBE Replacement application form for lost or damaged certificates, or ask at a DBE or PED office. |
| 3. Pay through an official route | The DBE lists postal order at the Post Office, cash at a DBE or PED office, or cheque for the office process. Its online route is eServices. Keep proof of payment. |
| 4. Submit the application | Take the application and documents to the nearest DBE or PED office, or use the official online service. |
| 5. Request an interim record | Request a statement of results when applying, so you have an official record for your job application while waiting. |
For a lost certificate, the DBE says the replacement certificate fee is R180, and a statement of results is an additional R70. These DBE fees are stated as valid from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027.
The DBE says a replacement normally takes four to six weeks when the record is already on the system. Records that must be retrieved from archives and loaded onto the system will take longer. Do not tell an employer that your replacement is ready until you have received it.
| Document | When it is needed |
|---|---|
| Detailed affidavit | Required for a lost or damaged certificate. State what happened to it. |
| Certified copy of ID | Required for a lost or damaged certificate. |
| Proof of payment | Required for the replacement application. |
| Damaged original certificate | Only if the certificate is damaged. It does not apply when it is lost. |
| Completed Replacement application form | Use the form for a lost or damaged certificate. |
Make sure the names and ID details you give match your examination record. The Western Cape Education Department also tells applicants to include the school or college name, province and year of qualification, and the surname used at the time of the examination. Check the application form and official notice for the route that applies in your province.
Ask DBE or the PED for the statement of results when you submit the replacement request. The DBE says it can issue the statement immediately for a lost or damaged certificate application, while the certificate is still being processed.
An employer decides what evidence it will accept. A DBE statement of results is an official interim record, but do not assume every employer will treat it as identical to the final certificate.
The DBE Certification Helpdesk at Sol Plaatje House, 222 Struben Street, Pretoria accepts applications and collections Monday to Thursday from 08:30 to 15:15. The DBE lists certification contacts as certification@dbe.gov.za and 012 357 4511 or 012 357 4513.
The DBE's e-Matric e-Re-Issue page says you must first register as a user on the e-Government Portal before using the online service. The national government service page also lists provincial contacts if you need to approach your PED.
If you live in the Western Cape, the provincial education department says its certificate service is available only to clients residing in that province. Its page also links to Umalusi's online lost-or-damaged certificate route and tells applicants to send online-route queries to Umalusi. Check your own provincial department's current instructions before paying or submitting.
Yes. The DBE says applications and payment can be made through eServices, and that you must register on the e-Government Portal first. Follow the current online instructions and upload the required affidavit, certified ID and proof of payment.
The DBE says it takes four to six weeks for records already on the system. It may take longer if records must be retrieved from archives and loaded onto the system.
Request a DBE statement of results when you apply for the replacement. The DBE calls it an interim record while the certificate is being issued. Ask the employer whether it will accept that statement for the particular vacancy.
The DBE states that, from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027, a replacement certificate costs R180 and a statement of results costs an additional R70.
Yes. DBE requires an affidavit stating what happened to the lost or damaged certificate, together with a certified copy of your ID and proof of payment.