The Debt Review Clearance Certificate: What You Need to Know
You have paid off all your debts under debt review — so what happens next? Here is your guide to the clearance certificate and the common hurdles consumers face.
Completing debt review is a major achievement. After years of disciplined payments, you have cleared your debts and earned the right to a fresh financial start. But the journey does not end with your last payment. There is one more important step: getting your clearance certificate. This document is your official proof that you have completed the debt review process, and without it, your credit record will still show you as being under review.
Let us look at what the clearance certificate is, how you get it, and what to do if things do not go smoothly.
What is a clearance certificate?
A clearance certificate is a formal document issued by your debt counsellor once you have settled all the debts included in your debt review. It confirms that you are no longer over-indebted and that the debt review process is complete. Your debt counsellor sends this certificate to the credit bureaus, who then remove the debt review flag from your credit profile. Once that happens, you are free to apply for credit again.
There are two types of clearance certificates. A Form 19 (sometimes called F1) is issued when all debts have been fully settled. A Form 17W (or F2) may be issued if you have settled all short-term debts and only a home loan with a restructured payment remains — this is sometimes called an "early clearance."
How long does the process take?
Once your debt counsellor issues the clearance certificate and submits it to the credit bureaus, the bureaus are legally required to update your profile within 21 business days. In practice, it can sometimes take a little longer, especially if there are backlogs or administrative delays.
Common problems consumers face
Unfortunately, the clearance certificate process does not always go smoothly. Here are some of the most common issues consumers encounter.
Your debt counsellor is unreachable. Some consumers find that their original debt counsellor has closed down, relocated, or simply stopped responding. If this happens to you, do not panic. You can approach another registered debt counsellor or an attorney who can retrieve the necessary records from your Payment Distribution Agency and issue the clearance certificate on your behalf.
Payments were not allocated correctly. Sometimes a creditor's records do not match what was actually paid through the Payment Distribution Agency. This can delay your clearance. Your debt counsellor should be able to obtain payment records and resolve any discrepancies with the creditor.
Credit bureaus are slow to update. Even after a clearance certificate has been issued, it can take time for the bureaus to remove the debt review flag. If it has been more than 21 business days and your profile still has not been updated, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the National Credit Regulator.
Current issue: NCR system outage (2026)
The National Credit Regulator's Debt Help System was taken offline in February 2026 due to technical problems. While the system is down, debt counsellors cannot push updates to credit bureaus through the normal channels, meaning consumers who have completed debt review may experience longer delays in having their records cleared. If you are affected, stay in contact with your debt counsellor and be patient — the NCR is working to resolve the issue.
What if you want to exit debt review early?
Some consumers want to leave debt review before completing the full process — perhaps because their financial situation has improved. This is possible, but it is not as simple as just stopping payments. You would typically need to settle all outstanding debts in full, or apply to a court for an order declaring you are no longer over-indebted. Simply stopping payments without following the proper process can leave the debt review flag on your credit record indefinitely.
Life after the clearance certificate
Getting your clearance certificate is a moment to celebrate, but keep in mind that your credit score will not bounce back overnight. After years under debt review, your credit profile will need time to recover. Some credit providers may be cautious about extending credit to someone who was recently under review.
The best approach is to take things slowly. Start with a small, manageable credit facility — like a store account or a low-limit credit card — and use it responsibly. Pay it off in full each month. Over time, your credit score will improve and more options will open up.
Tip: Resist the temptation to take on too much credit too quickly after debt review. The habits you built during the process — living within a budget and prioritising repayments — are worth holding onto.
The clearance certificate marks the end of your debt review journey and the beginning of your financial fresh start. It may take some patience to get through the final administrative steps, but the freedom on the other side is well worth it.