SANC APC 2026: Fees, Discounts, Deadlines & How To Pay
A zero-stress guide for tired, busy nurses
If SANC emails give you chest tightness, this is your antidote.
One page. Plain English. Exact amounts. No fluff. Just what you need to stay legal in 2026. ๐๐
1. 2026 SANC APC fees at a glance
These are the official annual fees for 1 Janโ31 Dec 2026:
| Category | 2026 APC fee |
|---|---|
| Registered Nurse / Midwife | R870 |
| Enrolled Nurse / Midwife | R520 |
| Enrolled Nursing Auxiliary | R370 |
๐ Deadline:
Your payment must reflect in SANCโs bank account by 31 December 2025 โ not โpaid on the day, hope for the bestโ.
๐ก Early bird tip:
You can normally pay from 1 July 2025 for the 2026 APC. Pay early, forget about it, enjoy December.
2. Age-based discounts (who pays less)
SANC gives discounts based on your age on 1 January 2026:
If you are 60โ64 on 1 January 2026 (ยฑ25% off)
| Category | You pay |
|---|---|
| Registered Nurse / Midwife | R660 |
| Enrolled Nurse / Midwife | R390 |
| Enrolled Nursing Auxiliary | R280 |
If you are 65+ on 1 January 2026 (ยฑ50% off)
| Category | You pay |
|---|---|
| Registered Nurse / Midwife | R440 |
| Enrolled Nurse / Midwife | R260 |
| Enrolled Nursing Auxiliary | R180 |
๐ Note: SANC may ask for a certified copy of your ID to confirm your age for the discount.
3. When to pay (and when Future You will be grateful)
- From 1 July 2025: Early payments for 2026 open
- By mid-December 2025: Safest time to pay (especially if youโre not with FNB)
- By 31 December 2025: Final deadline โ payment must already be reflecting in SANCโs account
๐ Bank transfers from other banks can take 2โ3 working days. Donโt play EFT roulette on 30 December.
4. Exactly how to pay (so it clears fast and correctly)
Option 1: EFT / Online banking (most convenient)
Pay into SANCโs Reference Deposit Account and use the correct reference:
Reference format:[your 8-digit SANC number][ANLFEES] (no spaces)
Example: 12345678ANLFEES
Anything else (your name, โSANC feesโ, emojis ๐) can delay or block processing.
Option 2: Cash deposit at FNB (SANCโs recommended walk-in option)
- Go to any FNB branch
- Use SANCโs bank details
- In the reference, write:
your 8-digit number + ANLFEES - Keep the slip โ this is your proof if anything goes wrong
Option 3: At SANC offices (card / bank-guaranteed cheque only)
- No cash at the counter
- Only worth it if you need it very urgently
- Expect queues, especially in December
Courier / paper APC during e-APC rollout
SANC is phasing in electronic APCs (e-APCs). In rare cases where a paper APC is couriered, they may ask you to pay an extra courier fee with a specific reference.
Only pay this if SANC has given you the instruction and exact amount in writing.
5. e-APCs & proving youโre legit
SANC is moving away from printed APC cards:
- From July 2025: Pilot e-APCs emailed when you pay your 2026 fee
- From July 2026: APCs will be fully electronic, with paper only in special exceptions
To prove youโre registered:
- Give HR your 8-digit SANC number
- Ask them to check the SANC eRegister (official online verification)
- Take a screenshot of your eRegister entry and keep it for your records & future HR drama
No more panicking about โwhere did I put that little card?โ โ it should be sitting in your inbox instead.
6. Not practising in 2026? Donโt burn money
If youโre:
- Taking a break
- Studying full-time
- Moving overseas
- Stepping out of practice for a while
โฆyou do not have to keep paying APC fees forever.
Instead, apply for Voluntary Removal:
- You send a written request on the official SANC form
- Your name is removed from the register on 31 December of that year
- While youโre off the register, you donโt owe annual fees
When youโre ready to come back:
- You apply for restoration,
- Pay the restoration fee (often at the reduced rate if you qualify), and
- Complete the Restoration Form
โ ๏ธ Big warning:
Practising while not registered is illegal. Donโt โjust help outโ on the ward if your name is off the register.
7. Late, lapsed, or coming back? Restoration fees for 2026
If your name has been removed from the register and you want to come back in 2026, these restoration fees apply from 1 January 2026:
| Category | Normal restoration | Reduced restoration |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse / Midwife | R2 610 | R180 |
| Enrolled Nurse / Midwife | R1 560 | R180 |
| Enrolled Nursing Auxiliary | R1 110 | R180 |
| Retired Nurse | R180 | R180 |
Who qualifies for the reduced restoration amount?
You pay the reduced R180 if:
- You were removed via Voluntary Removal, or
- You are 60+ on 1 January 2026 (and SANC may ask for a certified ID)
๐ก If you know you wonโt be practising, itโs almost always smarter to apply for Voluntary Removal before year-end than to keep paying APCs you donโt need.
8. Public sector nurses (PERSAL): donโt double-pay
If youโre employed in the public sector under PERSAL:
- Your APC is usually paid by your employer under Resolution 3 of 2019
- Many nurses accidentally pay twice (PERSAL + EFT from their own pocket)
๐ Always confirm with payroll before you pay privately. If theyโre deducting for SANC, you usually shouldnโt pay again.
9. Common APC mistakes (and how to dodge them) ๐
- Wrong reference
- โ
Sister Ndlovu APC,SANC 2026, or just your ID number - โ
12345678ANLFEESโ nothing more, nothing less
- โ
- Paying too late
- EFTs from non-FNB banks can take up to 3 working days
- Aim to pay by mid-December, not New Yearโs Eve
- Updating your address after paying at the bank
- The system is fast โ your APC/e-APC can be issued with your old details
- Update your contact details before or via the channels SANC suggests
- Double paying with PERSAL
- Always check with HR/payroll if theyโre already paying your APC
10. Copy-paste reminders for your calendar โ
You can literally drop this into your phone reminders:
- 1 July 2025 โ โAPC 2026: early payments openโ
- 1 October 2025 โ โCheck if Iโm paying via PERSAL or privatelyโ
- 15 December 2025 โ โAPC 2026: must be paid & reflecting soonโ
- 31 December 2025 โ Final deadline (money must already reflect at SANC)
- Anytime during the year โ โCheck eRegister and screenshot my entryโ
11. Quick FAQ ๐ฌ
๐ฉบ Do I still get a paper APC?
- From July 2025, SANC is piloting electronic APCs emailed to you when you pay.
- From July 2026, APCs will be fully electronic, with paper versions only in defined exceptions.
๐ Iโm 60+ โ do I automatically get the discount?
- Discounts are based on your age on 1 January 2026.
- SANC may request a certified ID copy before applying the discount.
๐ธ I used the wrong reference / wrong code when paying. What now?
- Contact SANC with your proof of payment as soon as possible.
- If the reference is not exactly
8-digit SANC number + ANLFEES, your payment can sit unallocated and delay your APC.
๐ฉโโ๏ธ Iโm doing my community service year โ must I pay an APC?
- Community Service Practitioners do not get APCs and shouldnโt pay annual fees.
- After community service, you pay a conversion/registration fee (REGFPRA code) to move onto the practitioner register.
Final dose of calm
Youโve got:
- The exact 2026 fees,
- The discounts,
- The deadline, and
- The reference format that makes SANCโs system happy.
Pay early. Use 12345678ANLFEES (with your number).
Screenshot everything.
Let your APC sit safely in your inbox instead of living rent-free in your anxiety. ๐
And always double-check major decisions (like Voluntary Removal or restoration) against SANCโs latest official notices, because fees and processes can change