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SANC APC 2026: Fees, Discounts, Deadlines & How To Pay

ChatGPT Image Nov 13 2025 01 09 44 PM 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. ๐Ÿ’‰๐Ÿ“…


1. 2026 SANC APC fees at a glance

These are the official annual fees for 1 Janโ€“31 Dec 2026:

Category2026 APC fee
Registered Nurse / MidwifeR870
Enrolled Nurse / MidwifeR520
Enrolled Nursing AuxiliaryR370

๐Ÿ•’ Deadline:
Your payment must reflect in SANCโ€™s bank account by 31 December 2025 โ€“ not โ€œpaid on the day, hope for the bestโ€.

๐Ÿ’ก 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 60โ€“64 on 1 January 2026 (ยฑ25% off)

CategoryYou pay
Registered Nurse / MidwifeR660
Enrolled Nurse / MidwifeR390
Enrolled Nursing AuxiliaryR280

If you are 65+ on 1 January 2026 (ยฑ50% off)

CategoryYou pay
Registered Nurse / MidwifeR440
Enrolled Nurse / MidwifeR260
Enrolled Nursing AuxiliaryR180

๐Ÿ“Ž 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 youโ€™re not with FNB)
  • By 31 December 2025: Final deadline โ€“ payment must already be reflecting in SANCโ€™s account

๐Ÿ‘‰ Bank transfers from other banks can take 2โ€“3 working days. Donโ€™t 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 SANCโ€™s Reference Deposit Account and use the correct reference:

Reference format:
[your 8-digit SANC number][ANLFEES] (no spaces)
Example: 12345678ANLFEES

Anything else (your name, โ€œSANC feesโ€, emojis ๐Ÿ™ƒ) can delay or block processing.


Option 2: Cash deposit at FNB (SANCโ€™s recommended walk-in option)

  1. Go to any FNB branch
  2. Use SANCโ€™s bank details
  3. In the reference, write: your 8-digit number + ANLFEES
  4. 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 youโ€™re 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 youโ€™re registered:

  1. Give HR your 8-digit SANC number
  2. Ask them to check the SANC eRegister (official online verification)
  3. Take a screenshot of your eRegister entry and keep it for your records & future HR drama

No more panicking about โ€œwhere did I put that little card?โ€ โ€“ it should be sitting in your inbox instead.


6. Not practising in 2026? Donโ€™t burn money

If youโ€™re:

  • Taking a break
  • Studying full-time
  • Moving overseas
  • Stepping out of practice for a while

โ€ฆyou 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 youโ€™re off the register, you donโ€™t owe annual fees

When youโ€™re 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

โš ๏ธ Big warning:
Practising while not registered is illegal. Donโ€™t โ€œjust 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:

CategoryNormal restorationReduced restoration
Registered Nurse / MidwifeR2 610R180
Enrolled Nurse / MidwifeR1 560R180
Enrolled Nursing AuxiliaryR1 110R180
Retired NurseR180R180

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)

๐Ÿ’ก If you know you wonโ€™t be practising, itโ€™s almost always smarter to apply for Voluntary Removal before year-end than to keep paying APCs you donโ€™t need.


8. Public sector nurses (PERSAL): donโ€™t double-pay

If youโ€™re 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)

๐Ÿ‘‰ Always confirm with payroll before you pay privately. If theyโ€™re deducting for SANC, you usually shouldnโ€™t pay again.


9. Common APC mistakes (and how to dodge them) ๐Ÿ›‘

  • Wrong reference
    • โŒ Sister Ndlovu APC, SANC 2026, or just your ID number
    • โœ… 12345678ANLFEES โ€“ nothing more, nothing less
  • Paying too late
    • EFTs from non-FNB banks can take up to 3 working days
    • Aim to pay by mid-December, not New Yearโ€™s 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 theyโ€™re already paying your APC

10. Copy-paste reminders for your calendar โœ…

You can literally drop this into your phone reminders:

  • 1 July 2025 โ€“ โ€œAPC 2026: early payments openโ€
  • 1 October 2025 โ€“ โ€œCheck if Iโ€™m paying via PERSAL or privatelyโ€
  • 15 December 2025 โ€“ โ€œAPC 2026: must be paid & reflecting soonโ€
  • 31 December 2025 โ€“ Final deadline (money must already reflect at SANC)
  • Anytime during the year โ€“ โ€œCheck eRegister and screenshot my entryโ€

11. Quick FAQ ๐Ÿ’ฌ

๐Ÿฉบ 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.

๐ŸŽ‚ Iโ€™m 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.

๐Ÿ’ธ 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.

๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€โš•๏ธ Iโ€™m doing my community service year โ€“ must I pay an APC?

  • Community Service Practitioners do not get APCs and shouldnโ€™t pay annual fees.
  • After community service, you pay a conversion/registration fee (REGFPRA code) to move onto the practitioner register.

Final dose of calm

Youโ€™ve got:

  • The exact 2026 fees,
  • The discounts,
  • The deadline, and
  • The reference format that makes SANCโ€™s 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. ๐ŸŽ‰

And always double-check major decisions (like Voluntary Removal or restoration) against SANCโ€™s latest official notices, because fees and processes can change

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About Leonie Weyers

Hi, Iโ€™m Leonie. I am a mom, a registered nurse, and a PhD student who cares deeply about nurses and the communities we serve. Nurselife is my one-woman shop where two worlds meet: caring in the ward and cheering for nurses with practical tools, small joys, and real support.

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