How to Apply for Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) for Passport?

Are you planning to travel abroad or immigrate for employment?

If yes, you need a Police Clearance Certificate to authenticate your clean background and travel without hassle.

Depending on the application, this document is published by the Indian Police or authorised Indian government authority.

Keep reading to know how to get this PCC certificate and other related details to your application.

What is a Police Clearance Certificate or PCC?

A Police Clearance Certificate or PCC is issued to Indian passport holders when they apply for employment, residential status, long term visa, or immigration.

This certificate is a part of the protocol that scrutinises an individual's criminal record when travelling abroad for the long term. This is applicable for both Indians and foreign nationals residing in India.

However, a PCC cannot be issued for individuals going abroad on a tourist visa.

A Police Clearance Certificate in India is generally valid for six months. However, this factor can vary according to the authority and the application form.

It is imperative to know that a PCC is only issued to individuals above the age of 18.

Since this certificate holds a significant value, understanding the application steps becomes crucial.

How to Apply for a Police Clearance Certificate in India?

You can easily apply for Police Clearance Certificate online by following the mentioned steps-

Firstly, register yourself on the Passport Seva portal or log in to your existing account.
Click on “Apply for Police Clearance Certificate” and fill in the form to submit.
Next, select the “Pay and Schedule Appointment” option under the “View Saved/Submitted Applications” tab.
Make the payment and print the application receipt containing your Application Reference Number.
Go to the Regional Passport Office or Passport Seva Kendra with originals and copies of your documents.

If you have trouble filling the Police Clearance Certificate form online, click on the option to download the form. Next, you can fill in the form and save it in XML format offline.

Now, follow the steps above to submit the application and book an appointment. Here, you can directly upload the filled XML file.

It is imperative to know that both the form submissions have to be done online. Only the post-visit to the passport office for verification with documents is offline.

How to Get a PCC from a Local Police Station?

You can select the nearest police station when making a PCC application. Then, follow the mentioned steps to get your PCC with ease.

Visit your nearest police station.
Answer the queries of a police officer. They usually conduct a background check and enquire about the purpose of the application.
Submit the self-attested documents mentioned in the official Passport Seva portal.
Pay the requisite fee in cash or through a cheque.

The authorities will scrutinise the documents and decide whether to give Police Clearance Certificate or not.

Since documents are crucial in gaining this certificate, let’s check what papers you need to submit.

Documents Required for Police Clearance Certificate

In terms of documentation, there are two distinctions. These concern applicants who are–

Going to ECR countries in regard of employment
Emigrating to non-ECR countries

Those Moving to ECR Countries for Employment Purposes

For skilled/semi-skilled workers -

Old passport with self-attested photocopy of its first two and last two pages, page of observation and ECR/Non-ECR page
Self-attested copy of employment contract with a foreign employer
Present address proof
Copy of valid visa (English translation)

For unskilled/ women workers (above 30 years old) -

Old passport with self-attested photocopy of its first two and last two pages, page of observation and ECR/Non-ECR page
Self-attested copy of employment contract with a foreign employer
Present address proof
Copy of valid visa (English translation)

For skilled/semi-skilled workers (via a recruiting agent) -

Present address proof
Old passport with self-attested photocopy of its first two and last two pages, page of observation and ECR/Non-ECR page
Copies of original employment contract, power of attorney and demand letter from a foreign employer duly attested by a Recruiting Agent (RA)
Copy of valid registration certificate issued by protectorate of Emigrants, Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, Govt. of India.

For unskilled individuals/women applicants (via Recruiting Agents) -

Employment contract copies, demand letter and power of attorney from foreign employer, attested by a concerned Indian Mission
Copy of POE issued registration certificate.

Applicants Emigrating to Non-ECR Countries

Documentary proof of applying for residential status, employment contract or long term visa or for immigration.
Old passport with self-attested photocopy of its first two and last two pages, page of observation and ECR/Non-ECR page
Present address proof

Keep the mentioned documents handy when applying for a Police Clearance Certificate online. This would help streamline the entire process and save significant time.

How to Check Police Clearance Certificate Status?

These steps will help you conduct a PCC status check with ease.

Visit the Passport Seva portal and click on “Track Application Status”.
Choose your application type from Passport, PCC, IC, and GEP options.
Enter your 13-digit file number and birth date and click on “Track Status”.
This status tracker screen will display updated status of your passport application.

The discussions above explain correct Police Clearance Certificate India procedure. Follow the steps to make an application and check updated status without hassle.

What Is the Police Clearance Certificate Processing Time in India?

You can get PCC only after receiving a ‘clear’ report from police authorities in India. You can check the PCC status made by the concerned passport office in the official portal.

Usually, this process may take up to 1 month. However, this can vary according to the application and police station.

Frequently Asked Questions Police Clearance Certificate

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Can I contact the call centre to ask about the status of my Police Clearance Certificate?

Yes, you can check status of your application by calling at passport service call Centre at 1800-258-1800. You can talk to a call centre executive to check your application status.

What is the validity of a Police Clearance Certificate?

A police clearance certificate is valid for six months from the date of issue unless specified.

Is it possible to apply for a Police Clearance Certificate twice?

Only after receiving one PCC can a person apply for another one. While an organisation may apply for PCC after completing the payment of the first Police Clearance Certificate.