How to Procure an Indian Police Clearance Certificate
July 13, 2020
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The Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) is an official document issued to an individual by the Indian Police or an authorised Indian Government official. It identifies any criminal records that an individual may have against their name and provides a clearance certificate if such records are clear. A PCC may be required for Indian or foreign nationals who are residing or have resided in India, for the following purposes:
- Applying for vocational positions requiring clearance
- Seeking to immigrate or obtain visas to other countries
- Satisfying an organisation's request
An Indian PCC does not have a period of validity endorsed on the certificate. Generally, it is valid for six months, however, this varies considerably based on the authority to which the application is submitted. It should also be noted that a PCC is issued only to individuals who are over 18 years of age.
Applying for an Indian PCC
Individuals applying for an Indian PCC can be broadly divided into the following categories, based on their nationality and current place of residence:
- Indian nationals residing in India
- Indian nationals residing outside India
- Foreign nationals residing in India
Indian nationals residing in India
The Indian Government has changed the PCC application process for Indian nationals residing in India to a self-help model where applicants can apply for a PCC online through the Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) website. These are the steps involved in applying for a PCC through PSK:
- Create a profile in PSK’s website
- Complete the online application form, pay the fee and schedule an appointment to submit the documents to the nearest PSK
- Submit the documents at PSK: You must personally submit your documents
- Police verification: Personal presence is mandatory
- Collect the PCC from PSK: It may be collected in person. There is also an option to have the PCC dispatched directly to the applicant’s address from the PSK via registered/speed post
On average it takes 15 - 20 working days from the date of submission of the application to receive a response.
Indian nationals residing outside India
Indian nationals residing outside India may approach the Indian Diplomatic Mission/Post, which has jurisdiction over the applicant’s residence, in person and apply for a PCC.
Foreign nationals residing in India
FPCC can be applied for online on the e-FRRO portal. Once submitted, the applicant cannot leave India until the PCC is issued. Based on the location of filing, a police verification may be conducted before the application is approved. The government processing time varies but is usually between one and three weeks.
For additional information on this and other issues, please reach out to your Fragomen immigration professional or email [email protected].
