How To Get PCC Clearance | Police Verification Certificate for Passport

Are you planning to go abroad for a job, higher studies or permanent settlement?

Then you must be thinking about visa, flight bookings, accommodation bookings, etc.

But guess what, you still need an essential document along with your other documents, i.e., a Police Clearance Certificate.

A Police Clearance Certificate is an official document that contains detailed information about an individual’s criminal history.

This article will discuss the concept of a Police Clearance Certificate, eligibility criteria, documents required, application procedure, validity, etc.

What is a Police Verification Certificate?

A Police Clearance Certificate is an official document that provides:

• A clear statement of an individual’s arrest details.
• The reasons and outcomes of the arrest.
• The specific area of the arrest.

In simple words, it shows a criminal history of prosecution, conviction, or other police case records of an individual.

It is issued by The Indian police or authorized Indian Government officials.

Any Indian Passport holder who desire Residential Status, Employment, Long term visa, or immigration in foreign country can apply for Police Clearance Certificate.

It is prominently asked for jobs or research or higher studies abroad. The person who wants a green card ( permanent resident card) also requires a Police Clearance Certificate ( PCC).

Tourist or Tourist Visa holders don’t need PCC in a foreign country.

Eligibility criteria to apply for Police Clearance Certificate

Any individual above 18 years of age can apply for a Police Clearance Certificate. Individuals below 18 years of age do not require a Police Certificate. 

Documents required to apply for a PCC in India

Some countries demand to verify an emigrant’s background, and some do not.

Thus, there are two categories of countries;  Emigration Check Required (ECR) countries and  Emigration Check Not Required (ECNR) countries.

An individual travelling to an ECR country will have a printed ECR status on their passport. However, an individual who is travelling to ECNR will not have printed ECR status on their passport.

List of ECR Countries: 1. United Arab Emirates 2. Yemen 3. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 4. Sudan 5. Qatar 6. Afghanistan 7. Oman 8. Indonesia 9. Kuwait 10. Syria 11. Bahrain 12. Lebanon 13. Malaysia 14. Thailand 15. Libya 16. Iraq 17. Jordan

Required Documents for Applicants Going For ECR Countries For Employment Purpose:

Documents Required for Skilled/Semi-Skilled Workers (Individuals):

For individuals who have seek employment directly (without Recruiting Agents (RA) registered with Protectorate of Emigrants)

• Original Passport with an applicant’s signature on its initial and last two pages. It also includes ECR/Non-ECR page and page of observation (if any)
• Address proof
• Valid Visa

For individuals who have seek employment through Recruiting Agents

• Original Passport with an applicant’s signature on its initial and last two pages. It also includes ECR/Non-ECR page and page of observation (if any)
• Address proof
• Employment contract, demand letter, and power of attorney from the foreign employer signed by the Recruiting Agent (RA).
• Valid registration proof given by the Protectorate of Emigrants, Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, Govt. of India.

Documents Required for Unskilled/Women Workers (Individuals above 30 years):

For individuals who have seek employment directly (without Recruiting Agents (RA) registered with Protectorate of Emigrants)

• Original Passport with an applicant’s signature on its initial and last two pages. It also includes ECR/Non-ECR page and page of observation (if any)
• Address proof
• Employment contract from the foreign employer signed by the Indian Mission or Permission letter from the concerned Indian Mission/Post.
• Valid Visa

I. who have seek employment through Recruiting Agents:

• Original Passport with an applicant’s signature on its initial and last two pages. It also includes ECR/Non-ECR page and page of observation ( if any)
• Address proof
• Xerox of employment contract and demand letter and power of attorney by the foreign employer with the Recruiting Agent (RA) sign.
• Copy of valid registration certificate given by the Protectorate of Emigrants, Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, Govt. of India.

Also, these copies must be duly by the concerned Indian Mission.

II. Required Documents For Applicants Emigration to NON-ECR Countries

• Original Passport with an applicant’s signature on its initial and last two pages. It also includes ECR/Non-ECR page and page of observation (if any)
• Address Proof
• Proof for Residential Status (Employment contract or Long term visa or for immigration.)

III. PCC For Dependent Family Member/ A Person Residing /Emigration In/To Both ECR AND NON-ECR Countries:

• Original Passport with an applicant’s signature on its initial and last two pages. It also includes ECR/Non-ECR page and page of observation ( if any)
• Address Proof
• Sponsoring person’s sponsorship declaration letter about the emigration of the PCC applicant.

How to apply for PCC in India?

Indian passport card holders, above 18 years of age are eligible to apply for PCC. This can be done online and offline.

Follow the following step by step guide to apply for PCC in Online Mode:

Step 1: Go to the Passport Seva Online portal website. Passportindia.gov.in.

Step2: Register or enter your login credentials.

Step 3: On the home page, click on apply for a police clearance certificate.

Step 4: Fill in the required details carefully and click on submit.

Step5: Further, click on pay and schedule an appointment on the ‘View Saved/Submitted Application’ screen to arrange an appointment.

Step 6: Complete the application payment to confirm the appointment. This can be done via Debit Card/ Credit Card/ Net banking.

Step 7: Click on the print application receipt to download the application receipt. Note down the application Reference Number (ARN) or Appointment Number for future references.

Step 8: Visit the nearest Passport Seva Kendra ( PSK) or Regional Passport Office ( RPO) on the day of an appointment with original documents.

You can fill in the form by downloading the e-form as well. To download the e-from, click on https://passportindia.gov.in . On the homepage, select the download from.

After filling in the details, click on the Validate and Save button. The form will get converted into an XML file, which is required for further document uplodation in the system.

In-person/ Offline Application procedure:

Form Local Police Station in India 

Step 1: Take all required documents with you and visit the nearest police station.

Step 2: Submit self-attested documents.

Step 3: After document verification, tell the purpose of your travel purpose upon enquiring.

Step 4: Pay the fees.

In-person/ Offline Application procedure for NRIs:

Step1: Visit the consulate official.

Step 2: Fill the PCC verification from

Step 3: Attach and submit all the required self- assisted documents.

Step 4: Complete the payment.

Step 5: Once PCC is approved, India’s certificate will be issued.

Approval Duration Time of PCC Document:

If your application form is error-free and has all supporting documents, you can get a certificate on the same day from the police station.

If something is invalid and missing, it can take around one week to correct and approve. Thus, carefully fill in the details and submit the documents.

Validity of PCC document:

Police Clearance Certificate remains valid upto two years from the date of approval.

If you have a Police Clearance Certificate, which was issued more than two years back, you need to apply for a new PCC. 

Also Read: How to Reschedule Passport Appointment in India in 2022

Conclusion:

Police Clearance Certificate is an important official document to get employment and a long-term visa in a foreign country.

An individual can apply for a Police Clearance Certificate through the Passport Seva Online portal.

This article has discussed the concept, eligibility, application process, and validity of a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC).

Why we need Police Clearance Certificate:

Police Clearance Certificate is provided to safeguard the interest areas of immigrants.

For every individual passport is an essential document to travel aboard. An individual must undergo background verification to avoid further misuse of your identity.

Along with this, some foreign countries need PCC to be sure about candidates’ criminal backgrounds for the safety of everyone.

Therefore a Police Clearance Certificate is required.

My Police Clearance Certificate is not written in the English language; what should I do?

If your Police Clearance Certificate is written in any other language, then you must submit it with a certified English translation.

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