What is Police Clearance Certificate and do students need it?

In this article, we will inform you, what is a Police Clearance Certificate and do students need it or not? We will also inform you everything related to PCC, the process of getting a Police Clearance Certificate? The total fee needs to be paid to get PCC and the processing time to get it. Students planning to study abroad should know about the documents needed to start the application process and documents required to start the student visa application. Students planning to pursue a course that requires them to stay in a foreign country for a longer duration need to get a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC). Students who need to get a long-term student visa need to get their police verification from the local police.

What is a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC)?

Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) is required by Indian passport holders if they are planning to stay for a long period in a foreign country. A Police Clearance Certificate is issued to Indian Passport holders if they have applied for residential status, employment or long-term visa, or immigration. Note that, PCC cannot be issued to anyone who is going abroad on a tourist visa. This certificate is a part of the protocol that examines criminal records when travelling to a foreign country for the long term.

Documents Required for PCC

The documents required for a Police Clearance Certificate are given below:

• Original passport with self-attested photocopy of its first two and last two pages including ECR and Non-ECR page
• Proof of present address proof
• Documentary proof of applying for residential status, employment (copy of employment contract) or long-term visa for immigration

How to Apply for Police Clearance Certificate Online?

The applicants can obtain a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) by submitting the filled-in application form at the Passport Seva Kendra. Students can apply for Police Clearance Certificate online by following the steps given below:

Step 1: First of all, register yourself through the Passport Seva online portal.

Step 2: Next, login to the Passport Seva online portal with the login id received after the registration.

Step 3: Then, click on the ‘apply for police clearance certificate’ link.

Step 4: After this, fill the required details in the form and then, submit it.

Step 5: Next, click on the ‘pay and schedule appointment’ link to schedule an appointment. Then, do the online payment.

Step 6: Then, click on the ‘print application receipt’ link to print the application receipt. The application receipt will contain an application reference number / appointment number.

Step 7: Lastly, visit the Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) / Regional Passport Office (RPO) where an appointment has been booked. Do not forget to carry the original documents.

Read: What are the documents required for Police Clearance Certificate (PCC)?

Processing time for getting PCC

One can get PCC only after receiving a ‘clear certificate’ from the police authorities in India. PCC status can be checked in the official portal of the concerned passport office. This process may take up to 1 month. However, this can vary according to the police station and application.

Sample PCC

You can also download the application form for Police Clearance Certificate (PCC)

What is Police Clearance Certificate FAQs

Q. Do I need PCC for a student visa?

Q. Does a Canadian student visa require a police clearance certificate?

Q. What is the importance of PCC?

Q. What documents are required for PCC?

Q. In how much time can I get a PCC?

Q. How can I get a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) in India?