Police Clearance Certificate (PCC)

A Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) is an official document issued by the Government of India that certifies an individual’s criminal record verification with the Indian police. It is required for:

Immigration or obtaining long-term visas/ residency in another country.
Employment in foreign countries.
Adoption or studying abroad

PCC Documents Required

Documents checklist for a base on an Indian embassy

1	OLD Passport (Original)
2	Application Form: A printout of the online submission form and an appointment letter.
3	Birth Certificate: (Compulsory for Minor Child)
4	Identity Proof: ( Two Documents) PAN Card Voter ID E-Aadhar Card (QR Code) Driving Licence
5	Address Proof: ( One Document) Aadhaar Card/E-Aadhaar, Voter ID (EPIC) issued by the Election Commission. Valid Driving License copy Utility Bills: Electricity bill, Gas connection bill, Landline telephone bill Rent Agreement: with a No Objection Certificate from the landlord and the landlord’s proof of ownership. Government Bank Passbook with photo and stamp.
6	Qualification: ( One Document) 8th Pass Certificate, Class 10th Pass Marksheet Graduation Degree Certificate

Fee for PCC Online

A PCC fee depends on your location, but the fees are the same.

SERVICE TYPE	Amount
Normal	500
Renew	500
Tatkaal	NA

How to apply PCC online

The application process is online via the Passport Seva Portal. The step-by-step process is

Register	Go to the Passport Seva Portal and register your ID
Fill Form	Select “Police Clearance Certificate” and fill out your PCC form.
Pay Fee	Pay online via credit/debit card, internet banking, or SBI challan
Book Appointment	Schedule an appointment at the nearest Passport Seva Kendra

Police Verification for PCC

Police Verification is the most necessary step in obtaining a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC). A PCC is issued only after a fresh police verification is completed and a “Clear” report is received from the Indian police authorities. The steps are

1. Initiation: The Passport Seva processes your application and sends a verification request to the relevant local police station.

2. Physical Verification: The local police will conduct a physical verification. A police officer will visit your address to confirm identity and residence. A family member or contact person is available at the address during this time.

3. Report Submission: After completing the verification, the police station sends its report to the District Police Headquarters. The Police Headquarters then uploads this report to the online system.

4. Final Issuance: Only after a “Clear” police report is uploaded in the system will the certificate be issued, and finally, the PCC certificate will be sent to your address.

How to check PCC status online

Checking your PCC status is simple and can be done online from anywhere. Follow the simple steps.

1	Visit the Official Website. Go to the Passport Seva Portal “passportindia.gov.in”
2	Click on ‘Track Your Application Status.’ On the homepage, find and click on the “Track Application Status” link in the Quick Links section.
3	Enter Your Details. You will need one of these: File Number(15-digit number from your application receipt) Date of Birth (DD/MM/YYYY format)
4	View Your Status. Click “Track Status” to see your current information

Apply for PCC Grievance

If you are facing issues with your PCC application or police verification, you can register your complaint through the official Grievance Redressal System on any government website. The reasons are:

Application: The PCC application is not processed by the Regional Passport Office.
Verification: Police verification is delayed by the local police station.
Report: The police do not submit a correct report, or they submit an adverse report.

Grievance Complain

Visit Online Portal	1. Go to www.passportindia.gov.in 2. Click on the “Register Grievance” link in the top menu. 3. Fill in your Application Reference Number (ARN).
Email to the Regional Office	The email address is RPO
Grievance Portal (CPGRAMS)	Register on the Centralized Government portal: https://pgportal.gov.in
Toll-Free Number	Call the 24×7 National Helpdesk: 1800-258-1800 (Toll-Free)

Questions and Answers on PCC

Q. What is a PCC certificate?

A. A Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) is a document used by a local police station to verify whether an individual has a criminal record.

Q. Can PCC be applied in Tatkal?

A. No, a PCC can not be applied in the Tatkaal system. It requires mandatory police verification from your local police station, and it is normally processed.

Q. Does PCC have validity?

A. It is generally considered valid for 6 months by most receiving authorities for embassies or immigration. The validity date is printed on the certificate.

Q. Is PCC required for passport renewal?

A. No PCC required for passport renewal. But during passport renewal, police verification is mandatory.

Q. When should I apply for PCC?

A. PCC is required for visa purposes by embassies or immigration authorities. You must obtain the PCC before visiting the embassy’s office. After applying for the PCC, you will receive it within 15 to 20 days following your appointment.

Q. Where to download the PCC certificate?

A. After completing your full PCC process, you will get this certificate at your address by speed post from Passport Seva Kendra. In some cases, you can download from the Passport Seva website.

Q. What is PCC verification?

A. During the visa process at the embassy, a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) is required to conduct a background verification through the local police to confirm that the person has not been involved in any criminal activities.

Apply your PCC Certificate