Service guide
Indian Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) From Abroad
Immigration authorities and employers often ask for a police clearance from every country you have lived in. For Indian passport holders abroad, that certificate comes from the Indian mission.
Who needs an Indian PCC?
- Applicants for permanent residence or citizenship (Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the UK and others commonly ask)
- Work-permit and long-term visa applicants
- People applying for jobs in sensitive sectors — healthcare, education, security and finance
- Adoption and some marriage registrations
Where to apply
Indian passport holders living abroad apply through the Passport Seva portal for Indian missions, selecting “Police Clearance Certificate”, and then submit at their mission or its application centre. Former residents of India who are foreign nationals follow a different route — usually through the Indian mission with police verification in India, or via the regional police authorities in India. Your mission’s website states which route it accepts.
Step by step
- Complete the PCC form on the missions’ Passport Seva portal.
- Gather your passport, local status document, address proof and photos.
- Submit at your mission or application centre and pay the fee.
- Wait for verification. If your passport details or address history need checking with police in India, this can take several weeks.
- Collect the PCC. Note its date — many immigration authorities only accept certificates issued within the last 6–12 months.
Tips
- Apply as soon as an immigration file asks for it — PCCs are the most common long pole.
- Make sure your current address is endorsed in your passport or provide strong local address proof.
- If the receiving authority needs the PCC addressed to them, bring their request letter.
- Check whether you also need a PCC from regional police in India for periods you lived there.
Frequently asked questions
How long is a PCC valid?
The certificate itself rarely states an expiry, but receiving authorities set their own limits — commonly six months to a year from issue.
My passport was issued in India and I live abroad now. Can the mission still issue a PCC?
Yes, but verification with the issuing passport office or police may be required, which adds time.