What is Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) and Do Students Need It?

A Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) is an official document verifying that an individual has no criminal record in their home country. It is often required for students applying for visas to study abroad, particularly for long-term courses or work permits.

A Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) is required by Indian passport holders 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 is not required on a tourist visa. This PCC certificate is crucial for various purposes, including visa applications, employment, and immigration processes. For students aspiring to study abroad, the question arises: Is PCC required for a student visa? The answer is often yes, as many countries mandate a PCC to ensure that applicants do not pose a security risk.

Interestingly, PCC requirements can vary based on age; for instance, students under 18 may also need to provide a PCC depending on the destination country's regulations. The full form of PCC is "Police Clearance Certificate," and it serves as a critical component of the application process for international studies. To obtain a PCC, students usually need to submit various documents, including proof of identity and residence, along with an application form at their local police station. Understanding the significance and requirements of a PCC is key for students aiming to pursue higher education abroad.

In this article, we will inform you about the Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) and how students can get it. We will also inform you about everything related to what passport PCC means,  PCC such as the process of getting a Police Clearance Certificate, police verification documents and the total fee that needs to be paid to get PCC as well as the processing time to get it.

Police Clearance Certificate for Visa

A 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 or PCC is a part of the protocol that examines criminal records when travelling to a foreign country for the long term. A police clearance certificate for Visa is a mandatory requirement for candidates looking to study abroad.

Read: What is PCC for Ireland Visa?

PCC Full Form

PCC full form stands for Police Clearance Certificate and is a mandatory document required by students looking to study in an international destination for a long duration of time. Applicants are required to approach their nearest police station to obtain their Police Clearance Certificate and are required to pay a fee to avail of the service. 

Documents Required for PCC

The Police Verification 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
• Present address proof
• Documentary proof of applying for residential status, employment (copy of employment contract) or long-term visa for immigration
• Sponsorship declaration by the sponsor (for dependent family members)

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 in 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. Online payment can be made through a credit/debit card (MasterCard and Visa), Internet Banking, or SBI Bank Challan.

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.

How to Apply for a Police Clearing Certificate at a Police Station?

To apply for a Police Clearance Certificate at a police station, candidates need to follow the given steps:

• Visit the police station from where you wish to obtain a PCC.
• Submit the PCC required documents in India along with the PCC form. Typically, a Police Clearance Certificate application form will require the following details:
  • Name
  • Gender
  • Date of Birth
  • Occupation
  • Father’s Name
  • Mother’s Name
  • Spouse’s Name
  • Permanent Address
  • Present Address
  • Time since you have been residing at the current address
  • Passport details
  • The country where you are applying to
• Pay the application fees and answer the questions asked by the officer.

Study Abroad Countries that Require a PCC

In this section, we talk about the popular countries that require a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) as part of the study abroad process. Currently, a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) is a mandatory requirement for students going to study in Ireland, New Zealand and Spain. The PCC requirement is part of the Student Visa Application Process.  

Processing Time for 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 from 7 working days up to 21 working days. However, the process of Police Verification documents scrutiny can vary according to the police station and application.