Police Character Certificate in Pakistan 2026: How to Apply for Visa and Immigration
Almost every serious visa or immigration file eventually asks for the same document: a police character certificate, often called a PCC or police clearance certificate. Embassies, employers in the Gulf and Europe, and immigration authorities use it to confirm you have no criminal record. For Pakistani applicants the process is simple once you know which police office issues it and what to carry.
Who issues the certificate?
In Pakistan, character certificates are issued by the provincial or territorial police. If your address is in Islamabad, you apply to the Islamabad Capital Territory Police; Punjab residents apply through the Punjab Police, and Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan each have their own offices. Canada's immigration department notes that Punjab applicants can apply at any Police Khidmat Markaz in the province, while foreign embassies in Islamabad cannot obtain the certificate for you.
Fee and processing time in Islamabad
According to Islamabad Police, the character certificate fee is Rs 1,000, paid at the counter, with standard processing of about 3 working days. You can apply at a Police Khidmat Markaz (PKM) such as those in F-6, G-8, G-14 or H-11, or submit the online application form on the Islamabad Police website and track it using your CNIC number. Fees and timelines in other provinces can differ, so confirm with the issuing office before you pay anyone.
Documents you normally need
- Original CNIC (or B-Form) and your passport, plus clear copies.
- Proof of residence in the issuing area, such as a rent agreement or allotment letter, or an affidavit if your CNIC shows an address elsewhere.
- A recent passport-size photograph and fingerprints, as required by the form.
- For applicants living abroad: an authority letter attested by the embassy or a gazetted officer, an affidavit about your period of stay abroad, and a copy of your passport's last exit page.
Applying from abroad or through a relative
Overseas Pakistanis do not always need to travel home. Some Pakistani embassies, for example in Beijing, take your application, capture a live photo and upload it to the Punjab/Islamabad police portal, with delivery taking roughly two weeks. A blood relative in Pakistan can also apply for you if you provide an attested authority letter. Check your nearest mission for its current process.
Validity and attestation
A certificate is generally treated as valid for about six months, and some Punjab certificates are described as valid for 180 days. Many embassies want a recent certificate, so do not apply too early. Some countries also ask for MOFA attestation or an apostille; see our guide to MOFA attestation and apostille. If your file also needs educational papers, read our guides on HEC degree attestation and IBCC attestation.
Common mistakes to avoid
Applicants most often lose time because the CNIC address does not match the issuing district, the passport copy is unclear, or the certificate expires before the visa file is submitted. Keep your passport and CNIC valid before you begin, and ask the embassy or employer whether they want an original with a QR code, an attested copy or an apostilled one. You can see how this fits into the wider process on our visas and attestation pages.
Our team in Islamabad and Rawalpindi can guide you on PCC, attestation and the rest of your document checklist, so your visa file is complete the first time.
Fees, processing times and requirements change often and differ by province and by the country you are applying to. This article is general information, not legal advice; always confirm with the issuing police office and the relevant embassy, which make the final decision.