Police Character Certificate (PCC) in Pakistan 2026: How to Get and Attest It
A Police Character Certificate (PCC) — also called a Police Clearance Certificate — is one of the most commonly requested documents when Pakistanis apply for a visa, immigration, foreign employment or study abroad. It confirms whether you have a criminal record in Pakistan, and most embassies will not process an application without it. Here is how to get one in 2026, whether you are inside Pakistan or living overseas.
What is a Police Character Certificate?
The PCC is an official document issued by the police (or a Pakistani mission abroad) stating that you have no adverse record. There is no separate "overseas version" — the same certificate is used domestically and internationally once it is properly attested. It usually shows your name, CNIC/NICOP number, address and the period covered.
When you need a PCC
You will typically be asked for a PCC for permanent residence and immigration (Canada, Australia, UK, USA), long-term work visas and Gulf employment, some student visas, and citizenship or naturalisation. It is often required alongside your other visa documents and a certified translation where the destination country needs English.
How to get a PCC inside Pakistan
Most provinces now offer an online route. Islamabad (ICT), Punjab and Karachi issue QR-code-verified certificates through their police portals, while other areas may still require a visit to the district police office. You will generally need your original CNIC, passport, recent photographs and, in some cases, biometric verification. Processing ranges from same-day to a couple of weeks depending on the region.
How overseas Pakistanis get a PCC
If you live abroad, you have two main options. First, apply through your nearest Pakistani embassy or consulate using the PKM Global Portal — a service offered free at most missions, covering Punjab, ICT, Balochistan, GB and AJK. You typically book an appointment, submit your CNIC/NICOP and passport, and the certificate takes about two to three weeks. Second, use the Authority Letter route: send an attested authority letter to a blood relative in Pakistan who obtains the clearance from your local police station on your behalf.
Attestation for international use
For a PCC to be accepted abroad it must be legalised. Since Pakistan joined the Hague Apostille Convention, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) issues an apostille — now with QR verification for faster acceptance — for around PKR 700 per document, usually within 2–5 business days. Countries outside the Convention (such as the Gulf states) also require the destination country's embassy attestation. Our attestation service handles this end to end.
Fees and processing times
Inside Pakistan, online PCC fees are modest (often a few hundred rupees plus challan). Overseas, embassy attestation commonly costs around €35 (paid by card, not cash, and varying by country), plus MOFA's PKR 700 apostille. Budget two to four weeks overall when attestation is included — longer during peak seasons.
Common mistakes to avoid
Watch for name and CNIC spellings that must match your passport exactly, an expired CNIC/NICOP, skipping MOFA or embassy attestation, and leaving it to the last minute — a missing PCC is a frequent cause of visa delays. Start early and keep both the original and any translation together.
Hijrat helps Pakistani applicants obtain and legalise the PCC — MOFA and embassy attestation, certified translation, and guidance for overseas Pakistanis — from our Aabpara office in Islamabad, serving Rawalpindi and beyond. See all our visa services.
Disclaimer: PCC procedures, fees and attestation rules differ by province, country and mission and change over time. Always confirm current requirements with the issuing police authority, the Pakistani mission or MOFA — whose decisions are final — before applying.