Passport Seva PCC: Key Information for 2026
A Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) is a miscellaneous service provided through Passport Seva. It may be required by foreign governments, employers, immigration authorities, educational institutions or other organizations to verify an applicant's police/criminal-record status for the relevant purpose.
How to Apply for Police Clearance Certificate Online
- Register on Passport Seva.
Open the official Passport Seva portal and create a user account if you are not already registered. - Login to your account.
Use your registered Login ID to access Passport Seva services. - Select "Apply for Police Clearance Certificate".
Open the PCC service from the logged-in dashboard. - Complete the PCC application.
The current online workflow includes passport type, applicant details, family details, address details, other details and self-declaration. - Review and submit the form.
Check all information carefully. After final submission, an Application Reference Number (ARN) is generated. Submitted particulars generally cannot be edited through the same application. - Pay the PCC fee and book an appointment.
Use the "Pay and Schedule Appointment" option. Online payment is mandatory for appointment booking at PSKs/POPSKs. - Select the appointment location.
Choose the available Passport Seva Kendra (PSK), Post Office Passport Seva Kendra (POPSK) or other location offered by Passport Seva for your application. - Keep the appointment details.
A printed application receipt is generally not mandatory if you have the SMS containing your appointment details, though retaining the ARN and appointment information is advisable. - Visit the Passport Office with original documents.
Attend the booked appointment with the required original documents and any self-attested photocopies or additional records shown by the Document Advisor. - Complete police verification, where required.
The PCC may be issued after the prescribed checks and police verification applicable to the applicant's case.
Documents Required for PCC
The exact documents depend on factors such as whether the applicant's present address or personal particulars differ from the existing passport. Use the official Passport Seva Document Advisor for the final checklist.
| Document / information | Practical requirement |
|---|---|
| Existing passport | Carry the original passport and copies as required by Passport Seva. |
| Present address proof | Required where applicable. Passport Seva accepts prescribed documents such as Aadhaar, Election Photo ID, electricity bill, rent agreement and eligible bank passbook, subject to its current rules. |
| Appointment / ARN details | Keep the ARN and appointment confirmation/SMS available. |
| Purpose-specific documents | Additional documents may be required according to country, employment, immigration or other PCC purpose. |
| Documents for changed particulars | If personal particulars or address differ from the passport, additional supporting records may be required. |
Use the official Document Advisor immediately before your appointment because document requirements can vary by applicant.
PCC Fee and Online Payment
For applications made under the Passport Seva system, the current published application fee for a Police Clearance Certificate is ₹750. The revised fee schedule applies from 1 July 2026.
Passport Seva supports online payment methods displayed in its payment system, including eligible credit/debit cards, internet banking, UPI and other modes presently supported by the portal.
Police Verification for PCC
Police verification requirements are determined by Passport Seva according to the applicant's passport record, address, previous verification status and other relevant particulars. A fresh police verification may be initiated where required.
Applicants should therefore provide their present address accurately and cooperate with any verification request made by the police or Passport Office. Do not assume that possession of a valid passport automatically eliminates police verification for every PCC application.
Applicable Legal Framework
Passport and related services in India operate principally under the Passports Act, 1967 and the Passport Rules, 1980, as amended from time to time. PCC is administered through the Ministry of External Affairs' Passport Seva system as a passport-related miscellaneous service.
Where police verification involves checking criminal cases or police records, the substantive and procedural criminal-law framework may also involve the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023, which came into force on 1 July 2024. These laws do not themselves replace the Passport Seva PCC application procedure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Passport Seva PCC fee in 2026?
The current Passport Seva fee schedule lists the PCC application fee as ₹750 after the passport fee revision effective from 1 July 2026.
Can PCC be applied for completely online?
The form, payment and appointment booking are completed online, but the applicant normally has to visit the selected PSK/POPSK/RPO with original documents.
Is a PCC the same as passport renewal?
No. PCC is a separate miscellaneous Passport Seva service. A fresh passport or re-issue of passport is a different service and application category.
Do I need to print the application receipt?
Passport Seva states that carrying a printed application receipt is no longer mandatory; an SMS containing appointment details is accepted as appointment proof. Keeping the ARN readily available is still useful.
What happens if I do not attend after submitting the application?
Passport Seva advises that resubmission of the application is required if the applicant does not visit the Passport Seva Kendra within 90 days from online form submission.