Character Certificate India
Police Verification & Online Application Guide 2026
A character certificate certifies your good conduct and absence of criminal record. It is required for government jobs, passports, visas, educational admissions, and immigration. Apply for a local character certificate through your state portal or a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) via Passport Seva. Select your state below for a complete step-by-step guide.
๐Select Your State or Union Territory
๐What is a Character Certificate and Why Do You Need It?
A character certificate is an official government document that certifies an individual's good moral character, conduct, and absence of any criminal record. In India, it is issued either by the local tehsil office or Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) for domestic purposes, or by the Passport Seva Kendra (as a Police Clearance Certificate) for international purposes.
Character certificates are required for: government and private sector job applications, especially in defence, banking, and law enforcement; obtaining a passport or applying for an international visa; gaining admission to professional colleges, defence academies, and universities; immigration, permanent residency, and citizenship applications abroad; and adoption proceedings and other legal processes.
For international use, only the Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) issued through Passport Seva Kendra (passportindia.gov.in) is accepted by foreign embassies and immigration authorities. Local character certificates from the tehsil or police station are accepted for domestic purposes only. The PCC costs โน500 and takes 2โ4 weeks, while a local character certificate costs โน10โโน100 and takes 7โ30 working days.
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