Quick answer. Most PCCs are issued through the Passport Seva portal at passportindia.gov.in. Open Track Application Status, choose PCC, and enter your File Number and date of birth. Some states also issue a PCC through their own state police e-services portal.
If you are short on time: jump to How to check PCC status and track your File Number now.
Authority: Passport Seva (Ministry of External Affairs) or your state police. Portal: passportindia.gov.in for the Passport Seva route. What you need: your File Number and date of birth. Police verification: local police check your address before the PCC is granted. Safety: use only the official portal. Never share an OTP or pay a bribe.
A Police Clearance Certificate (पुलिस क्लीयरेंस) confirms you have no adverse record in India. It is asked for by foreign authorities and employers. You usually need it for a visa, immigration, residency, or a job abroad.
There are two common routes. The first is the Passport Seva route, where you apply online and the certificate is issued by a Passport Seva Kendra. The second is the state police route, where some states issue a PCC through their own e-services portal.
In both routes, police verification is a key step. Your local police confirm your address and check for any record. The PCC is granted only after a clear report reaches the issuing office.
Go to passportindia.gov.in. If you applied through your state police instead, open that state's police e-services portal.
On the Passport Seva home page, click the Track Application Status link. This is the same tracker used for passports.
Select PCC as the application or service type. This tells the system you are tracking a Police Clearance Certificate, not a passport.
Type your File Number exactly as printed on your acknowledgement letter. Then enter your date of birth in the format shown on the page.
Click the track button to see the latest stage of your application. Note the wording and date so you can refer to it later if there is a delay.
| Detail | Where to find it |
|---|---|
| File Number | Acknowledgement letter or receipt given after you applied |
| Date of birth | As entered in your application |
| Application type | Select PCC in the tracker |
| Portal (central route) | passportindia.gov.in |
| Portal (state route) | Your state police e-services portal |
| Status you may see | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| Application Submitted | Your application is received and registered |
| Under Police Verification | Local police are checking your address and record |
| Granted | A clear report is in and the PCC is approved |
| Printed / Despatched | The certificate is printed or sent to you |
| Action Required | You must supply a document or visit the office |
Police verification is the most common cause of delay. If your status sits at the verification stage for weeks, first follow up with your local police station. Ask whether the report has been sent to the issuing office.
If there is still no movement, you can file an RTI to ask the public authority for the status of your verification and the reason for the delay. This is a citizen right under the RTI Act. See police verification pending for a job and passport police verification delayed for the exact escalation steps.
You can draft a clear, valid RTI in minutes using the RTI Drafter. For the full method, read The RTI Playbook.
Use only the official portal and your state police website. Type the address yourself rather than clicking links from unknown messages. Fake PCC websites and agents are common.
Never share the OTP sent to your phone. No genuine officer needs your OTP to process a PCC. Be wary of any agent who promises a guaranteed certificate for a fixed cash payment.
For the Passport Seva route, open passportindia.gov.in, click Track Application Status, choose PCC, and enter your File Number and date of birth. If you applied through your state police, check that state's e-services portal instead. Both routes show the current stage of your application.
The File Number is the reference printed on the acknowledgement or receipt you got after applying. You need it, along with your date of birth, to track your PCC online. Keep this number safe, because the tracker will not work without it. If you have lost it, contact the office where you applied.
The certificate is granted only after local police send a clear report. If your status stays at verification, the report may not have reached the issuing office yet. Follow up at your local police station first. If there is still no progress, an RTI can ask the authority to explain the delay.
In some states, yes. Several state police forces issue a PCC through their own online e-services portal. The route you use depends on why you need the certificate and the state you live in. Check your state police website to see if this option is available to you.
Timelines vary by case and by office. If your present passport has a clear verification on record, a PCC can be quick. If fresh police verification is needed, it can take longer. Track your status online and follow up with the local police if it stalls.
Last reviewed: 2 June 2026 — RTI Wiki editorial team. Always confirm your final status on the official portal.