Indian police clearance certificate (PCC) for Canada PR: how to get it in time

Key takeaways

IRCC calls the document a “Police Clearance Certificate.” It does not accept a “character certificate”
You need one for each country where you stayed 6 months in a row or longer in the last 10 years, after age 18
Applying from Canada: use the Passport Seva portal first, then submit the printout at a BLS centre
The High Commission says there is no fixed timeline, because it issues the PCC only after a clear police verification report from India
If it is not ready by your 60-day Express Entry deadline, you can upload a letter of explanation and proof of your best effort

Who needs an Indian PCC

IRCC asks for police certificates when you apply for PR. For Express Entry, you and your family members who are 18 or older need a certificate for every country where you stayed for 6 months in a row or longer in the last 10 years. You do not need one for time before age 18 or for time in Canada. An officer can ask for more certificates from any time since age 18. See IRCC’s Express Entry police certificates page.

IRCC’s India police certificate page lists where you can get the document: a local district police station, a passport office, an Indian embassy or consulate, or a BLS International centre. It says “Character Certificates are not accepted.” Certificates that limit the place or time period searched are not accepted.

IRCC rules on the certificate

Your situation	What IRCC says
India is the country where you live now	The certificate must be issued no more than 6 months before you submit your application.
India is not the country where you live now	The certificate must be issued after the last time you stayed in India for 6 months in a row or longer. An expired certificate is accepted if it meets this rule.
Format	Submit colour scans of the original. Certified true copies are not accepted.

How to apply if you live in Canada

This is for Indian passport holders in Canada. You choose the Indian mission (Ottawa, Toronto or Vancouver) based on where you live in Canada.

Apply online. Register and submit the PCC application on the Passport Seva portal for Indian missions.
Submit the printout at a BLS centre. Bring the printout, your supporting documents and the fee. See the BLS PCC how-to-apply page.

The High Commission of India in Ottawa has a step-by-step guide. In short:

Choose Canada on the portal and register an account.
Start a PCC application and choose the purpose “Immigration Purpose other than Citizenship” for PR.
Enter the file number from the last page of your passport.
Give the contact address in India where the police verification will take place.
Submit. You cannot make changes after you submit. Then print the form and take it to BLS with your documents.

If you are in India, IRCC lists your district police station or a passport office as places to get the certificate. We could not verify the steps on the Passport India site, so we do not list them here. Check the official Passport India website.

What to bring to BLS

BLS has different checklists. For Indian passport holders (Type A), the BLS checklist and information booklet lists:

The checklist and the online application form
Your Indian passport, original and copy
Proof of address, such as a driving licence or a recent utility bill
Your status in Canada (PR, work permit, study permit or visa)
A photograph
A copy of your spouse’s passport and a marriage or divorce certificate, where it applies
The fee

Separate checklists exist for foreign passport holders who stayed in India (Type B) and former Indian citizens (Type C). They need the passport you used in India with entry and exit stamps. Type C also needs the cancelled Indian passport and a certificate of foreign citizenship. We do not list the BLS fee here. Check the BLS site for the current amount.

How long it takes

The High Commission FAQ, hosted on the BLS PCC FAQ page, says a PCC “can be issued only after receipt of a Clear Police Verification Report from Police authorities in India. Thus, there is no fixed timeline.” After that report arrives, it says the PCC is “generally” issued within 10 days.

There is no emergency PCC.
You need a valid passport that has not expired.
No agents are authorized.
You can track the status on the BLS site.

If your PCC is not ready in time

IRCC advises you to request police certificates “as soon as your profile is in the pool.” After an Invitation to Apply (ITA), you have 60 days to submit your application.

If a certificate is not ready, IRCC says you can upload a letter of explanation and proof that you made your best effort. Proof can be a confirmation receipt, a payment receipt, a delivery notice, a tracking number or an explanation from the issuing agency. Upload them in the police certificate field for that country. If the officer is not satisfied, your application may be rejected as incomplete. This is from IRCC’s Express Entry police certificates page.

What to do next

List every country where you stayed 6 months in a row or longer in the last 10 years, after age 18.
Check that your Indian passport is valid.
Open the Passport Seva portal and start your PCC application as early as you can.
Book your BLS visit and gather your documents using the BLS checklist.
Keep your receipts and tracking information. You may need them as proof of best effort.

Use our document checklist generator, read our Express Entry guide and see our page for people moving from India.

Frequently asked questions

Does IRCC accept an Indian character certificate?

No. IRCC says character certificates are not accepted.

Where can I get an Indian PCC for IRCC?

IRCC lists a local district police station, a passport office, an Indian embassy or consulate, and a BLS International centre.

How long does an Indian PCC take?

There is no fixed timeline. The High Commission says it issues the PCC after it receives a clear police verification report from India.

What if my PCC is not ready within 60 days?

IRCC says you can upload a letter of explanation and proof of your best effort. The officer decides if it is enough.

Sources

This is general information, not legal or immigration advice. For your situation, consult a licensed immigration consultant (RCIC) or lawyer.