For the first timers, applying for a fresh passport or travelling abroad gives rise to many queries. One amongst the common is probably what does PCC indicate? In this post, we will emphasis on some imperative pointers regarding the same.
The Police Clearance Certificate, abbreviates as PCC, is issued to all prospective applicants from India seeking a trip to foreign territory for employment, prolonged stay or for residential purpose. However, people travelling to a different country on Tourist Visa are not eligible to apply for PCC. This certificate plays a pivotal role while applying for a passport and visa; and depending on the country and purpose of visit, applicants may be asked to provide various types of documents while applying for the same.
Generally, a PCC is given by the Regional Passport Office of the applicant’s location where he/she has been staying for last six months or more and the same gets issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Hence, the location of the applicant is of the essence while issuing a PCC. People applying for a PCC having no adequate address proof, may face challenge while planning their overseas trips. Some of the documents that an applicant can provide to support his/her address proof may include a bank statement. To get this statement as your existing address proof, you can request the bank authority for the same to alter your address and issue a bank statement for last one year. Once you obtain this document, sign it and get it stamped. Please be informed that downloading the statement will not suffice the purpose, as it has to get stamped officially.
While applying for a PCC, an applicant may go through two phases wherein, he/she may require physical police verification or PCC stamp. If an applicant is asked for physical police verification then he/she will be given a receipt number along with a document that he/she needs to carry home. Accordingly, the applicant is further communicated by the relevant authority mentioning the name and contact number of the police officer who will be visiting the applicant’s house for verification.
Once physical police verification is done, the next concern is obtaining the PCC. Garnering a PCC after verification depends on two scenarios. First; if an applicant is residing in his/her country for less than a year then it may take two to three weeks time. Second; if the applicant is residing in his/her country for more than one year time then the verification takes place in next 2-3 days. After that an applicant is ready to collect his/her passport from the passport center and get a PCC letter issued.
On the other hand, the requirement of a PCC stamp comes into existence when physical police verification is not required. To get it done, you need to go to a counter where PCC letter is taken and stamped by the respective associates. There are three stamps that are put across including:
- An endorsement along with the application number of the applicant mentioning the name of the visiting country
- A stamp of MEA
- An authorisation stamp giving the clearance
Thereafter, the designated person from the counter stamp on applicant’s passport. Having done, the authorised person further signs the letter and the passport page.
