How Can I Get a Police Clearance Certificate in Nigeria?

A few years back, anyone who needed a Police Clearance Certificate from the Nigeria Police Force would have to go to the Force Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Alagbon, Ikoyi, Lagos. But the process has been digitised and is less tedious now.

Fact: Police clearance certificate is valid for three months or 90 days.

So, this guide will take you through the 16-step process of applying for and obtaining a police clearance certificate on the official application portal of the Police Specialised Services Automation Project (POSSAP).

What is a Police Clearance Certificate?

Used interchangeably as the Police Character Certificate (PCC), it is an official document issued by the Police authority to certify an individual’s criminal record status. It is an important record that a traveller needs or an employee needs in case its employer requested for it.

It is issued under the seal of the Inspector-General of Police, making it an internationally recognised certificate and accepted by immigration authorities, employers, and regulatory bodies across the world.

Application Fee: N30,000 for applicants within Nigeria; $75 for Diaspora applicants.

Its essence

1. It is to confirm whether an individual or applicant has any criminal convictions
2. Whether someone has pending charges.
3. Whether the applicant is a wanted criminal
4. Whether the person is the actual character he/she claims to be

Who needs it?

1. Applicants for visas
2. Nigerians seeking permanent residency or citizenship in another country.
3. Job applicants for positions in the public sector or security-sensitive industries such as CBN, DSS etc
4. Persons applying for adoption or foster care approval
5. Returning Nigerians required to present a PCC by a foreign authority
6. Residence permits to foreign countries
7. International students applying to foreign universities requiring a home-country police check

How to Apply for PCC on POSSAP Portal

Step 1: Visit the POSSAP portal at possap.gov.ng to create an account with your National Identification Number (NIN) and click on proceed

Step 2: Give it a few seconds to fetch your basic data, such as your full name and phone number, from your NIN record.

Step 3: Fill in other fields that it cannot fetch from your NIN record, including your email address, gender, LGA etc.; enter your password, and click on Create Account

Step 4: A one-time OTP will be sent to your email address and the phone number associated with your NIN; enter it and allow it to verify you.

Step 5: Now log in to your POSSAP account with your registered email and password.

Step 6: On login, you will land on the “select service page”. Choose “individual” if the service is for your personal use.

Step 7: Click on the arrow button to see options to select from, choose “Police Clearance Certificate” and proceed.

Step 8: On the “fill request form” page, check the left side of your page if you are using a laptop to check if the information is correct. Below it, you will be asked, “Do you have an alternative contact info for this request?”

Step 9: If you have changed your contact info, such as state or local government of resident choose “Yes”. For instance, someone who resides in Osun and in Ife North LGA when he enrolled for NIN but has now relocated to Osogbo LGA will need to update this record when applying for police character certificate on the POSSAP portal.

Step 10: If nothing has changed, proceed to the next page, which is “Request Location” i.e from Nigeria or abroad. This means you will have to select where you are requesting from. If you are requesting from Nigeria, select “In Country” from the drop-down above. If you are applying from abroad, select “diaspora”.

Step 11: Click and proceed to the terms and conditions. Read through it; if you accept the terms, click on “ACCEPT”

Step 12: Fill the “request form”.

Requirements to fill the request form for a police clearance certificate in Nigeria

Request type. This means you will have to specify the purpose of the certificate. Choose “International” if it is required at the embassy; select “Domestic” if it is required by an organisation in Nigeria.
Reason for Inquiry. This includes reasons such as travelling, employment, education etc. Choose the one that suits your needs.

• Country of Origin
• Place of Birth
• Date of Birth
• Destination Country. If you have chosen domestic use above, you don’t need to choose destination country.
• Country of Passport
• Passport Number
• Place of Issuance
• Date of Issuance
• Have you previously been convicted?
• Upload Current Passport Photograph
• Upload International Passport Bio Datapage
• Select Police Command to Request Character Certificate
• Select the Police Formation/Division

Step 13: Read through your details to confirm or make correction when there is one, if not move to the next page.

Step 14: Make Payment – Pay online or via bank channels.
For Nigerians abroad or foreigners who have lived in Nigeria for a certain number of years, a digital biometric verification will be allowed for you. So proceed

Step 15: Complete face verification if required.

Step 16: Monitor application status and download once approved.

FAQs?

According to a Nigerian Diaspora Official on Instagram, the cost of Nigeria Police Clearance Character Certificate was $75

Processing time:

5-6 working days

Please Note:

The Nigeria Police Force reserves the right to approve or deny your request based on its guidelines or availability of resources.

You will be required to pay a one-time non-refundable application fee and application processing fee.

Will I pay at the biometric capturing station?

No additional payment is required for biometric capturing. However, some applicants who had passed the process claimed that money exchanged hands at the centre of biometric capturing.

Will the certificate be issued after completing the biometric capturing?

No, the police clearance certificate is issued online and digitally signed. You will receive notification in your email when it is ready for download.

Alternatively, log on to your POSSAP dashboard five days after the day of biometric capturing to download your document. The Police claimed that it will be ready for download at least 72 hours for processing and issuance.

I have issues with my application, who can I contact?

All concerns and issues should be sent to info@possap.gov.ng or call: 02018884040.