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The short answer
For going abroad, apply for a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) on the Passport Seva portal and attend the Passport Seva Kendra; the Regional Passport Office, Bhubaneswar issues it, after police verification where needed. For a job, tenancy or other purpose within India, apply for a character certificate or verification on the Odisha Police Citizen Portal, which is processed by your local police station. A pending criminal case can block a passport or PCC unless the trial court permits travel.
A police clearance certificate in Odisha can mean two different documents, and applying for the wrong one is the most common mistake. A Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) for going abroad is issued by the Regional Passport Office through the Passport Seva system. A character certificate or police verification report for a job, tenancy or admission within India is issued by Odisha Police through its Citizen Portal. This guide explains which one you need, how to apply for each, and what happens when there is a criminal case on record.
Which certificate do you need?
| Purpose | Document | Issued by |
|---|---|---|
| Work visa, residence permit, immigration, long-term visa abroad | Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) | Regional Passport Office, Bhubaneswar (for residents of Odisha), through Passport Seva |
| Private job, contract work, admission, licence or other purpose within India | Character certificate or verification report | Odisha Police, through the Citizen Portal and the local police station |
| Government job or service | Antecedent or character verification | Started by the employer, which sends your attestation form to the police |
| Landlord checking a tenant, or employer checking domestic staff | Tenant, servant or employee verification | Odisha Police Citizen Portal |
A foreign embassy or employer usually says exactly which document it wants. If it asks for a "PCC issued by the Government of India" or for use abroad, you need the passport office PCC, not a police station character certificate.
PCC for passport holders going abroad
The Ministry of External Affairs issues PCCs to Indian passport holders who need one for residential status, employment, a long-term visa or immigration. A PCC is not issued for tourist visas. The steps for a person living in Odisha:
- Register and apply online on the Passport Seva portal or the mPassport Seva app, choosing "Apply for Police Clearance Certificate". Enter the address where you currently live; this decides which police station verifies you.
- Pay the fee and book an appointment at the Passport Seva Kendra in Bhubaneswar or a Post Office Passport Seva Kendra in your district. The fee is shown on the portal at the time of payment.
- Attend with originals: your passport, proof of present address (and, where needed, documents the destination country requires, such as a visa or job offer). Biometric details are taken at the Kendra.
- Police verification: if the passport office needs a fresh report, for example because your present address differs from the one on the passport or the earlier verification is old, the application goes to the district police for verification at your address. Keep your phone reachable and be at home with your documents when the police visit or call you to the station.
- Collect the PCC when the RPO issues it. Track the status on the portal with your file number.
The PCC itself has no validity period printed under Indian rules, but many foreign authorities accept it only if it was issued within the last few months, commonly six. Check what the embassy or employer requires before applying too early. If the certificate has to be legalised for use abroad, see apostille and attestation of documents.
Indians living abroad apply to the Indian Mission in that country; the Mission forwards the request to the passport authority in India and issues the PCC after receiving its report. Foreign nationals living in Odisha obtain a clearance from the district police or the Foreigners Regional Registration Office.
Character certificate from Odisha Police online
For purposes inside India, Odisha Police provides character certificate and verification services through its Citizen Portal, which runs on the police's CCTNS network connecting all police stations in the state. The general process:
- Register on the Citizen Portal with your mobile number and email.
- Choose the service (character certificate, or employee, tenant or domestic help verification), fill in your present and permanent addresses for the period asked, and state the purpose.
- Upload documents: a photograph, identity proof, address proof, and any letter from the employer or institution asking for the certificate.
- Pay the fee shown on the portal, if any, and note the application number.
- Verification: the application goes to the police station for your address. An officer checks the station's records and the CCTNS database and may visit or call you.
- Download or collect the certificate once approved. The portal shows the status.
If the portal is not working for your service, you can apply in writing to the Inspector in Charge of your police station or the office of the Superintendent of Police (or, in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, the Commissionerate of Police) with the same documents. Ask for a receipt or diary number.
Police verification for government jobs
When you are selected for a government post, the employer sends your attestation form or verification roll to the police of the districts where you have lived. You do not apply for this yourself. Fill in the attestation form truthfully: disclosing a past case, even one that ended in acquittal, is far safer than concealing it, because suppression of facts in the form is itself a common ground for cancelling an appointment.
If there is a criminal case against you
- Pending case: under Section 6(2)(f) of the Passports Act, 1967, a passport or travel document can be refused where criminal proceedings are pending against the applicant before a court in India. The court where the case is pending can grant permission to travel, and the passport authority acts on that permission. Apply to the trial court with the details of the trip.
- Case closed or acquitted: keep a certified copy of the final report, discharge order or judgment. If the verification report still shows the case as pending, give the copy to the police station and the passport office so the record can be corrected. Check the case's current status on eCourts.
- Name wrongly linked to a case: if you share a name with an accused person, write to the police station with your identity documents and parentage, and ask for the record to be distinguished.
- FIR registered against you recently: see what to do if an FIR is registered against you.
Delay or an adverse report
If verification is pending for a long time, follow up with the police station and, for a PCC, raise a grievance on the Passport Seva portal or with the RPO. For an adverse report you believe is wrong, ask the RPO for the reason in writing; an RTI application can help you get the basis of the report. A refusal by the passport authority can be appealed under the Passports Act, and an arbitrary refusal by a public authority can be challenged before the Orissa High Court in a writ petition.
Odia terms used in this guide
| Odia | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ଚରିତ୍ର ପ୍ରମାଣପତ୍ର | charitra pramanapatra | character certificate |
| ଥାନା | thana | police station |
Frequently asked questions
How do I apply for a PCC for passport or visa in Odisha?
Apply online on the Passport Seva portal under 'Police Clearance Certificate', pay the fee, and book an appointment at the Passport Seva Kendra in Bhubaneswar or a Post Office Passport Seva Kendra. The Regional Passport Office issues the PCC after any police verification needed.
Can I get a character certificate from Odisha Police online?
Yes. The Odisha Police Citizen Portal (citizenportal-op.gov.in) offers character certificate and verification services. Register, apply with ID, address proof and a photograph, and the local police station verifies the application.
Is a PCC the same as a police character certificate?
No. A PCC is issued by the passport authority for use abroad (employment, residence or immigration). A character certificate is issued by Odisha Police for purposes within India, such as private jobs or admissions.
How long is a police clearance certificate valid?
Indian rules do not print a fixed validity on the PCC, but many foreign authorities accept only a recently issued certificate, often within six months. Check the requirement of the embassy or employer before applying.
Can I get a PCC if a criminal case is pending against me?
Section 6(2)(f) of the Passports Act, 1967 allows refusal while criminal proceedings are pending in an Indian court. You can apply to the trial court for permission to travel abroad, and the passport authority acts on that order.
How do I do tenant verification in Bhubaneswar?
Use the tenant verification service on the Odisha Police Citizen Portal with the tenant's ID, photo and address details, or submit the form at the local police station of the Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Police Commissionerate.
Official sources
- Ministry of External Affairs: Police Clearance Certificate
- Passport Seva portal (MEA)
- Odisha Police Citizen Portal
- Passports Act, 1967 (India Code)
General information, not legal advice. Every matter turns on its own facts and documents, and the law and official procedures change. Check the current position with the concerned office, or take advice on your own facts, before acting.