Short answer: students get a character certificate from the head of their last school or college. For jobs and tenders, apply for police character verification on your state police portal. Many government job forms also accept a character certificate from a gazetted officer. To go abroad you need a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) from Passport Seva.
A character certificate sounds like one document, but there are really four different kinds — and the one you need depends on who’s asking. Getting the wrong one is the most common reason people lose time. This guide explains each type, who issues it, and how to apply.
What is a character certificate?
A character certificate confirms that a person is of good conduct and has no known adverse record. It’s asked for at admission, for jobs, for licences and tenders, and for visas or immigration.
Types of character certificate and who issues them
Documents going abroad?
We handle MEA apostille for 120+ Hague countries (Saudi Arabia, China, Europe, USA) and embassy attestation for the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and more — state, MEA and embassy stages done for you, with pan-India courier pickup.
For students: from your school or college
- Ask the school or college office — it’s often issued with the transfer or leaving certificate.
- Give a written request with your roll number, course and years of study.
- Collect it signed and stamped by the principal or head.
If your college has closed or you passed out long ago, the admitting institution may accept a gazetted officer’s certificate or police verification instead — ask them first.
For jobs and tenders: police character verification
- Open your state police citizen services portal (Delhi Police in Delhi; UP Police / UPCOP for Noida and Ghaziabad).
- Choose character or employee verification and fill in your details.
- Upload a photo, ID proof and address proof, and pay any fee.
- Police check your address and records; download or collect the certificate when approved.
Timelines vary by state and workload — commonly one to a few weeks. Local steps for Delhi and Noida are in our Delhi & Noida character certificate guide.
From a gazetted officer
Some government job and exam forms include a character certificate that must be signed by a gazetted officer who knows you. If the form provides a format, use it. We can help arrange gazetted officer attestation.
For going abroad: Police Clearance Certificate
Embassies and foreign employers usually ask for a PCC issued through Passport Seva. Some countries also need it apostilled or embassy-attested. See our PCC service.
Documents usually required
- Proof of identity — Aadhaar, voter ID, passport or PAN
- Proof of address
- Recent passport-size photograph
- Requirement letter from the employer or institution (if any)
- For students: ID card, marksheet or leaving certificate
Using it for a tender, school or job? Our guide on character certificates for tenders, school, college and jobs covers each case.
Not sure which attestation your form needs? Send a photo of it on WhatsApp or call +91 93109 70010 — we tell you the exact process before you spend any money.
Frequently asked questions
Who can issue a character certificate?
The head of your school or college, the state police (character verification), a gazetted officer for some government forms, or Passport Seva for a Police Clearance Certificate.
Where can I get a character certificate for students?
From the principal or head of the school or college you last attended.
How many days does it take to get a character certificate?
School or college certificates can be same day. Police verification commonly takes one to a few weeks.
How can I get a character certificate from the police?
Apply online on your state police portal with ID, address proof and a photo.
Is a character certificate the same as a PCC?
No. A PCC is issued through Passport Seva for overseas use; a character certificate is for use in India.
SK Document Centre has helped people in Delhi NCR with attestation, affidavits, apostille and embassy legalisation for over a decade. Questions about your documents? WhatsApp us.
