Police Clearance Certificate Nigeria 2026: How to Apply on POSSAP, Fees, Processing Time and Diaspora Steps

📌 Quick answer (checked 25 October 2026): The Nigerian Police Clearance Certificate is officially called the Police Character Certificate (PCC). You apply online on the Nigeria Police Force’s POSSAP portal at possap.gov.ng (the address the NPF website links to), upload your documents, pay the fee shown on the portal, then attend a free biometric capture session. The NPF’s official PCC page states processing takes 5–7 working days from the date complete documentation is submitted, with an express service of 2–3 working days at additional cost. Neither the NPF page nor the POSSAP portal publishes a fixed naira fee on its public pages, so the amount you pay is the one displayed on your POSSAP invoice. Nigerians abroad can select the diaspora option on POSSAP and must pay in US dollars.

Whether you are applying for Canadian permanent residence, a UK work visa, a foreign university place or a job that needs a background check, the Nigerian Police Character Certificate is one of the documents you will almost certainly be asked for. This guide explains how the process works today, based only on what the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), the POSSAP portal and receiving-country governments actually publish. Where an official figure is not published, we say so instead of guessing.

Police Character Certificate at a glance

What the PCC is and who needs it

According to the NPF, the PCC is an official document certifying an individual’s criminal record status. It confirms whether the applicant has any criminal convictions, pending charges or police cautions recorded against their name within Nigeria. The NPF describes it as internationally recognised and accepted by immigration authorities, employers and regulatory bodies.

The NPF lists these groups as typical applicants:

• People applying for visas or residence permits to foreign countries
• Nigerians seeking permanent residency or citizenship abroad
• Job applicants for public-sector or security-sensitive roles
• People applying for adoption or foster care approval
• International students whose foreign university requires a home-country police check
• Returning Nigerians asked to present a PCC by a foreign authority

Canada’s immigration department (IRCC), for example, says you must provide a police certificate when applying for permanent residence, and may ask for one on a work permit, study permit or eTA application if you declared a criminal record. If you are on that route, see our Canada Express Entry guide for Nigerians.

Documents to prepare before you start

The NPF’s official PCC page lists the following documents:

1. Completed PCC application form (filled online on the portal)
2. Valid National Identity Card (the NIN slip is accepted temporarily)
3. Valid international passport, biographical data page
4. Two recent passport photographs, white background, 35 × 45 mm
5. Evidence of payment of the prescribed fee
6. Birth certificate or statutory declaration of age
7. Employer’s or sponsor’s letter, for employment-related applications

If your passport has expired or you do not have one yet, sort that out first. Our guides on applying for a Nigerian passport for the first time and Nigerian passport renewal walk you through the NIS process.

Check your NIN or BVN record first

This is the step that trips up the most applicants. POSSAP’s own FAQ explains that the portal pulls your name, phone number and email directly from the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) for NIN, or from the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) for BVN. That means:

• If you see the error “something went wrong, please contact POSSAP admin” when signing up, your NIN or BVN record has no phone number linked to it. Update it at a NIMC office (NIN) or at your bank (BVN).
• If your name appears in a different order from your passport, fix it at NIMC or your bank before continuing.
• If the phone number or email shown is an old one, POSSAP cannot change it for you; you must update it with NIMC or your bank.

How to apply for a Police Character Certificate in Nigeria: step by step

The NPF summarises the process in five stages: submit and upload on the portal, attend biometric capture, criminal records check by the CIID, approval and digital signature by the Force CID, then download. In practice it looks like this:

1. Go to possap.gov.ng. This is the address the NPF website’s “Apply on Police Services” button links to. Type it yourself rather than clicking links in messages or adverts.
2. Create an account. POSSAP says new users must sign up using a recognised means of identification. Enter your NIN or BVN; the portal will retrieve your details and send a verification code (OTP). If the OTP does not arrive, check your spam folder and confirm the email address before clicking “Resend OTP”. If the system says “User already exists”, use “Forgot Password” instead of registering again.
3. Request the service. Click “Request Service” and choose Police Character Certificate. Indicate whether you are applying in Nigeria or from the diaspora.
4. Complete the application form and upload documents. Use clear scans of your passport data page and a recent photograph. Enter details exactly as they appear on your passport.
5. Complete facial verification if prompted. POSSAP advises using a desktop or laptop rather than a phone, good lighting and your most recent passport photo. A “Face does not match” error is often caused by an outdated photograph.
6. Generate your invoice and pay. The amount appears on your invoice. POSSAP says you can pay at a bank branch, through a mobile app, at a POS, or online with MasterCard, Visa or Verve. Pay on the correct invoice number: POSSAP states payments cannot be transferred between invoices.
7. Attend biometric capture. The NPF says you attend a biometric capture session at your designated NPF station. POSSAP confirms that biometric capture for the PCC is completely free; no one at the station should ask you for money for it.
8. Wait for the records check. The CIID carries out the criminal records check and the Force CID approves and digitally signs the certificate.
9. Download and print. The NPF says you download and print your PCC directly from the portal. Anyone you give it to can check it using the “Validate Document” option on possap.gov.ng.

How much does the PCC cost?

We checked the NPF’s official PCC page and the public POSSAP pages on 25 October 2026. Neither publishes a fixed naira fee for an in-country PCC, and NaijaSabi could not confirm the ₦30,000 figure that circulates online from any official source, so we have removed it. The fee you must pay is the amount displayed on your POSSAP invoice when you apply. The NPF does state that the express service costs extra.

For diaspora applicants, POSSAP’s FAQ says payment must be made in US dollars (or the corresponding currency of your host country) for the exact amount on the portal. One FAQ answer, about applicants who mistakenly paid in naira, mentions a diaspora payment of 53.76 USD. Treat that only as an indication and pay exactly what your own invoice shows, because amounts can change.

Paid twice or paid in the wrong currency?

POSSAP says to email info@possap.gov.ng or call 02018884040 with both receipts, the date of payment, the invoice number, the account number you paid into, your bank account name and number, and your email and phone number. Refunds are processed after verification. A diaspora applicant who paid in naira should email for a refund and then pay again in dollars.

How long does it take?

The NPF states 5–7 working days from the date complete documentation is submitted, or 2–3 working days with the express service. The clock starts only when everything is complete, so delays with your NIN or BVN record, facial verification or biometric appointment add to the total. POSSAP’s FAQ tells applicants whose application has been pending for more than two weeks to contact its support team.

Practical advice: begin at least a month before your visa or job deadline, so you have room to fix identity-record problems and attend biometrics.

Applying from abroad: what Nigerians in the diaspora need to know

1. The POSSAP diaspora route

POSSAP describes its services as available worldwide and has a dedicated diaspora pathway for the PCC. Two official rules apply:

• Proof that you live outside Nigeria. POSSAP accepts any valid supporting document, such as a residence document from your host country, a water or electricity bill, a bank statement, a lease agreement, a driver’s licence or a work permit.
• Payment in dollars. Diaspora fees cannot be paid in naira.

The public POSSAP pages do not explain how diaspora applicants complete the biometric step. Before paying, contact POSSAP (02018884040, info@possap.gov.ng) or your nearest Nigerian mission to confirm how fingerprints are taken in your country.

2. What receiving countries say

Both pages are older than the current POSSAP system, so treat their procedures as background. The NPF’s own page now directs all applicants to POSSAP. If you are applying for a UK visa, our guide on how to get a UK visa from Nigeria covers the other documents you need.

3. Nigerian missions abroad

The Nigeria High Commission in London has published a “Certificate of Good Conduct” procedure: fingerprints taken by the Metropolitan Police (or a local fingerprint bureau outside London) using an introduction letter from the High Commission, a check by the Nigeria Police in Ikoyi, authentication by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja, and final authentication at the High Commission. Missions mainly help with fingerprints and authentication; the certificate itself comes from the NPF. Always confirm the current process and fees with your mission before sending documents or money.

Common mistakes that delay a PCC

• Mismatched names. If the name order on your NIN or BVN differs from your passport, fix it at NIMC or your bank first.
• Old phone number on NIN or BVN. You will not receive verification codes.
• Outdated photograph. Causes “Face does not match” errors at facial verification.
• Paying on the wrong invoice. POSSAP cannot move payments between invoices.
• Diaspora applicants paying in naira. The payment will not reflect; you will need a refund.
• Paying “fixers”. POSSAP’s security advisory says it will never request payments, passwords or personal data outside official channels.

Avoiding PCC scams

• Apply only on possap.gov.ng, the portal the NPF website links to. Be wary of look-alike domains.
• Biometric capture is free. Anyone demanding cash for it at a station is not following official rules.
• Do not share your POSSAP password or OTP with any agent.
• Ask anyone who receives your certificate to check it with POSSAP’s “Validate Document” tool.
• Report suspicious activity through the contact page on possap.gov.ng.

Planning a trip or move? See also our Canada study permit guide, the UK student visa guide and our Schengen visa guide for Nigerians.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Police Clearance Certificate the same as the Police Character Certificate?

Yes. In Nigeria the official name is Police Character Certificate (PCC). Foreign governments use other names: Canada’s IRCC says “Police Character Certificate” and the UK’s GOV.UK page says “Certificate of Good Conduct”.

What is the official website for the Nigerian police clearance?

possap.gov.ng. The Nigeria Police Force website (npf.gov.ng) links to it from its official PCC page.

How much is the Police Character Certificate in 2026?

The NPF and POSSAP do not publish a fixed naira amount on their public pages. You see the fee on your invoice when you apply. Diaspora applicants pay in US dollars, and biometric capture is free.

How long does it take to get a PCC?

The NPF says 5–7 working days from submission of complete documents, or 2–3 working days with the paid express service.

Can I apply from the UK, Canada or the US?

Yes. Choose the diaspora option on POSSAP, upload proof of residence abroad and pay in dollars. Confirm how to complete fingerprints with POSSAP or your nearest Nigerian mission before you pay.

Do I need to pay for biometric capture?

No. POSSAP says biometric capture for the PCC is completely free of charge.

How long is a Nigerian PCC valid?

The NPF’s public page does not state a validity period. Each receiving authority sets its own rules on how recent a police certificate must be, so check the requirements of the embassy, immigration department or employer asking for it.

My application has been pending for weeks. What should I do?

POSSAP advises applicants pending for more than two weeks to contact support on 02018884040 or info@possap.gov.ng.

Sources

1. Nigeria Police Force, “Police Character Certificate (PCC)” service page, npf.gov.ng, accessed 25 October 2026
2. POSSAP (Police Specialized Services Automation Project), “FAQs” and home page, possap.gov.ng, accessed 25 October 2026
3. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, “How to get a police certificate – Nigeria”, modified 27 October 2020
4. UK Home Office, “Criminal records checks for overseas applicants: Countries G to P” (Nigeria section updated 21 October 2015; page updated 31 January 2025)
5. Nigeria High Commission, London, “Steps to take after receiving the introduction letters for the Application for Certificate of Good Conduct”

Last updated: 25 October 2026 · NaijaSabi.