How to Get a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) Online in Nepal — OPCR Step-by-Step

A Police Clearance Certificate (PCC), sometimes called a police report or character certificate, is an official document issued by Nepal Police that states whether an applicant has any recorded criminal history in Nepal. It is one of the most commonly requested supporting documents for international purposes, including foreign employment, study-abroad and student-visa applications, permanent-residence and immigration cases, long-term visas, and certain professional licensing or adoption procedures.

In Nepal the certificate is issued under the authority of Nepal Police, with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at Police Headquarters functioning as the central verifying body. To make the process faster and accessible from anywhere, Nepal Police operates the Online Police Clearance Registration System (OPCR) at opcr.nepalpolice.gov.np, which lets applicants register, complete the form, upload documents, track status, and download the approved certificate without first visiting a police station in person.

The OPCR system serves three applicant categories, selectable at registration: Nepali citizens, foreign nationals, and refugees. Nepali citizens apply on the basis of a valid Nepali citizenship certificate, while foreign nationals and refugees apply on the basis of their valid travel document and residence or visa status in Nepal. Applicants typically need to be old enough to hold a citizenship certificate; minors are generally handled differently.

Before starting, prepare clear, legible scans or photographs of your documents. Files should be readable, with documents shown fully and without glare. The photograph used on the certificate must meet passport-style rules — a recent colour image with a plain background, the face clearly visible, and (per portal guidance) both ears visible and the head occupying roughly half the frame.

Open a web browser and go to the official portal at opcr.nepalpolice.gov.np, then click Register on the homepage. Choose your applicant category — Nepali, foreigner, or refugee — and continue. Enter your full name, gender, mobile number and email address, complete the CAPTCHA, and submit the registration.

The system sends account details to your email — typically a username and a temporary password, or a verification link. Log in with the temporary credentials, and you will be prompted to set a new secure password, confirmed using a one-time password (OTP) sent to your email or mobile. Once your password is set, log back in to begin an application. Always confirm you are on the genuine nepalpolice.gov.np domain, because many lookalike third-party sites advertise the same service.

After logging in, open the option to start a new online application for a Police Clearance Certificate. The form is organised as a short, sequential set of steps that collect your identity and address details, your supporting documents, a self-declaration, and a final review before submission. The data entry itself is quick; the bulk of the wait is the verification that follows.

Throughout the form, make sure names, dates and addresses match your citizenship certificate and passport exactly, since mismatches are a common cause of rejection or delay. Note whether your citizenship is in the older pre-federalism format or the newer post-federalism format, as the address section asks you to enter details accordingly.

Two things matter most at the upload stage: image quality and identity verification. Documents can be scanned or photographed clearly with a mobile phone, but they must be sharp, complete and free of glare. The certificate photo must follow passport-style requirements — plain background, clear face, both ears visible — because it is printed on the certificate itself.

As part of the identity-verification process, applicants may be asked to provide a live selfie (a real-time photo captured through the camera) in addition to uploading the MRP/passport photo and citizenship certificate. This live capture helps confirm that the person applying matches the submitted documents and reduces fraudulent applications. The same workflow is also available through the Government of Nepal's official Nagarik App, which integrates the police-report service and lets users capture documents and a live photo on a phone, track status, and download the certificate.

Submitting the application through the OPCR portal is free — there is no government fee for the online application, and it can be filed at any time from anywhere with internet access. After submission you track progress from the OPCR dashboard using your reference details; once the status shows the application as completed/approved, you can download the certificate as a PDF and print it (in colour, where required).

A fee applies only when you need the certificate legalised for use abroad. For most international purposes the PCC must be attested (stamped) by the Department of Consular Services under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which charges a fixed government fee of about NPR 500. This consular attestation can be applied for and paid online through the department's portal (att.nepalconsular.gov.np), with digital payment options, after which the attested document is issued. Depending on the destination country, a further step — such as embassy attestation or apostille-equivalent legalisation — may also be required.

There is no single fixed statutory validity for a Nepali PCC; in practice it is treated as recent for a limited window and the acceptable age of the document is set by the requesting authority — the destination country's embassy, immigration office, employer or university. Many authorities expect a certificate issued within roughly three to six months, so apply close to when you will actually submit it.