Police Clearance Certificate Online Nepal: How to Apply Free on OPCR & Nagarik App (2026)

Updated: 29 September 2026 · By Wilson Shrestha, Kathmandu · Cross-checked against Nepal Police (OPCR) and Department of Consular Services information

Got a job offer in the Gulf, a student visa file for Australia, or a PR application for Canada? Somewhere on the checklist you will find the same line: Police Clearance Certificate from Nepal. The good news is that you no longer need to queue at Naxal. Nepal Police issues the certificate online, it costs nothing to apply, and most clean applications are approved in a few working days.

The bad news? Most guides skip the parts that actually cause delays: lookalike websites, photo rejections, the dreaded On Hold status, and the attestation step that embassies expect. This guide covers the full journey, from registration to an attested certificate you can hand to an embassy.

Nepal PCC at a glance

What is a police clearance certificate (police report) in Nepal?

A Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) is an official Nepal Police document stating whether you have a recorded criminal history in Nepal. Different people call it by different names, but they all mean the same document:

• Police Report — the everyday term used by manpower agencies and consultancies
• Police Character Certificate or Good Conduct Certificate — common in Gulf and Malaysian job files
• Criminal Record Check or Background Check — common wording in Canada, Australia, the UK and the USA

Who needs a Nepal PCC?

• Foreign employment — most overseas employers and labour authorities ask for a recent PCC.
• Study abroad — student visa files for Australia, the UK, Canada, Japan and others often include it.
• Permanent residency and citizenship — a standard requirement in PR and long-term migration cases.
• Other uses — long-stay visas, adoption, and some professional licences or jobs.

Nepali citizens, foreign nationals who lived in Nepal, and refugees can all apply. You pick your category when you register.

Official portals vs lookalike websites (read this first)

Search "police report online Nepal" and you will see many private websites with police-report-style domain names. Some are helpful blogs; some ask for money or personal documents. None of them can issue a PCC. Only these channels are official:

Documents required for a police clearance certificate

Prepare everything before you open the form. Half-finished applications and blurry uploads are the most common reasons for delay.

Upload checklist that prevents most rejections

How to apply for a police clearance certificate online on OPCR (step by step)

Here is the whole journey in one picture. The form itself takes about 20–30 minutes; the waiting is mostly police verification.

Step 1: Register on the OPCR portal

• Open opcr.nepalpolice.gov.np and click Register.
• Choose your category: Nepali, foreigner, or refugee.
• Enter your full name, gender, mobile number and email, complete the CAPTCHA, and submit.

Step 2: Log in and set your own password

Nepal Police emails you login details with a temporary password. Log in with it, and the portal will ask you to set a new password, confirmed with an OTP. Check your spam folder if the email doesn't arrive within a few minutes.

Step 3: Complete the five-part application form

1. Personal details — name, parents' names, spouse (if married), date of birth, and the purpose of the certificate.
2. Address — permanent address as written on your citizenship, plus your current address in Nepal or abroad.
3. Documents — citizenship (both sides), passport pages, photo, and any supporting letters.
4. Self-declaration — answer the criminal-history question honestly.
5. Review — check every field against your documents before you submit.

Step 4: Identity check, upload and submit

Depending on how you apply, you may be asked for a live photo captured through your camera so the system can match you to your documents. Complete the CAPTCHA and submit. You'll receive a confirmation email with your application details — save it, because you need that reference if you ever call the helpline.

Step 5: Track the status and download your certificate

Log in to the dashboard to follow progress. Once the application shows as approved or completed, download the PDF and keep both a digital copy and a colour print. You don't need to collect anything in person.

Step 6: Get it attested if you'll use it abroad

A downloaded PCC is enough for many uses inside Nepal. For embassies and foreign employers, you usually need the consular attestation explained below.

How to apply for a police report through the Nagarik App

If you're more comfortable on your phone, the government's Nagarik App includes a Police Clearance Report service. It is the same Nepal Police process, just packaged for mobile.

1. Install Nagarik App from the Play Store or App Store.
2. Register with a Nepali SIM that is registered in your own name and verify the OTP.
3. Link your citizenship, and your passport if you'll use the PCC abroad.
4. Open Police Clearance Report and start a new request.
5. Fill the details, capture documents and a live photo, then submit.
6. Track the status and download the certificate inside the app.

OPCR vs Nagarik App vs District Police Office

Police clearance certificate fee and processing time

How long each stage usually takes

Typical time for a clean application, in working days. Bars are illustrative; an On Hold case can add a week or more.

Consular attestation: making your PCC valid abroad

Many embassies and foreign employers won't accept a PCC straight from the portal, even with its QR code. They want it attested (stamped) by the Department of Consular Services under Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Use this quick decision guide:

How to get your PCC attested

1. Download your approved PCC from OPCR or the Nagarik App.
2. Apply for attestation through the Department of Consular Services portal at att.nepalconsular.gov.np.
3. Pay the fee of about Rs. 500 through the digital payment options shown.
4. Collect or download the attested document as instructed, usually within a working day.

Nepal is not part of the Hague Apostille Convention, so you won't get an "apostille". Some countries instead ask for an extra embassy stamp after consular attestation. Ask your employer, university or visa agent for their exact wording before you start.

What each application status means (and what to do)

Exact labels can change as the portal is updated, but you'll see some version of these:

Why a PCC goes On Hold

On Hold does not mean you have a criminal record. In a country where thousands of people share the same name and district, the system often flags a possible match for a human to review. It can also happen when your address format, surname after marriage, or date of birth doesn't line up across documents.

• Call 01-5719865 or 9851285920, or email opcr@nepalpolice.gov.np, during office hours with your application ID.
• If asked, visit Nepal Police Headquarters, Naxal, with your citizenship and passport.
• If a past case was dismissed or resolved in court, carry the court documents that prove it.

The most common reasons for rejection

• Name spelling differs between citizenship, passport and form
• Wrong address format (old vs new local-level names)
• Photo doesn't meet the rules (ears hidden, dark background, old photo)
• Blurry, cropped or oversized uploads
• Duplicate applications submitted while one is still processing

Can you apply for a Nepal police report from abroad?

Yes. OPCR works from anywhere with internet, so Nepalis in Qatar, Japan, Australia or anywhere else can apply without flying home. Register with email (the Nagarik App needs a Nepali SIM in your own name, which not everyone abroad keeps active).

• Enter your current address abroad in the address section and keep your permanent Nepal address as per citizenship.
• Keep your residence permit or visa copy ready in case it is requested.
• For attestation, check the online consular portal first; otherwise a trusted representative in Nepal or your nearest Nepali embassy or consulate can advise on their process.
• Factor in time-zone gaps: the helpline works 10 AM to 5 PM Nepal time on working days.

When to apply so your PCC doesn't expire

This is the mistake nobody warns you about. Nepal doesn't print a fixed expiry date that every country follows; the embassy or employer decides how "recent" the certificate must be, often 3 or 6 months from the issue date. Apply too early and your PCC may be too old by the time your file is lodged. Apply too late and an On Hold can wreck your deadline.

A safe plan, counting back from the day you must submit (Day 0):

Two weeks of lead time keeps the certificate fresh while leaving room for surprises. If your visa or job process runs for months (PR files, for example), ask whether you'll need to submit a new PCC later — many applicants do.

Myths vs facts about the Nepal PCC

Frequently asked questions

Is the police clearance certificate free in Nepal?

Yes. Applying online through OPCR or the Nagarik App costs nothing. The only standard government fee is about Rs. 500 for consular attestation, needed when you use the certificate abroad.

How many days does it take to get a PCC online in Nepal?

Most clean applications are approved in 2–3 working days. Add about one working day for consular attestation. An application placed On Hold can take a week or more.

How long is a Nepal police report valid?

There's no single fixed validity. The embassy, employer or university decides, and most accept certificates issued within the last 3 to 6 months. Check their rule before you apply.

Can I apply for a Nepal police clearance certificate from abroad?

Yes. The OPCR portal is available online from any country. For attestation, use the consular portal where possible, or get help from a representative in Nepal or the nearest Nepali embassy or consulate.

What does On Hold mean on OPCR?

It means the application needs manual checking, usually because your name matches another record or your documents don't line up. It doesn't mean you have a criminal record. Contact the OPCR helpline with your application ID.

Do I need consular attestation for my PCC?

For almost any use outside Nepal, yes. Most embassies and foreign employers expect the Department of Consular Services stamp, and some also ask for their own embassy attestation.

Can I apply for a police report through the Nagarik App?

Yes. The Nagarik App has a Police Clearance Report service. You need a Nepali SIM registered in your own name, with your citizenship (and passport, for foreign use) linked to your profile.

Do I have to visit a police office?

Usually not. The whole process is online. You may be asked to visit Nepal Police Headquarters only if your application goes On Hold for identity checks. Offline applications are still possible at District Police Offices.

Final checklist before you hit submit

• ☑ You're on opcr.nepalpolice.gov.np or the official Nagarik App
• ☑ Name, date of birth and address match citizenship and passport exactly
• ☑ Photo is 35 × 45 mm, plain background, both ears visible
• ☑ All uploads are sharp, uncropped JPG/PDF files
• ☑ You know whether you need consular or embassy attestation
• ☑ You're applying about two weeks before your submission deadline

Getting a police clearance certificate online in Nepal is now one of the simplest government services you'll deal with — as long as your documents agree with each other and you plan the attestation step. Bookmark this page, share it with a friend who's heading abroad, and if you hit a status or error not covered here, leave it in the comments so this guide can be updated.