FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Police clearance certificate certificate (in Nigeria) is an official document issued by the (Nigeria) Police as a background check on those who are immigrating to another country. Police character clearance is done to check whether an applicant has criminal record. This document is to guaranty the host country that you are not wanted by law in the country you are coming from. Simply put, police certificate is document is to show the country you are immigrating to that you are of good character, who maintains a clean slate.

1) You may want to ask, “Why do I need to obtain police clearance certificate?” Most often, this clearance is needed by those who want to change country of residence. 2) In some instances, you may be mandated to get police clearance certificate if you want to occupy a sensitive position in Nigeria, though simply called police attestation. 3) You will need police character certificate if you are invited by the Canadian Immigration office to complete your application for a temporary or permanent residence (as a worker). 4) You will also need to upload a Police character certificate if you are to proceed on a post graduate programme in UAE, UK, Canada, Russia or any foreign institutions. 5) Even as a tourist to another country, you will need police character cert. to show that you don’t have outstanding criminal record back home, and ensure that you won’t be a threat to your host country.

The scope varies, depending on each country’s legislation, applicants may be required to submit police certificates of countries which they have stayed beyond some certain periods Nigeria: A foreigner who has live in Nigeria for more than 30 days Australia: For citizenship applications, countries where applicants have resided for 3 months or more if the applicants have been outside Australia for more than 12 months since acquiring permanent residency; for visa applications, countries where applicants have resided for 12 months or more. Canada: Countries where applicants have resided for 6 months or more. Ecuador: Country where applicants have principally resided during the last 5 years. New Zealand: Countries where applicants have resided for 12 months or more. United States: Countries where applicants have resided for 6 months or more.

Getting this police clearance certificate in your country means that you are some steps closer to migrating to another country, here are the requirements you will need to present at application and collection locations (in Nigeria): Valid international passport Two passport-size photographs Application fees: minimum of (N3,500-N8, 000) it varies. “Police certificates can be certified at your nearest Nigerian embassy or consulate for a fee,” Canadian Immigration says. Note that Canada’s Immigration Office doesn’t accept police certificates sent by mail for Express Entry applications.

Before you begin the application process, we urge you to get an idea of how much it cost to get police clearance certificate in Nigeria.

On our blog 

In Nigeria, police have refused to tell us official price of this clearance, when we visited the facebook page of Nigerian Police where it publishes a guide on how to obtain it, the article was silent on the cost. Several cost inquiries sent to the page were ignored. Cost of police clearance form in Nigeria varies as follows: N3, 500 (If you’re close to police authority) N8, 500 (If you’re referred by a junior police officer) N10, 000 (If you’re a complete “stranger” ) N15, 000 (If you are using an intermediary) N20, 000-N30, 000 (If you look too foreign and rich) So far Cost of Police Clearance Certificate, according to report we received from those who have done it gave us this price:N3,500, N5,000, N8,500 and we have also seen people got it for more than N30, 000. At the moment, due to the declining exchange rate of the naira, the cost has been increased to N90,000.

If you are applying at the Criminal registry office in Lagos, you can get it within a day, depending on the number of application on ground, and the time you get there. If you are applying from your state command, you may have to wait between 5-7days because it will still be passed to the Criminal registry office in Lagos.

If you are applying by yourself or through a third party, it could take between 14 to 21 days for you to get it.

If you are in Nigeria, you can register for an account on the

NPF character clearance application portal, 

Gateway.ng Gateway.ng Portal

No. It has been simplified. You can apply after downloading the form on npf dedicated portal for character cert. and take to your state police command.

It is needed to gain entry into another country, particularly if you are an immigration applicant you will have to provide it to show that you don’t have any criminal record back in your country. No country will allow its country to be a safe haven for criminals.

For Canadian Immigration application, you are advised to start the processing if you have been added to the pool of applicants. This is to make sure you meet up when you are finally directed to apply if you are entering through International Experience Canada, or through Express Entry option. Period of validity of police certificate varies from country to country, depending on each country’s law It is very rare to find the expiry date on the certificate, and criteria for recognizing the validity of certificates vary widely. See the period of validity of character certificate in some countries: Nigeria: It last for three months in Nigeria (90 days) Australia: In Australia, police certificate is valid for 12 months from date of issuance (365 days) Ecuador: Ecuador authority recognises police certificate for for three months just like Nigeria (as of 2 March 2012).

It can’t be done by proxy. Another person can not use his fingerprint to apply on your behalf. Even by using the third party service, you will still have to take your own fingerprint (clearly taken), scan and forward it, which will be analysed by forensic expert back here in Nigeria.

It is not. You can not use police cert. used by your brother, relative or friend. You must obtain your own. Beside, no two human beings have the same fingerprints, even twins doesn’t.