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Online, physical or both?
Use the official online route
Open the official POSSAP portal and choose Police Character Certificate under the specialised services available to the public. Then sign in to POSSAP, or create an individual account with the recognised identification, contact and address information used to identify the applicant.
No mandatory physical visit is stated in the sources we currently use
The current sources for Police Character Certificate do not state a compulsory walk-in stage for the standard route.
Find official offices/centres →If this specific process gets stuck
Use NPF's official support/contact route and quote the reference generated by this application.
View agency guidance →Only authorised routes. We never present an unofficial agent, cybercafé or third-party payment page as an alternative unless the responsible agency authorises it.
Documents, details and prerequisites you need
This is the complete pre-start checklist from the verified guide. Each item below explains what it is for, where it enters the process and whether the official source actually specifies an original, copy or upload.
A POSSAP account; new individual users provide a recognised identification type and number and upload the identification file
- Why you need it
- Used to access the official portal or the applicant's existing record.
- Where it is used
- Most directly connected to step 2: Sign in to POSSAP, or create an individual account with the recognised identification, contact and address information used to identify the applicant.
- Original, copy or upload?
- A digital upload is explicitly part of step 2. Prepare a clear file that follows the portal's size/format rules.
Full name, active phone number, valid email address, gender, residential state, LGA and current address for the POSSAP profile
- Why you need it
- Used for account access and/or official communication. Use an address you can open throughout the process.
- Where it is used
- Most directly connected to step 2: Sign in to POSSAP, or create an individual account with the recognised identification, contact and address information used to identify the applicant.
- Original, copy or upload?
- The official sources used for this guide do not specify original vs copy here. Follow the exact portal or office prompt instead of assuming.
The purpose of the Police Character Certificate and any destination-country or request information applicable to the certificate
- Why you need it
- Used to locate the taxpayer record connected to the transaction.
- Where it is used
- Most directly connected to step 3: Start the Police Character Certificate request, enter the purpose and certificate information for the applicant, and review the identity information before submitting the request for approval and payment.
- Original, copy or upload?
- The official sources used for this guide do not specify original vs copy here. Follow the exact portal or office prompt instead of assuming.
Ability to complete identity or face verification when POSSAP requires it for the PCC request
- Why you need it
- This item is explicitly listed in the verified pre-start requirements for this service. Have it ready before beginning so the application is not interrupted.
- Where it is used
- Most directly connected to step 3: Start the Police Character Certificate request, enter the purpose and certificate information for the applicant, and review the identity information before submitting the request for approval and payment.
- Original, copy or upload?
- The official sources used for this guide do not specify original vs copy here. Follow the exact portal or office prompt instead of assuming.
Step-by-step instructions
Follow the process in order. Each step also shows what to have ready, what to check before continuing and what evidence to keep. Where the agency does not publish an extra requirement, this guide does not invent one.
Open the official POSSAP portal and choose Police Character Certificate under the specialised services available to the public.
- The purpose of the Police Character Certificate and any destination-country or request information applicable to the certificate
- A POSSAP account; new individual users provide a recognised identification type and number and upload the identification file
- Full name, active phone number, valid email address, gender, residential state, LGA and current address for the POSSAP profile
Check that every file belongs to the correct applicant/record, is readable and matches the portal prompt before upload.
Keep any reference, confirmation, screenshot or acknowledgement generated by the official route.
Sign in to POSSAP, or create an individual account with the recognised identification, contact and address information used to identify the applicant.
- A POSSAP account; new individual users provide a recognised identification type and number and upload the identification file
- Full name, active phone number, valid email address, gender, residential state, LGA and current address for the POSSAP profile
- The purpose of the Police Character Certificate and any destination-country or request information applicable to the certificate
Use the official route linked on this guide and make sure you are working in the correct applicant/entity account before entering data.
Keep any reference, confirmation, screenshot or acknowledgement generated by the official route.
Start the Police Character Certificate request, enter the purpose and certificate information for the applicant, and review the identity information before submitting the request for approval and payment.
- The purpose of the Police Character Certificate and any destination-country or request information applicable to the certificate
- Ability to complete identity or face verification when POSSAP requires it for the PCC request
Confirm the service, applicant/entity details and amount on the official payment screen before paying. Do not continue from an unsolicited payment link.
Keep the official receipt, payment reference or transaction ID.
Pay only the invoice generated inside POSSAP, save the PCC file number, invoice number and payment reference, and use the request dashboard to follow the approval and fulfilment stages.
- A POSSAP account; new individual users provide a recognised identification type and number and upload the identification file
- Full name, active phone number, valid email address, gender, residential state, LGA and current address for the POSSAP profile
- Ability to complete identity or face verification when POSSAP requires it for the PCC request
Confirm the service, applicant/entity details and amount on the official payment screen before paying. Do not continue from an unsolicited payment link.
Keep the official receipt, payment reference or transaction ID.
When the certificate is issued, check the applicant and purpose information on it and use POSSAP's Validate Document function with the unique document number whenever a recipient needs to confirm that the certificate is genuine.
- The purpose of the Police Character Certificate and any destination-country or request information applicable to the certificate
- A POSSAP account; new individual users provide a recognised identification type and number and upload the identification file
- Full name, active phone number, valid email address, gender, residential state, LGA and current address for the POSSAP profile
Check that every file belongs to the correct applicant/record, is readable and matches the portal prompt before upload.
Keep the final document/result plus any receipt or reference used to obtain it.
What exactly happens next?
Keep the application/reference number, payment receipt, acknowledgement or downloadable record produced by this service.
When the certificate is issued, check the applicant and purpose information on it and use POSSAP's Validate Document function with the unique document number whenever a recipient needs to confirm that the certificate is genuine.
For this guide, the last published process step is: When the certificate is issued, check the applicant and purpose information on it and use POSSAP's Validate Document function with the unique document number whenever a recipient needs to confirm that the certificate is genuine.
Use NPF's official support channel with the application/reference details.
Important notes
- POSSAP describes PCC as a criminal-record check requested by members of the public.
- Nigeria Police Force guidance says a PCC can be validated on POSSAP with its unique document number.
- Do not pay a third party into a personal account; POSSAP generates the official service request and payment record.
Common questions
These answers are generated from the verified requirements, route, fee, timeline and official-source notes for this specific service.
What should I prepare before I start?
Prepare before you begin by gathering every item below. The detailed checklist above explains why each one is needed, where it is used, and whether the official source specifies an original, copy or upload.
- A POSSAP account; new individual users provide a recognised identification type and number and upload the identification file — Document
- Full name, active phone number, valid email address, gender, residential state, LGA and current address for the POSSAP profile — Identity / account detail
- The purpose of the Police Character Certificate and any destination-country or request information applicable to the certificate — Document
- Ability to complete identity or face verification when POSSAP requires it for the PCC request — Other requirement
Can I do this online, or do I need to visit an office?
Mostly online. Open the official POSSAP portal and choose Police Character Certificate under the specialised services available to the public. Then sign in to POSSAP, or create an individual account with the recognised identification, contact and address information used to identify the applicant.
The current sources for Police Character Certificate do not state a compulsory walk-in stage for the standard route.
How much does this service cost?
₦30,000 shown on recent POSSAP invoices — Recent official POSSAP Police Character Certificate and diaspora PCC invoices show ₦30,000. Confirm the amount generated for your own request before paying.
Pay only through the responsible agency or the official payment channel linked in this guide.
How long should it take?
The responsible agency does not currently publish a reliable fixed completion timeline in the official sources used for this guide.
Processing can still take longer where identity checks, document corrections, payment confirmation or manual review are required.
What happens after I submit or complete the main step?
Keep the evidence for Police Character Certificate: Keep the application/reference number, payment receipt, acknowledgement or downloadable record produced by this service.
Complete the final published step: When the certificate is issued, check the applicant and purpose information on it and use POSSAP's Validate Document function with the unique document number whenever a recipient needs to confirm that the certificate is genuine.
What should I do if the portal, payment or application gets stuck?
Use NPF's official support/contact route and quote the reference generated by this application.
Keep any application number, receipt, acknowledgement, transaction reference or screenshot that can help the agency trace the request.
What should I be careful about?
- POSSAP describes PCC as a criminal-record check requested by members of the public.
- Nigeria Police Force guidance says a PCC can be validated on POSSAP with its unique document number.
How do I verify that these instructions are current?
This guide was last checked on 2026-09-28. The official government or agency sources used to verify it are listed directly below this section.
Where an agency changes a fee, deadline or procedure, the official source takes priority over this independent guide.
Is MyNigeriaGuide the government website for this service?
No. MyNigeriaGuide is an independent information service. Applications, payments, approvals and final decisions remain with the responsible government agency.
Official sources
These are the government or agency pages used to verify this guide. Open them directly whenever you want to confirm the source.
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