Police Verification Certificate Bangladesh (2026) – How to Get PVC for Passport & Jobs

A Police Verification Certificate (PVC), also referred to as a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC), is an official government document issued by the Bangladesh Police through the office of the Superintendent of Police (SP) of the applicant's district of permanent residence. The certificate confirms one of two things:

• Clean Record: The applicant has no criminal record, no pending First Information Report (FIR), no active arrest warrant, and no conviction on file in Bangladesh — making them eligible for the purpose for which the PVC is required.
• Conditional or Withheld: The applicant has a criminal case, FIR, arrest warrant, or conviction on file — in which case the PVC may be withheld or issued with a note about the pending matter.

The PVC is issued by the Special Branch (SB) of the Bangladesh Police, which maintains a nationwide database of criminal records cross-referenced with FIR records, court records, and police station complaint registers. The SB conducts physical verification of the applicant's local area through the local thana (police station) as part of the process.

Legal Basis: The PVC process is governed by Bangladesh Police regulations and the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898 (CrPC) in so far as the criminal record check is concerned. There is no single standalone PVC Act — the authority to issue PVCs flows from the general powers of the police under the Police Act 1861 and subsequent regulations.

The Police Verification Certificate is required in a wide range of official and employment contexts. The most common situations include:

• Passport Application (New and Renewal): Since 2010, Bangladesh's Department of Immigration and Passports requires a police verification as part of the passport issuance process. The verification is conducted by local police — not the SB PVC certificate. However, many visa-granting countries also request an SB PCC for Bangladesh nationals.
• Overseas Employment: The Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) and most foreign employers require a PCC from Bangladesh Police's Special Branch as part of the visa and work permit application process. Without a clean PCC, a work visa cannot be processed by the destination country's embassy.
• Visa Applications: Embassies and consulates of most countries — including the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, EU countries, and GCC countries — require Bangladesh nationals to submit a Police Clearance Certificate from their country of origin as part of the immigrant or long-term visa application.
• Government Job Applications: BCS (Bangladesh Civil Service) recruitment and most government and semi-government jobs require a PVC as part of the character verification process.
• Private Sector Employment: Many multinationals, banking institutions, and NGOs in Bangladesh now require a PVC during the recruitment process for senior positions.
• Adoption Proceedings: International adoption cases require police clearance for both the adoptive parents and sometimes the child's legal guardian.
• Academic Institutions Abroad: Some overseas universities require a police clearance certificate from Bangladeshi students as part of student visa applications.

These two terms are often confused. Here is the key distinction:

Most foreign embassies and employers request the Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) issued by the Special Branch, not the internal passport verification report. Ensure you obtain the correct document for your specific purpose.

As of 2026, the Bangladesh Police accepts PVC applications exclusively online through the portal pcc.police.gov.bd. Walk-in applications are no longer accepted except for exceptional cases (elderly, disabled applicants). Here is the complete online process:

1. Access the Portal: Go to pcc.police.gov.bd. The portal is available in both Bangla and English.
2. Register or Login: Create a new account using your NID number, date of birth, and mobile number. An OTP will be sent to verify your mobile.
3. Select Application Type: Choose between: (a) Fresh PCC application, (b) Renewal of existing PCC (for those who previously received a PCC and need an updated one), or (c) PCC for use abroad.
4. Enter Personal Details: Fill in your full name (exactly as on NID), father's name, mother's name, date of birth, NID number, present and permanent address, and current occupation.
5. Enter Purpose: Specify the purpose of the PCC (overseas employment, visa application, government job, etc.) and the country or organization for which it is required. This affects which language and format the certificate is issued in.
6. Upload Documents: Scan and upload all required documents (see next section). All uploads must be clear, legible, and within the specified file size limits.
7. Pay the Fee: Pay online via mobile banking (bKash, Nagad, Rocket) or debit/credit card. The receipt is generated automatically.
8. Submit and Track: After submission, note your application reference number and use it to track your application status online. SMS updates are sent at each stage.
9. Collect the Certificate: Completed PCC certificates can be downloaded digitally from the portal (with a QR code for verification) or collected physically from the SP's office in your district.

The following documents must be uploaded during the online PVC application at pcc.police.gov.bd:

• National Identity Card (NID): Both sides of the NID — clear, unedited scan. If the NID is damaged or expired, contact NIDW for a new one first.
• Passport Copy: The photo page of your valid passport. If you do not have a passport yet, some categories (government jobs) allow NID only.
• Recent Passport-Size Photographs: 2 colour photographs (typically 300x300 pixel digital upload). White or light blue background required.
• Application Fee Payment Receipt: Generated automatically after online payment — uploaded or linked by the system.
• Birth Certificate: Online Birth Registration System (BRS) certificate — may be required for first-time applicants to verify date of birth if it differs from NID.
• Additional Documents for Specific Purposes:
  • Overseas employment: Copy of employment offer letter or BMET registration
  • Visa application: Copy of visa application or interview appointment letter
  • Government job: Copy of appointment or recruitment notice

Important: All documents must be authentic — submitting false documents to obtain a PVC is an offence under Section 177 (furnishing false information to a public servant) and Section 471 (using forged document) of the Penal Code 1860, punishable by imprisonment.

The table below summarizes the complete PVC application and issuance process from start to finish:

Current PVC processing times and fees as of 2026:

• Standard Processing (domestic applicants): 7-15 working days from the date of completed application submission. This is the target time — actual processing may take longer in some districts due to workload.
• For Overseas Bangladeshis (NRBs): Bangladeshis living abroad can apply for a PCC through the Bangladesh Mission (Embassy or High Commission) in their country of residence. The Mission forwards the application to the SB in Dhaka. Processing currently takes 15-45 working days for NRB applications.
• Urgent Processing: There is no officially sanctioned urgent processing fee or fast-track track for PVC. Beware of touts or middlemen who claim they can expedite processing for an informal payment — this is corruption. Report any such demands to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

Official Fees:

• For domestic applicants (for overseas employment, visa, government job): BDT 500 per application
• For use in Bangladesh only (government job, institutions): BDT 200 per application
• Re-issuance or update of PCC: Same fee as original application

All fees are paid online through the portal — no cash payment is required or accepted. The receipt is system-generated and should be retained.

This is the situation that causes the most anxiety for PVC applicants — and for good reason. If the SB database check or the local thana report reveals that you have an active FIR, a pending criminal case, an arrest warrant, or a prior conviction, the following outcomes are possible:

• PVC Withheld: The SB may simply not issue the PVC until the criminal matter is resolved. Your application status remains pending indefinitely. The online portal will show the application as under process or under review.
• Conditional PVC Issued: In some cases, particularly for older or minor cases (e.g., a traffic violation, a Section 107 preventive action, or a non-cognizable complaint), the SB issues the PVC with a note mentioning the case — for example: Certificate issued subject to the outcome of Case No. XYZ of [year] pending at [Court].
• PVC Refused: For serious pending cases (murder, rape, fraud, terrorism, narcotics trafficking), the SB typically refuses to issue a PVC until the case is disposed of.

What Counts as a Criminal Record for PVC Purposes?

• Active First Information Report (FIR) at any police station in Bangladesh
• Charge sheet filed in court (even if the case is pending trial)
• Conviction by any court (even if on appeal)
• Arrest warrant issued by a court
• Preventive detention record under Section 107/116/151 CrPC
• SB intelligence flagging (even without a formal case)

Notably, a General Diary (GD) entry — a non-criminal complaint — typically does not affect PVC issuance. However, a GD that was later converted to an FIR does.

Many Bangladeshis face PVC rejection due to old, stale, or false cases — cases that were filed years ago, never pursued by the complainant, or that were clearly harassment or politically motivated. Here is what you can do:

Step 1 — Obtain the Case Details: First, find out exactly which case is causing the PVC hold. You can request information from the SB in writing, or your advocate can check the court records of your permanent address thana. Obtain: the case number, the date of FIR, the police station, the section of law applied, and the current court status.

Step 2 — If the Case Is Under Investigation (Not Yet in Court): Contact the Investigating Officer (IO) of the case. If the case is weak or false, the IO may submit a Final Report (FR) — commonly called a Khilat (no charge report) or a Discharge Report — recommending that no charge sheet be filed. A Final Report effectively closes the case. The Magistrate's Court must approve the Final Report. Once approved and filed, the police database is updated and the PVC hold is removed.

Step 3 — If the Case Is in Court: Your advocate can apply for discharge or acquittal at the appropriate stage. For old cases where the complainant has lost interest, your advocate can file an application showing the case is not being pursued and ask the court to close it. Alternatively, if the complaint was defamatory or malicious, you can file a counter-criminal case for making a false complaint under Section 211 of the Penal Code 1860.

Step 4 — Apply for Anticipatory Bail or Regular Bail: If there is an arrest warrant against you, your first priority should be getting bail. An arrest warrant must be addressed before any PVC can be issued. Our bail lawyers regularly handle such situations on an urgent basis.

Step 5 — Apply for a Writ Petition: If the SB is withholding your PVC based on a case that has already been dismissed, acquitted, or withdrawn, and the SB database has not been updated, you can file a writ petition in the High Court Division under Article 102 of the Constitution ordering the SB to update their database and issue the PVC. Our criminal law advocates at the Uttara, Dhaka chamber of Advocate Md. Shah Alam have successfully obtained court orders compelling PVC issuance in several such cases.

If your PVC application is formally refused — you receive a rejection notice from the SP's office — there is no formal statutory appeal mechanism specifically for PVC refusals. However, you have the following practical and legal options:

1. Written Representation to the SP: File a written representation to the Superintendent of Police of your district, explaining why the PVC should be issued (e.g., the underlying case has been resolved, the case was false, or the person named is a different individual). Attach supporting court orders or case disposal documents.
2. Representation to the Inspector General of Police (IGP): If the SP does not act, escalate to the IGP's office (Police Headquarters, Dhaka) with a formal application.
3. Approach the Home Ministry: In serious or exceptional cases, a representation to the Ministry of Home Affairs may be effective, especially where there is a documented miscarriage of administrative process.
4. Writ Petition in the High Court Division: Under Article 102 of the Constitution, a writ of mandamus can be filed compelling the police authority to issue the PVC. The High Court has consistently upheld the right of citizens to a PVC where the legal basis for refusal does not exist. Courts have ordered PVC issuance even in cases where charges had been dropped, where the applicant was acquitted, or where the case name did not match the applicant.

Keep copies of all rejection notices, written representations, and correspondence — these form the evidentiary record for any court application. Time is often critical in PVC matters (visa deadlines, employment offers with expiry dates), so seek legal advice immediately upon refusal rather than waiting.

For domestic applicants applying online at pcc.police.gov.bd, the standard processing time is currently 7-15 working days from the date of complete application submission. For overseas Bangladeshis applying through an embassy, it takes 15-45 working days. Processing may take longer in districts with high application volumes or if the local thana verification is delayed.

The official fee for a PCC for overseas purposes (visa, overseas employment) is BDT 500 per application, paid online through the portal. For domestic purposes (government job verification), it is BDT 200. All fees are paid online through pcc.police.gov.bd — no cash payment is required. There is no official fast-track fee; anyone demanding extra money for faster processing is engaging in corruption.

It depends on the status of the case. If the case has been dismissed, you were acquitted, or a Final Report (no-charge report) was accepted by the Magistrate, you should be able to get the PVC once the police database is updated. If the case is still active (pending charge sheet or trial), the PVC will typically be withheld or issued conditionally. An experienced criminal lawyer can help resolve the underlying case or file a writ petition to compel PVC issuance.

The passport police verification is an internal process — local police verify your address and background and submit a report directly to the passport office. You do not receive this report. The Police Clearance Certificate (PCC), on the other hand, is a formal certificate issued by the Special Branch of Bangladesh Police under the SP's signature, primarily for use with foreign embassies, employers, and visa authorities. Most foreign countries require the PCC, not the internal passport verification report.

If your PVC is refused, you can: (1) file a written representation to the Superintendent of Police explaining why the refusal is unjustified; (2) escalate to the Inspector General of Police (IGP); (3) approach the Ministry of Home Affairs; or (4) file a writ petition in the High Court Division under Article 102 of the Constitution compelling the police to issue the PVC. Courts have consistently upheld citizens' rights to PVC where the legal basis for refusal does not exist.

Yes. Even a false FIR will appear in the police database and can cause your PVC to be withheld or refused. To resolve this, you need a lawyer to work on getting the FIR closed — through a Final Report by the investigating officer (if the case is under investigation) or through discharge/acquittal at the court stage (if charges have been framed). If the police database has not been updated after case disposal, a High Court writ petition can compel the update and PVC issuance.