A police clearance certificate issued to certify that an individual has no criminal record can now be obtained online across Bengal.

Bengal police launched the facility on Friday. Earlier, the online service was available only for the Calcutta and Bidhannagar police districts.

The police said that with the new online service, applicants will be able to access their police clearance certificate within seven days from the date of application.

“Earlier, applicants other than those in the Kolkata or Bidhannagar police areas would have to physically visit their district police and apply for the police clearance certificate. That would often cause them a lot of inconvenience. With the launch of this PCC portal, applicants across Bengal will be able to apply for the certificate online,” inspector-general of police (traffic) Sukesh Jain said at the launch in the police directorate at Bhabani Bhavan on Friday.

The police said, the online application form can be accessed through the portal: https://pcc.wb.gov.in/ from Friday.

A senior police officer said applicants will have to insert their Aadhaar numbers so the address details are automatically synced into the online police clearance certificate
form.

“A payment of ₹300 has to be made through the same portal for the PCC. The certificate will be ready in three to seven days from the date of application. It will be uploaded on the same portal from where the applicants can download it,” Jain said.

Police clearance certificates are often required for background checks of a
job applicant, to verify residential status, for immigration issues and long-term visa
applications.

The newly launched portal will be able to provide police clearance certificates on the applicant’s criminal records and traffic violations in Bengal.

Sources in the ministry of external affairs said there is another type of police clearance certificate that can be applied for only through the passport portal.

“The PCC that is needed for matters related to foreign embassies and consulates has to be channelled through the passport portal,” said an official of the MEA.

Officials said even for this PCC, the verification is done by the police like in the case
of a passport. But the application has to be through the passport portal.