How to Apostille Police Clearance Certificate from MOFA Pakistan 2026

How to Apostille Police Clearance Certificate from MOFA Pakistan 2026 A Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) is required by Pakistanis looking to seek employment abroad, to apply for visas, for immigration to a country and for permanent residency in many countries. It is also required by many other countries for various other reasons including if you are going to start business or to start non-profit organization etc. The Police Clearance Certificate issued by Pakistan also requires to be apostilled by Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) for submission to foreign authorities.

Good news for applicants applying from outside Pakistan. MOFA apostille application has been made a structured process by incorporating online application for appointment. We shall present to you the simple steps for Apostille of Police Clearance Certificate applied in Pakistan.

What Is an Apostille?

An Apostille is issued by relevant authorities in a country to certify that the document issued by public authority in that country is genuine and that signature attached on document has been affixed by authorized officer of that public authority. In simple words it is a certificates issued by competent authority to confirm the authenticity of signatures attached on a document. A public document shall be affixing apostille by relevant authority of the issuing country before it can be used abroad for any purpose.

Remember that what we are getting apostilled is the signature, the seal or stamp and the official authority of the person who has signed and/or stamped the documents in issue. Moreover, we are getting the said document(s) verified (i.e. authentic) but we are NOT getting the said document(s) verified (or guaranteed) as to the truth and accuracy of the contents of such documents. It is the job of the authorities of the country where the document is required to be used to verify (or guarantee) as to the truth and accuracy of the contents of such document(s).

Here is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Government of Pakistan apostille process for Public Documents. The Ministry does issue an Apostille for Police Clearance Certificates (PCCs) as outlined in the official list below.

Step 1: Obtain Your Police Clearance Certificate

First get a Police Clearance Certificate from the Police Department concerned. Ensure all columns relate correctly to you i.e. name, CNIC#/passport number etc. Also verify all details printed on said certificate. If required by overseas authorities e.g. certain format, extendability etc. satisfy those conditions before getting it apostilled from Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Make sure to double check your Police Clearance Certificate for any errors with your name, CNIC and/or Passport Number along with rest of the information. Any minor error in your details will cause problems while using the document for overseas purposes.

If your destination country has specific requirements or form for Police Clearance Certificate, such as particular period of validity etc., you must fulfill them before bringing the certificate to MOFA for apostille.

Step 2: Check Whether Your Destination Country Accepts Apostille

No country can adopt exactly same procedures for document legalization.

Before you go ahead and get your document apostilled and pay huge amount of money, it is very important to find out whether the country where you are going to use your already issued PCC recognizes Pakistani Apostille or not. The official list of countries which recognize already apostilled documents issued by Government of Pakistan is provided by Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

For those who are looking to go abroad for work, for studies or for permanent residency, this is also important to know. The countries where you wish to apply for immigration, work permits, student visas or for permanent residency will require you to obtain your PCC first and then get it Apostilled or Attested accordingly.

Step 3: Create an Account on the MOFA Apostille Portal

The next step is to use the official MOFA apostille system. You can access the official portal here: MOFA Apostille Portal A step by step guide to how to apply for an apostille through the MOFA system has been given above. (Please see Step 3 above). Also, MOFA’s consular services instructions which applicants must follow are available on the Ministry’s website.

Step 4: Select the Apostille Service You will select the relevant document and fill in your details for that document. You will have to upload the both sides of your CNIC as well. A Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) is regarded as a personal or public document. Therefore, applicants must ensure they select the correct category for this service as displayed on the current MOFA portal.

Upload any information required and review your order carefully to ensure everything is in order before you place the order for the Apostille to be processed.

Step 5: Book Your MOFA Appointment

After submission of your application, you need to book an appointment for MOFA to process your application. This system will enable you to Book an appointment, Track your pending/missed appointments, and even to Cancel any of your future appointments. Please also note that MOFA has now restricted the public’s access for the apostille and the general attestation services under its newly-introduced MOFA’s facilitation arrangements at its designated collection points. Kindly look for this updated information whilst attempting to schedule an appointment to get your document(s) apostilled at a MOFA office.

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Step 6: Pay the Apostille Fee

The current MOFA fee structure lists: Personal Document: Rs3,000 per document In case MOFA charges are updated, you must always refer to the current MOFA charges for submission of application form. It is also to be noted that MOFA lists out separate charges for legal documents, educational documents and commercial documents for issue of Apostille. Thus a fee for other document will not be applicable.

Step 7: Submit Your Police Clearance Certificate

The applicant then needs to provide MOFA with the required original documents along with other copies of required identification documents and supporting documents as specified in the documentation required to apply for the Police Clearance Certificate.

MOFA will verify the document and the signatures/seals on it prior to processing the apostille.

Police Clearance Certificate is also included in documents eligible for apostille process by MOFA as per official list.

Step 8: Receive Your Apostilled PCC

When your documents have been verified, MOFA issues the apostille and you can use your Police Clearance Certificate for the purpose for which you requested it, such as to apply for a foreign visa, for immigration purposes, for work or for residency.

You can use the certified document for the purposes stated in the request (such as applying for a visa to travel overseas, immigration, employment, or residency etc.), and it is the responsibility of the organization receiving your PCC to confirm that the document you have submitted is current, complete, and valid for its stated intended use.

Note: AMEA/Apostille issued by MOFA does not mean other requirements of a foreign authority to receive a PCC copy will be waive off. Those organization shall also have their own terms and conditions to accept a PCC copy which may relate to document’s validity, translation, age etc.

Documents You Should Keep Ready

Before you start the procedure for obtaining an Apostille, you need to have the following documents ready: * Original Police Clearance Certificate * Valid CNIC or other required identification * Passport, if required for your particular application * Scanned copies of requested documents * Active email address * Mobile phone number * Appointment/application details * Required MOFA fee Remember to always check the required documents for apostille on the MOFA portal, as the information is updated from time to time.

How Long Does MOFA Apostille Take?

Document verification and processing time is at the discretion of the Office or Service Point and can vary depending on several factors including type of document(s) being verified, the verification process in place for the said document(s), number of appointments, and overall Service Point workload. Remember to factor the processing time into your overall plans. It is recommended that applicants applying for visas and/or immigration commence the process early to allow sufficient time.

Common Mistakes to Avoid Several simple mistakes can delay the process. 1. Incorrect Personal Information Verify your name, CNIC Number, Passport Number and all other information.

2. Using an Expired or Unacceptable PCC

Some foreign authorities require PCC(s) to have been issued within a specific time frame. It is advisable to verify the requirements of the receiving country.

3. Going Without an Appointment

To verify the current procedures for an MOFA appointment and for collecting an apostille, please refer to the current information on the MOFA Portal.

4. Paying Unofficial Agents

Payment to be made to an agent for explanation of the process is not generally required. The applicant must use the MOFA portal and other government portals and websites for information on the process.

5. Not Checking the Destination Country

An Apostille for Police Clearance Certificate can be required by the foreign country where the document is going to be used. Check whether the country where you intend to use your Pakistani Documents accepts apostilled documents.

Final Words Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) apostilled from MOFA Pakistan is required for many documents of its citizens to be used abroad. To get documents apostilled, one needs to 1) obtain a valid PCC 2) check destination country’s requirements 3) create an account on MOFA’s system for online application 4) book an appointment online or as per notified submission procedure 5) Pay fee online 6) Submit documents online as per notified requirements.

MOFA Fee: For Personal Documents (PCCs and other similar personal documents), it is Rs. 3,000 only. The documents that need to be apostilled are listed in the official apostille checklist issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of Pakistan.

For latest details and requirements for issuing Apostille including viewing an up-to-date schedule for MOFA appointments and the correct submission procedures for various documents please log on to official MOFA Portal.

Official MOFA Apostille Portal: apostille.mofa.gov.pk

*This note is set to reflect the procedures currently acceptable in September 2026. Changes in MOFA processes, fare, or points of submission would apply and must be verified prior to applicant’s travel to undertake the process.-lfsystri11538.