Police Clearance Certificate- How to Get Your Good Standing Certificate in Kuwait?

A rapidly flourishing economy and peaceful working environment have made Kuwait an ideal destination for expats. Individuals all around the world dream of living and working in this Gulf State. The new entrants in Kuwait have to pass through several administrative processes for the preparation of residential documents. One such document that is vital for living in Kuwait for a long time is the Police Clearance Certificate. A Good Standing Certificate is mandatory for employment in Kuwait. If you are new in Kuwait and want to stay longer, keep reading the article, as we are going to explain in detail what a PCC is, its requirements, fees, and the application process.

What is the Kuwait Police Clearance Certificate?

The Kuwait Police Clearance Certificate is an official document issued by the Ministry of Interior General Department of Criminal Evidence that certifies the good conduct and absence of criminal record of an individual. In Kuwait, Good Standing Certificates are issued to individuals living in the country, persons leaving the country, and foreigners arriving in the State to live and work. The certificate confirms that the holder has no criminal background during his stay within the boundaries of the State.

Remember that having a Police Clearance Certificate is vital for obtaining a residency permit in Kuwait. All individuals above 18 years of age with a 6-month stay in Kuwait must apply for Kuwait PCC. The applications should be submitted to the Ministry of Interior, General Department for Criminal Evidence, Department of Identification and Automated Search located at Airport Road 55 Farwaniya-Dhajeej Area opposite Kuwait Airways main building.

Benefits of a Police Clearance Certificate

Police Clearance Certificate Kuwait offers innumerable benefits for its citizens and expats. Some of these are:

Helps Meet Eligibility Criteria

Your Good Standing Certificate is vital for getting a job in Kuwait. Having it helps individuals to meet job criteria. Moreover, if you are going abroad from Kuwait, your Police Clearance Certificate enables you to meet your visa and immigration criteria. It would become easy for you to get a job outside Kuwait if you have your Kuwaiti Police Clearance Certificate.

Residency and Employment Eligibility

A Good Conduct Certificate is also useful in obtaining residential status in Kuwait. It makes you eligible for all kinds of employment in Kuwait, depending on your academic qualifications. Your residential status is essential to applying for a long-term visa.

Certifications

Sometimes, your jobs in foreign countries require official certifications, and you cannot get official certifications without a good character certificate. As a Kuwait National, you must also keep your Police Clearance Certificate while applying for jobs in other countries.

Documents Required for Kuwait PCC

No citizen or resident can get a Police Clearance unless he provides the below documents to the General Department of Criminal Evidence in Kuwait.

• An application or a request letter from an individual’s employer or the Embassy in case a person is not in Kuwait. Remember to mention the purpose of obtaining Kuwait PCC.
• A complete set of fingerprints of all the fingers of both hands.
• Photocopies of all pages of your passport, whether old or new, with a clear indication of your entry or exit dates. If you have two passports, you will have to provide copies of both passports.
• Your recent passport-sized photograph with a blue background. If you use spectacles, remember to take photos without wearing spectacles.
• A Kuwait Civil ID Status card issued by the Kuwait Ministry of Interior.
• If you are in Kuwait for work, you need to submit a copy of your work visa or employment contract letter.
• Documentary proof of your last stay in Kuwait, along with residential addresses.

How to Apply for a Police Clearance Certificate in Kuwait?

Except for Indians, all other nationals relocating to Kuwait have to depend on third-party service providers to get their Kuwait PCC online. However, it is expected that soon online application system for obtaining a Police Clearance Certificate in Kuwait will be implemented with the cooperation between the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Kuwait Embassies in all countries.

Therefore, we are going to discuss the application procedure for Indians and other citizens separately.

How to Apply Kuwait PCC In India?

If you are an Indian planning to move to Kuwait for work, you can apply for Kuwait PCC online from your home country. You can submit your documents to the Kuwait Embassy in India. The Embassy will send those documents to the Ministry of Interior for verification of your criminal history and the authenticity of the submitted documents.

You can also apply for the Kuwait Police Clearance Certificate online through the official portal. Go to the portal and fill out an application form available online. Remember to take scanned copies of your 51 mm x 51 mm photograph. However, you will also need to affix your signatures before the submission officer.

How to Apply for Kuwait PCC from Other Countries?

Applying for a Kuwait Police Clearance Certificate from all other countries is almost the same. The step-by-step process is described below:

Collect Required Documents

The first step to getting a Police Clearance Certificate in Kuwait is to collect all the required documents for applying. The documents include a Kuwait ID copy, photographs, copies of old and new passports clearly showing visa stamps for entry and exit, employment contracts, etc. There should also be a letter stating the reasons for applying for a Kuwait PCC.

Contact the Kuwait Embassy in Your Country

After collecting all documents, you will have to contact the Kuwait Embassy in your country. Tell them that you need a Police Clearance Certificate and ask for the necessary documents required.

Fill Out the Application Form

The Embassy officials will hand over a form to you. You have to complete the application form in all respects. Review your name, address, and work history before applying.

Fingerprints

As already mentioned, you will have to give fingerprints on all the fingers of both hands. The Embassy officials will tell you about the approved locations. To save time, book an appointment with them instantly and visit on the appointed day to get your fingerprints scanned and make their copies.

Submit Additional Documents

In certain cases, you may need additional documents. These documents may include identity certificates, legal declarations, and more. You can ask Embassy officials about any additional documents required.

Submit Your PCC Request

The application form, complete in all respects, should be submitted along with all the supporting documents within the given deadlines.

Check Your Application Status

After submission of your PCC application, keep on checking your application status from time to time. You can also contact the Embassy for the status of your application for a Police Clearance Certificate.

After 3-4 weeks of your application submission, you will receive an official authorization document from the Embassy. Check all your details minutely before obtaining certified copies of the Police Clearance Certificate.

Validity of Kuwait Police Clearance Certificate

Do you know that your Kuwait Good Standing Certificate is valid for three months from the date of its issuance? You need to reapply if the deadline has passed. Remember that an expired Kuwait PCC can cause problems in your immigration arrangements.

Kuwait PCC Processing Time

MOI Kuwait takes 4 weeks (20 working days) to process your Police Clearance Certificate application. Sometimes, you may have to wait a little longer if there is any issue in your supplied documents. Therefore, it is important to provide accurate documents. Your Kuwait PCC may also take a little longer if there is any criminal record in your profile. The Ministry of Interior may take time for the verification of your record.

Police Clearance Certificate Fee in Kuwait

The fixed fee for obtaining Kuwait PCC through direct application to the Embassy costs 8 KD. However, the costs of obtaining a police clearance certificate may vary if you opt to apply through a third party. Always be prepared that except 8 KD official fee, you may have to pay extra for:

• Fingerprints, documents attestation, and courier services.
• Third-party assistance
• The payment method you choose to pay the official fees.

The official fee of 8 KD is non-refundable once the processing for obtaining a Police Clearance Certificate begins.

Kuwait PCC Application Status Check

As already mentioned, your application for a Kuwait Police Clearance Certificate takes time. However, it is mandatory to keep checking the status of your application for peace of mind. There are two ways to keep yourself updated about your application status.

Through third-party Service Providers

The most practical way to keep yourself updated about the current status of the Police Clearance Certificate is to ask the third-party service providers. It will also build your trust in their services. Usually, they provide updates without the requests of the applicants.

Directly from Kuwait General Department of Criminal Evidence

If you have your application number, you can contact the General Department of Criminal Evidence about the current status of your application for PCC. They will also ask you for some more details like your Passport Number and your Kuwait Civil ID number. After checking the details, they will tell you about the application status.