A character certificate, which is also sometimes called Police Clearance Certificate, is a legal document that testifies that an individual has no criminal or bad record at his/her previous institution. It is issued by the police, a government authority, or any other institution.
How to get a Character Certificate?
Obtaining a character certificate is simple if you have a clean background and no criminal records against you. It is dependent on the context where the certificate must be submitted. Consider the following example:
- If you’re applying to a university or college, you’ll need to get a character certificate from your school principal. It will be signed by the principal, who will take account of your actions when you were at school.
- If you are applying for a job as a fresher, you can request a character certificate from your university or college.
- If you are changing jobs you can request a character certificate from your current employer.
- A character certificate is also required when applying for immigration or travelling. In such cases, a Police Character Certificate with police verification would be needed. As a result, you can be considered safe in the country you’re travelling to.
- You may also apply for a character certificate online via the citizen website of your state government.
Step-by-Step Process to Apply for a Character Certificate Online:
Character certificates can now be applied online with comfort from your own home! Character certificate application forms are available on each state government’s official citizen’s website.
The application forms for character certificates are all the same. As a result, you’ll have a good idea of how to apply for a character certificate application online:
- To begin, go to your respective state’s Citizen Portal and look for the Character Verification/Character choice under “Citizen Services.”
- Create an account on the Character Certificate signup webpage. You must enter basic information, an email ID and a password to create your account.
- The login page will appear after you have completed the registration process. Use your new email address and password to log in.
- Once you have logged in, you must complete the Character Certificate application form with the necessary information. You’ll need to fill out information including your name, parents’ names, D.O.B., address, and phone number in the form.
- You will be asked to list your criminal records if you have any on the Character Certificate application. If this is not the case, select ‘no record’ from the drop-down menu.
- You must mention the police station in your area as well as the name of your district to cross-verify the details you entered.
- Now, upload any required documents and save your progress.
- To complete the Character Certificate application process, you must pay a fee after saving the details. Select the ‘pay’ option. It will guide you to a payment gateway where you can make a payment using Visa or MasterCard.
- Keep a copy of the application form and unique ID with you for the verification process.
Verification Process:
The verification process will now begin. Once it is completed:
- You can download character certificate pdf from the official website of the organization.
- It is best to keep a hard copy of the certificate with you.
- Once you’ve done that, verify the certificate from any authorized officer.
- Get his/her signature on the certificate.
- Remember, though, that at the time of verification, you need to have the original documents. The officer will most likely need it for verification.
Step-by-Step Process to Apply for a Character Certificate Offline:
The applicant should go to their school/college/current employer/local police station. Consult them about the need for a character certificate, and follow their instructions.
- Applicants must get the Character Certificate application form from the appropriate office. Alternatively, a written application on plain paper, as instructed, can be used.
- Complete the character certificate application form and attach all relevant documents.
- Officials will make a record and provide you with a record number for reference after reviewing the attached documents and application.
- After this, the application will be processed internally. Respective authorities will perform on-the-ground verification of the applicant, as well as a thorough examination of the documentation and information submitted by the applicant.
- Following the completion of the verification, these officials will send their report to the appropriate authority, which will make a decision and grant the Certificate to the applicant.
- After proper processing, the applicant will receive the character certificate pdf within the specified time frame.
Gazetted Officer Character Certificate Format:
Checklist Before Writing Your Character Certificate Application
Before you start writing your character certificate application, make sure to meet the following criteria:
- Legal Status: Ensure that there are no ongoing civil or criminal cases against you in any court throughout India.
- Social Conduct: Confirm that you’re not involved in any activities that go against the nation’s interests or social norms.
- Name Change: Verify that you have never changed your name previously.
- Public Reputation: Make sure you have a positive reputation and are respected by the general public.
- Moral Character: Have a strong moral character within your local community.
- Reason Clarity: Understand exactly why you need a character certificate.
- Community Relations: Maintain good relationships with the people in your locality.
By meeting these criteria, you’ll be in a better position to write your character certificate application accurately and confidently.
Application for Character Certificate:
Whether you’re applying for higher studies or need it for official purposes, understanding how to draft a compelling character certificate application is essential. While we won’t cover every detail, we’re providing a sample character certificate application in English for your reference. If you’re comfortable with English then you can also write your character certificate application in Hindi. Let’s some sample applications for character certificate letters:
Character Certificate Application in English For School or College:
To
The Principal
[School/College Name],
[Address],
[Date].
Subject: Application for Character Certificate.
Respected Sir/Madam,
I am writing to inform you that I am [Your Name], a student of [Mention Your Class] at your esteemed school/college.
I need to submit a character certificate along with my admission form to [Write Your College/University Name] College for [Specify Your Exact Reason]. Kindly provide me with the character certificate I require.
Thank you for your assistance.
Yours sincerely,
[Your Name],
[Class],
[Contact Details].
Application for Character Certificate for Students Going to Higher Studies
To
The Principal,
[School/College Name],
[Address],
[Date].
Subject: Application for Character Certificate.
Respected Sir/Madam,
I am writing to inform you that I am [Your Name], a student of [Mention Your Class] at [School/College Name]. I am applying for higher studies at [University/Institution Name].
As part of the admission process, I am required to submit a character certificate. I kindly request you issue me a character certificate that can be submitted along with my application.
I am grateful for your assistance in this matter.
Yours sincerely,
[Your Name],
[Class],
[Contact Details].
Application for Character Certificate from Police Station
To
The Officer-in-Charge,
[Police Station Name],
[Address],
[Date].
Subject: Application for Character Certificate.
Respected Sir/Madam,
I am writing to request a character certificate from [Police Station Name]. My name is [Your Name], and I reside at [Your Address]. I require this certificate for [Specify the Purpose – e.g., job application, educational admission, etc.].
I assure you that I have maintained good conduct and have been law-abiding. I kindly request you to issue me a character certificate to support my application.
Thank you for your prompt attention.
Yours faithfully,
[Your Name],
[Contact Details].
Application for Character Certificate for Job Purpose:
To
[Company Name],
[Company Address],
[Date].
Subject: Application for Character Certificate.
Respected Sir/Madam,
I am writing to request a character certificate from [Company Name] for my job application. My name is [Your Name], and I am a [Your Position] at the company.
I kindly request you issue me a character certificate that highlights my professional conduct and ethical standards during my tenure at the company. This certificate will greatly contribute to my job application process and showcase my credibility.
Thank you for your assistance and prompt attention.
Yours faithfully,
[Your Name],
[Your Position],
[Contact Details].
Uses of Character Certificate:
Character certificates come in handy for the following purposes:
- Academics
If you’re applying for a scholarship, you’ll need to furnish a character certificate. Most academic institutions provide their former students with the certificate. It helps certify how the student behaved during his/her academic years at the institution.
- Business reasons
A good character certificate is a testament that the individual has integrity and showcases good business conduct.
- Employment
Some companies will ask new joiners to get a character certificate from their previous organizations. This helps them learn whether the joiner has a clean background and whether he/she will fit into the company’s ethics.
- Immigration/travel
Nobody wants a person with a criminal record or a history of bad behaviour to enter their country. Hence, a character certificate is needed during immigration.
Documents Required to Apply for Character Certificate:
- Correctly filled application form
- Details about the certificate’s intent and requirements
- Passport size photograph (as applicable)
- Proof of Identity
- Proof of Address
- Proof of Age
Documents Required for Proof of Identity:
- Aadhaar Card
- PAN Card
- Ration Card with Photo
- Voter ID Card
- Passport
- Driving License
- Identity cards issued by government or semi-government organizations
Documents Required for Proof of Address:
- Aadhaar Card
- Voter ID Card
- Driving License
- Passport
- Ration Card
- Rent Agreement (Registered )
- Bank Passbook
- Electricity Bill
- Water Bill / Telephone Bill(Landline or Postpaid)
- Gas Bill
Documents Required for Proof of Age:
- Birth Certificate
- PAN Card
- Passport
- Driving License
- School Leaving Certificate
- Bonafide Certificate
List of Government Websites to Apply for a Character Certificate:
| Sr. No. | State | Online Portal | |
| 1 | Andhra Pradesh | Official Portal of Andhra Pradesh | |
| 2 | Arunachal Pradesh | e-Services Portal of Arunachal Pradesh | |
| 2 | Assam | e-District Services Portal of Assam | |
| 3 | Bihar | RTPS Portal of Bihar | |
| 4 | Chhattisgarh | e-district Portal of Chhattisgarh | |
| 5 | Goa | Online Portal of Goa | |
| 6 | Gujarat | Digital Gujarat Portal of Gujarat | |
| 7 | Haryana | e-Disha Portal of Haryana | |
| 8 | Himachal Pradesh | e-District Portal of Himachal Pradesh | |
| 9 | Jharkhand | JharSewa Portal of Jharkhand | |
| 10 | Karnataka | Nadakacheri-AJSK Portal of Karnataka | |
| 11 | Kerala | Akshaya Portal of Kerala | |
| 12 | Madhya Pradesh | e-District Portal of Madhya Pradesh | |
| 13 | Maharashtra | Aaple Sarkar Portal of Maharashtra | |
| 14 | Manipur | e-District Portal of Manipur | |
| 15 | Meghalaya | e-District Portal of Meghalaya | |
| 16 | Mizoram | e-District Portal of Mizoram | |
| 17 | Nagaland | e-District Portal of Nagaland | |
| 18 | Odisha | e-District Portal of Odisha | |
| 19 | Punjab | State Portal of Punjab | |
| 20 | Rajasthan | e-Mitra Portal of Rajasthan | |
| 21 | Sikkim | e-Services Portal of Sikkim | |
| 22 | Tamil Nadu | e-Sevai Center of Tamil Nadu | |
| 23 | Telangana | MeeSeva Portal of Telangana | |
| 24 | Tripura | e-District Portal of Tripura | |
| 25 | Uttar Pradesh | e-Saathi Web Portal or e-Saathi Mobile App | |
| 26 | Uttarakhand | e-District Portal of Uttarakhand. | |
| 27 | West Bengal | e-District Portal of West Bengal | |
| 28 | Andaman and Nicobar Islands | Official Portal of Andaman & Nicobar Administration. | |
| 29 | Chandigarh | Sampark Portal of Chandigarh | |
| 30 | Dadra and Nagar Haveli | Official Portal of Dadra and Nagar Haveli Administration | |
| 31 | Daman and Diu | Official Portal of Daman and Diu Administration. | |
| 32 | Delhi | e-District Portal of Delhi. | |
| 33 | Jammu and Kashmir | Revenue Department of Jammu and Kashmir. | |
| 34 | Ladakh | Official Portal of Ladakh | |
| 35 | Lakshadweep | Official Portal of Lakshadweep | |
| 36 | Puducherry | e-District Portal of Puducherry. |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Here are some common FAQs regarding character certificates:
Q: Who can sign a character certificate?
Ans: The following individuals can sign a character certificate:
- Gazetted officers
- Collector
- Doctor
- Headmaster of school
- IAS officer
- MLA or MP
- Police officer
- Researcher or scientist in service with the govt
Q: What is the validity of character certificates?
Ans: Character certificates are valid for 6 months from the date of issue. It can, however, change depending on the organization.
Q: How do I get a character certificate?
Ans: Character certificates can be issued by educational institutions (for students), places of employment (for employees) and government institutions.
