Each visa applicant over the age of 16 must present police certificates. Police certificates must cover the entire period of the applicant's residence in any area. The term "police certificate" means a certification by appropriate police authorities stating what their records show concerning each applicant, including all arrests, the reasons for the arrests, and the disposition of each case of which there is a record.
Police certificates are not required for periods spent in the United States. Police certificates from certain countries are considered unobtainable. All police certificates are considered to be valid for one year from the date of issuance and must be valid on the day the your visa is issued.
For more information on police certificate requirements refer to the chart below:
| Residence and passport | Citizenship | Required documents |
| You reside in India, and your passport was issued within the past six months. | Indian | 1. Police clearance certificate from the passport office that issued your passport. |
| You reside in India, and your passport was issued more than six months prior to visa application. | Indian | 1. Police clearance certificate from the passport office that issued your passport. 2. Police clearance certificate from the district police office serving your place of residence. |
| You reside in India, and your passport was issued within the past six months. You lived in another country for at least 12 months after the age of 16. | Indian | 1. Police clearance certificate from the passport office that issued your passport. 2. Police clearance certificates, if obtainable, for all countries other than India where you have lived for over one year after turning 16. Click here for more details. |
| You reside in India, and your passport was issued more than six months prior to visa application. You lived in another country for at least 12 months after the age of 16. | Indian | 1. Police clearance certificate from the passport office that issued your passport. 2. Police clearance certificate from the district police office serving your place of residence. 3. Police clearance certificates, if obtainable, for all countries other than India where you have lived for over one year after turning 16. Click here for more details. |
| You reside outside of India. | Indian | 1. A certificate from the local Indian embassy or consulate confirming that you have no criminal record. 2. Police clearance certificates, if available, for all countries other than India where you have lived for over one year after turning 16. Click here for more details. |
| You reside in India. | Non-Indian | 1. Police clearance certificate from the district police office serving your place of residence. 2. Police clearance certificates, if available, for all countries other than India where you have lived for over one year after turning 16. Click here for more details. |
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