Nepal Police clearance certificate online: how to apply
You apply for a Nepal police clearance certificate online through the Nepal Police Online Police Clearance Registration system at opcr.nepalpolice.gov.np, and you download the certificate yourself. Nepal Police says it usually arrives within 2 to 3 days if your details don’t match a suspicious person. The US State Department lists the Nepal Police fee as none. Whether your student visa actually needs one depends on the country, and for most student applications it is only needed if the visa office asks.
Last checked: 19 October 2026. Rules for each country can change; always follow the instructions in your own visa application.
Nepal police clearance certificate online: key facts
In Nepal it is called a police report, character certificate (चारित्रिक प्रमाणपत्र) or chalchalan certificate. Official names vary, but they mean the same document.
| Item | What official sources say |
|---|---|
| Issued by | Nepal Police Headquarters, Naxal, Kathmandu (Character Verification / chalchalan section) |
| Where to apply | Online at opcr.nepalpolice.gov.np (in Nepali and English) |
| Fee | None, according to the US State Department’s Nepal civil documents page. Nepal Police pages we checked do not list a fee. |
| Processing time | Usually 2 to 3 days after submission, excluding public holidays, if there is no match with a suspicious person |
| Format | Digital. Nepal Police does not issue hard copies; you download and print it in colour |
| Language | Printed in English |
| Verification | By QR code or online using the dispatch number |
| Validity | Not stated by Nepal Police. The country asking for it decides how recent it must be |
Documents you need
The Nepal Police information page lists different documents depending on where you are when you apply.
If you are in Nepal:
- Copy of your passport
- Copy of your citizenship certificate
- Copy of your marriage registration, if married
- One recent colour passport-size photo
If you are already abroad:
- Copies of passport pages 2, 3 and 31
- Copy of the page with your last Nepal Immigration departure stamp
- Copy of your citizenship certificate
- Copy of your marriage registration, if married
- One recent colour passport-size photo
If you left Nepal through an airport or border other than Tribhuvan International Airport, the Nepal Police FAQ says to get a recommendation letter from your ward office stating your departure date and upload it as an additional document. If you lost the passport with the departure stamp, the Immigration Office in Kalikasthan, Kathmandu can give a letter with your departure date.
How to apply online: step by step
- Create an account at opcr.nepalpolice.gov.np with an email you check. Type your name exactly as it appears on your passport. The FAQ says the name on the certificate comes from your account registration, and a wrong name means registering again with a new email.
- Fill the form with your citizenship, passport and address details. Nepal Police has a video guide linked from its FAQ.
- Upload your scans. If you see “Server could not generate response data”, your photos are probably too large. Reduce the file size and try again.
- Submit and wait. Most certificates come in 2 to 3 days (public holidays excluded).
- Download the certificate by logging in. If the download fails, the FAQ suggests trying a different browser or private/incognito mode.
- Check it carefully. Name, date of birth, passport number and citizenship number must be correct.
- Get it attested by the Department of Consular Services only if the country or organisation asks for an attested copy (see below).
If your application is “on hold”: Nepal Police says this means your details matched a suspicious person. Contact the Character Division at Police Headquarters with a copy of your citizenship and your application ID. A relative can go for you if you are abroad.
If the certificate has an error: you cannot submit a new form for 90 days after dispatch. The FAQ says corrections are handled on Saturdays, 10 am to 5 pm. This is another reason to check your details twice before submitting.
MoFA attestation of the police report
Some countries and employers ask for a police report attested by Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Department of Consular Services runs this online:
- Check your police report is correct. If not, get a new one first.
- On the consular attestation site, enter the Dispatch No. from your police report and your date of birth (AD).
- Confirm the details and add your mobile number. You get a Reference No., a revenue voucher (EBP) number and the amount due.
- Pay online (ConnectIPS, Khalti or eSewa) or with a printed voucher at a Global IME Bank branch, then click Verify Payment.
- If approved, download the attested certificate one working day later using your Reference No. and Dispatch No. Print it in colour.
The department says payment does not guarantee approval; if details don’t match, you get a rejection SMS. Anyone can check an attested police report on the department’s verification page. The Department of Consular Services lists its general attestation fee as Rs 500 per document; the exact amount for your police report is shown when you save your payment details.
Do students need attestation? Usually no for the four main study destinations below, but always follow the instruction you are given. Nepal is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so there is no apostille option. More in our guide to translation, notary and attestation in Nepal.
Which student visas need a Nepal police certificate?
Canada study permit
IRCC’s Guide 5269 for study permits says you must be law-abiding and “may be asked to provide a Police Clearance Certificate”. IRCC’s general police certificate page says that for programmes other than Express Entry, IEC and citizenship, you should follow your programme’s instructions. In practice, upload one only if your personal document checklist in your IRCC account lists it, or an officer asks. IRCC’s Nepal page confirms the certificate is issued by Nepal Police Headquarters through the online system. See our Canada study permit step-by-step guide.
Australia student visa (subclass 500)
Every visa applicant must meet Australia’s character requirement. The Home Affairs character page says that after you apply, the department may ask you to provide a police certificate. Provide one when asked, and always declare any charges or convictions truthfully on your form.
UK Student visa
The GOV.UK Student visa guidance and the Home Office Student caseworker guidance we checked do not list a criminal record certificate as a standard document for students. If your university or the Home Office asks for one, the Nepal Police certificate is the one to get.
USA F-1 visa
The US State Department’s Nepal page explains how Nepal police certificates work and says certificates printed online by the applicant are accepted at the US Embassy in Kathmandu. It does not say F-1 applicants must bring one. Follow what your embassy instructions say. See our F-1 interview documents checklist.
Nepal-specific tips
- Use your passport name. Spell it exactly as in your passport, not as friends write it in English.
- Nagarik app details wrong? Nepal Police says to correct them at your District Administration Office or fill the OPCR form directly.
- Don’t pay an agent. The system is online and the US State Department lists no fee. Anyone charging “police report fees” is charging for something you can do yourself.
- Get it close to when it is needed. Since the requesting country decides how recent it must be, don’t get it months before anyone asks.
- Reference number problems are handled by the Department of Consular Services, not Nepal Police.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Registering with a misspelled name, which then appears on the certificate.
- Uploading large photo files that make the form fail.
- Forgetting the departure stamp page when applying from abroad.
- Paying for MoFA attestation that nobody asked for.
- Uploading a police certificate to a visa application when your checklist doesn’t ask for it, then forgetting to answer the background questions honestly. The questions matter more.
What to do next
- Read your visa’s document checklist and note whether a police certificate is listed or only “on request”.
- Make sure your passport details are final before you apply for the police report.
- Apply on opcr.nepalpolice.gov.np when needed, download, check, and keep a colour PDF.
- If your visa is refused, our student visa refused guide explains next steps.
Frequently asked questions
How to get a police report in Nepal online?
Register at opcr.nepalpolice.gov.np, fill the form, upload copies of your passport and citizenship and a photo, and submit. Log in after 2 to 3 days to download the certificate.
How much does a police clearance certificate cost in Nepal?
The US State Department’s Nepal page lists the Nepal Police fee as none. MoFA attestation, if you need it, is a separate paid service from the Department of Consular Services.
How long is a Nepal police report valid?
Nepal Police does not state a validity period. The visa office or organisation that asks for it decides how recent it must be, so check their instructions.
Can I apply for a Nepal police report from abroad?
Yes. Apply online the same way, and also upload copies of passport pages 2, 3 and 31 and the page with your last Nepal departure stamp.
Do I need a police certificate for a Canada study permit from Nepal?
Only if your IRCC document checklist lists it or an officer asks. IRCC’s study permit guide says you may be asked for one.
Related guides
- Document attestation in Nepal: notary and translation for visas
- TIA departure checklist for Nepali students leaving Nepal
- Nepal e-passport for students: fees, documents and timelines
- Sponsor Documents for Study Abroad from Nepal: 2026 Checklist
- How to Explain a Study Gap for a Student Visa (Nepal Guide)
Sources
- Police clearance report: documents required – Nepal Police
- Police clearance FAQ – Nepal Police
- Nepal reciprocity and civil documents (police records) – US Department of State
- How to get a police certificate: Nepal – IRCC
- When to get a police certificate – IRCC
- Guide 5269: Applying for a study permit outside Canada – IRCC
- Character requirements – Australian Department of Home Affairs
- Police report attestation online – Department of Consular Services, Nepal
- Consular attestation FAQs – Department of Consular Services
- Apostille Convention status table – HCCH
Last checked: 19 October 2026. This is general information, not legal or immigration advice.
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