A POLICE Clearance certificate is a vital document that is needed for many purposes. However, many people do not know how to obtain a police clearance certificate.
These include five Character Checks and a Police Crime Report. The character checks include;
- Public Motor Vehicle (PMV) character check,
- Papua New Guinea police character check,
- firearms character check,
- expatriates in Papua New Guinea character check and
- expatriates overseas character check.
Police Trainees and Cadet recruitment for 2023 is now open, click here for more info.
Location of police clearance check (National Forensic Centre)
Police Clearance reports are issued by the NCRO currently located at the National Forensic Centre, Varahe Road Gordons in Port Moresby. No police stations or another office can issue a police clearance certificate.
The only authorised signature on the certificate must be that of the OIC National Criminal Records Office, by the delegation on behalf of the Commissioner of Police. In the absence of the OIC, the second officer in charge (2IC) will sign on his behalf. Any other signature on the Police Clearance certificate is not to be accepted.
How to Apply for a Police Clearance Certificate Check - UPDATE
To apply for a police clearance certificate, you can pick up a form at the National Criminal Records Office. For those living in the other provinces, you can collect a form from your nearest police station where you will be fingerprinted. Pay the K65.00 fee at your nearest finance cashier office and attach the receipt with the application form and mail it to the NCRO office at the Police National Headquarters to the following address: OIC National Criminal Records Office RPNGC, P.O 85, Konedobu, National Capital District.
Alternatively, pay the fee and take the receipt and a recent ID photo of you to the National Criminal Records Office at Gordons (for those in Port Moresby). The officers of the NCRO will assist with the Police character check forms and also take your fingerprints for processing.
If you are living outside of Port Moresby, see what the Police have to say about getting a Police Character Clearance Check in the direct quote below:
"Many people have been commenting about police clearance for other provinces. For the time being you now have the form. Print whichever form you need and fill in the details as required. For fingerprinting please go to your nearest police station and a policeman will help fingerprint you. Pay your K10 (sic. Now K65) fee, attach the receipt and mail it to the address listed. Unfortunately, online lodgement is still a long way away for us at this stage. Thank you for all your comments" [Response extract from RPNGC FB comment]
Download police clearance check forms
- Police character check form for Papua New Guinean
- Police character check form for Expatriates in PNG
- Police character check form for Expatriates outside of PNG
- Police character check/clearance & Fire Arms Particulars and Records Check
- Police character check form for PMV
- Crime report form
Where to pay the character check FEES
For those in Port Moresby you can pay your Character Check or Police Crime Report fees at any of these three locations;
- Vulupindi Haus,
- Firearm Registry Office at the Boroko Police Station and
- the Central Government Office at Konedobu.
All police character check fee is K65.00. You are not to pay any additional fees.
Expatriates character checks
For expatriates, there are two separate application forms for those who are living in the country and those who have left but require PNG Police Clearance Certificates for the countries they are currently residing in.
They are required to bring their complete application form together with their current passport and visa and current work permit as well as the receipt of the K65.00 payment.
"I'm an expat. I'm currently working at Lihir I already fee k10 (sic. Now K65) on Vulupindi House in pom can I go to Lihir police office using Vulupindi receipt to fill up the form of police clearance and I will submit it in pom when I'm going for my field break?" [Angelo Bascon, FB comment, extract]
"Yes, you can." (RPNGC, FB response, extract)
Time and operation hours of police character checks
The duration of the Character Check is one week for nationals and two weeks for expatriates.
The NCRO is open only on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Lodgement of application forms is usually from 9:00am – 12:00pm.
The collection of character certificate is between 1:00pm and 3:30pm each Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Mondays are allocated for the lodgement of police character checks for the purpose of opening bank accounts, studying in PNG, passport application and PMV.
Employment character check applications
Employment character check applications are done on Tuesdays and Fridays only. Expatriate character checks, visa, firearm, Investment Promotion Authority (IPA), National Airports Corporation (NAC) passes, crime reports, study overseas and port passes are done on Thursdays only.
Nationals and expatriates living overseas must report to their nearest police station in the country they are in and they will collect their required information and send them to the NCRO in Port Moresby.
Firearm applicants must also attach the notice for sale and disposal form from a licensed gun dealer and the complete Interpol firearm request form to secure a character check certificate.
(Ends)
Source: MEDIA STATEMENT (Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary Facebook page) Monday 28th January 2019 [ADAPTED, May 2021]
