A Certificate of Clearance (COC) is issued by the Criminal Investigation Department of the Singapore Police Force (SPF) to certify that a person has no criminal conviction within a stipulated period of time of residence in Singapore. More information can be obtained from the SPF website at Apply / Pay For Certificate Of Clearance (police.gov.sg).
Applicants who are non-Singapore Citizens
W.e.f. 16 May 2024, non-Singapore Citizens applicants are no longer required to submit an Appeal to Apply for a COC. Applicants may submit online application at Apply / Pay For Certificate Of Clearance (police.gov.sg).
For non-Singapore Citizen residing in Singapore, you will receive a notification to book an appointment to have your fingerprint impressions recorded at Police Cantonment Complex, upon payment and submission of the COC application. The COC will be issued to you upon recording of your fingerprint impressions at Police Cantonment Complex.
Block D Police Cantonment Complex,
#02-07/08,
391 New Bridge Road,
Singapore 088762
For non-Singapore Citizen residing overseas, you are required to have your fingerprint impressions recorded at an authorised institution in the applicant’s country / place of residence (such as police stations) and mail the original fingerprint impressions along with your COC application receipt to COC office. Upon receipt and verification of your fingerprint impressions, the COC will be mailed to the postal address as indicated by you in the online application form.
Applicants can check the status of their application online at Status of Certificate of Clearance (COC) Application (police.gov.sg). Should you have any queries, please submit via SPF | Feedback (police.gov.sg).
Legalisation of COC for use in China
For your COC issued by SPF to be recognised for use in China, you will need to obtain the Apostille for your COC from the Singapore Academy of Law (SAL). The Singapore Consulate-General in Singapore is unable to legalise or authenticate or translate documents. You may wish to engage a notary public in Singapore to act as your proxy to submit the document to SAL if you are unable to complete the process in Singapore. Please refer to our website at https://www.mfa.gov.sg/Overseas-Mission/Shanghai/Consular-Services/Notarial-Services to understand more about the notarisation and legalisation process.