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 records within a stipulated period of time of residence in Singapore. More information can be obtained from the SPF website at https://www.police.gov.sg.
From 6 January 2025, the application for a COC will be fully digitalised. Successful applicants will receive a digital COC instead of a physical hardcopy.
For applicants who are Singapore Citizens, Permanent Residents or current Foreign Identification Number (FIN) holders residing in Singapore or overseas, you would be required to apply for the COC via Singpass login at https://go.gov.sg/spf-applyforcertificateofclearance by completing the online application form together with the submission of the required documents. Applicants are no longer required to book a fingerprint appointment with the COC office.
For applicants who are non-Singapore Citizens or non-Permanent Residents, and previously held a valid FIN but not eligible to apply for a Singpass account, you can apply for a COC using your previously held FIN at https://go.gov.sg/spf-applyforcertificateofclearance by completing the online application form together with the submission of the required documents. Upon successful submission, the applicant will receive an email notification to send a scanned copy of the applicant’s fingerprint impressions via email to the COC office. The fingerprint impressions should be recorded at an authorised institution in the applicant’s country of residence (such as police stations, notary public offices, forensic departments, or private fingerprint recorders).
Upon approval of the COC application, the applicant will be notified via email (based on the email address provided during the online application process). The email would contain a link for the applicant to have access and download the digital COC via the FileSG portal. Applicants will be able to download and print the digital COC, which can be authenticated through the FileSG portal. The collection of hardcopy COCs at COC office and the application for duplicate copies of the COCs on Singapore Police Force e-Services website will also be discontinued.
For applicants who are unable to recall your valid FIN that was held previously, you may write to the Singapore Ministry of Manpower (MOM) (for employment pass holders) at mom_wpd@mom.gov.sg or the Singapore Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) (for student pass holders, Singapore PRs, short-term visitors) at https://www.ica.gov.sg/feedbackform to check on the FIN. For applicants who wish to apply for a Singpass account can visit https://www.singpass.gov.sg for more information.
Applicants can check the status of your COC application at https://go.gov.sg/spf-certificateofclearancestatus. For enquiries, please write to https://go.gov.sg/spfefeedback to seek clarifications.