Certificate of Clearance
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 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.
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 https://go.gov.sg/spf-applyforcertificateofclearance using Singpass/FIN number.
For non-Singapore Citizen residing in Singapore or overseas with Singpass/FIN number, 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 non-Singapore Citizens or non-Permanent Residents who 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 and completing the online application form together with the submission of the required documents. Upon successful submission, you will receive an email notification to send a scanned copy of your 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, private fingerprint recorders, post offices, etc).
For non-Singapore Citizen residing overseas with no Singpass/ FIN number, you are required to 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 NRIC/FIN number. Once received, you may log in to https://go.gov.sg/spf-applyforcertificateofclearance to submit the online application including making payment to process the COC application. You are also required to have your fingerprint impressions recorded at an authorised institution in your country 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.
Upon approval of the COC application, you will be notified via email (based on the email address provided during the online application process). The email would contain a link for you to access and download the digital COC via the FileSG portal. You 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.
Applicants can check the status of their application online at https://go.gov.sg/spf-certificateofclearancestatus. Should you have any queries, please submit via https://go.gov.sg/spfefeedback.