Definition
A police clearance certificate in Singapore, officially called the Certificate of Clearance (COC), is issued by the Singapore Police Force's Criminal Investigation Department to confirm that a person has no criminal record in Singapore. It is issued only for overseas use, such as a job, migration or study abroad.
What the Certificate of Clearance is for
The COC exists for use outside Singapore. A foreign government authority or institution may ask for it when someone applies to migrate, adopt, work, do business or study overseas. The Singapore Police Force states that the COC is not used for local purposes and gives local employment as an example. If you are hiring for a job in Singapore, the COC is therefore not a document you can ask a candidate to obtain.
Where it matters to employers is cross-border hiring. If your organisation recruits someone who has lived in Singapore for a role in another country, that country's immigration or licensing rules may require a COC, and the candidate applies for it personally.
If an overseas role will need a COC, you can raise it at the start with springhire's knockout qualifying questions, before anyone reaches an interview.
Who can apply and how
Singapore citizens, permanent residents and foreigners can apply if they are at least 16 years old. Former residents need to have lived, worked or studied in Singapore for a continuous period of at least six months. Citizens, permanent residents and current FIN holders log in with Singpass, while former FIN holders apply with their previous FIN and must also submit fingerprint impressions.
Applications are made and paid online, and walk-in applications are not accepted. The applicant uploads documentary proof of why the COC is needed, the passport biometric page, an identity document and a passport-sized photograph. Approved certificates are digital and are downloaded from the FileSG portal.
Processing time and planning
The police give a processing time of 7 to 14 days from receipt of complete documents, and incomplete or inaccurate submissions take longer. An application is treated as closed six months after it was made if the applicant has not replied to queries from the COC office. The official page does not state a validity period, so check how recent the receiving country needs the certificate to be and build the lead time into the start date.
Common mistakes
Employers sometimes ask local candidates for a police clearance as a routine background check, which the COC does not support. Others assume they can apply on the candidate's behalf, when the application is made by the individual through their own login. Ask only for checks that the destination country or the role genuinely requires, and tell candidates early so they have time to apply.
Official sources
Rules and rates change. Check the official source before you act on them.
Frequently asked questions
Apply online through the Singapore Police Force's Certificate of Clearance e-service. Citizens, permanent residents and current FIN holders log in with Singpass, upload proof of why the certificate is needed and pay online. Approved certificates are digital and downloaded from FileSG. Walk-in applications are not accepted.
No. The Singapore Police Force states that the Certificate of Clearance is for overseas use only, such as migration, employment or study abroad, and is not used for local purposes such as local employment. It cannot serve as a background check for a job in Singapore.
The Singapore Police Force gives a processing time of 7 to 14 days from receipt of complete documents. Missing or inaccurate information makes it take longer, and an application with unanswered queries from the COC office is closed six months after it was submitted.
Related terms
Part of the springhire HR glossary.
