From 1 December 2025, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) will introduce stricter rules on how Indian applicants submit police certificates for their visas. Under the new policy, only Police Clearance Certificates (PCC) issued by the Regional Passport Offices (RPOs) of India’s Ministry of External Affairs will be accepted.

According to INZ, this change is designed to cut processing delays and make it easier to verify the authenticity of documents. Certificates from local police stations or offices of Deputy or Superintendent of Police will no longer be valid because their formats vary and are harder to confirm.

Key points of the update

  • Only PCCs issued by an RPO will be accepted from 1 December 2025.
  • The certificate must be no older than six months at the time of submission.
  • If it is written in a regional language, an English translation is required.
  • Some passport offices may request fingerprints as part of the process.
  • A PCC can remain valid for up to a year unless INZ specifically asks for a newer one.
  • Applicants under 16 years of age are not required to provide police certificates.

    • These rules apply only to Indian residents in India. The process for Indian citizens living abroad, and for non-Indian nationals who have stayed in India, remains the same.

    Who Needs to Provide a Police Certificate

    Anyone applying for a visitor, student, or work visa who will spend 24 months or more in New Zealand across all visits must submit police certificates. This includes previous stays, even if you have left the country since then.

    Certificates are also needed from any country where you:

  • Hold citizenship, and
  • I have lived for more than five years after turning 17.

    • If you have a criminal record, you can still explain your situation when applying. INZ will assess whether you meet the country’s good-character requirements before deciding on your visa.

    Understanding “Good Character”

    To qualify for a New Zealand visa, applicants must be of good character. INZ may decline a visa if an applicant has:

  • A serious criminal history
  • Provided false or misleading details
  • Been involved in activities that could threaten New Zealand’s security or human rights

    • If there are concerns, INZ might:

  • Refuse the application outright, or
  • Grant a character waiver or a special direction (these are rare and only given in exceptional cases).

    • Be upfront about any past or current issues, including deportation or removal from another country, when submitting your application.

    What Is a Police Certificate?

    A police certificate sometimes called a criminal check, police clearance, or penal record – is an official document issued by law-enforcement or government agencies. It shows whether you have any criminal convictions and is based on verified records.

    If INZ asks for one, ensure it is less than six months old and accompanied by an English translation if necessary.

    How to Apply for a Police Clearance Certificate Online

    Indian applicants can request a PCC through the Passport Seva Online Portal. The process is as follows:

    1. Register on the Passport Seva website.
    2. Log in with your new ID and choose Apply for Police Clearance Certificate.
    3. Fill in details step-by-step:

  • Passport type
  • Applicant information
  • Family details
  • Address
  • Other required data
  • Self-declaration

    • 4. Submit the form to receive an Application Reference Number (ARN) you can save your progress and return later.
    5. Pay the required service fee and schedule an appointment via the portal.
    6. Attend your appointment at the chosen Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) or RPO with original documents.

    Applicants can reschedule appointments up to three times (only once for Tatkaal applications).

    This policy change reflects New Zealand’s focus on efficient, transparent visa processing while ensuring the authenticity of police certificates submitted by Indian nationals. Anyone planning to study, work, or stay long-term in New Zealand after December 2025 should start preparing early to meet the new PCC requirements.

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