Police
Police character certificate in Nigeria: cost and process.
What a Nigerian police character certificate costs in 2026, what you need, and the step-by-step process — including fingerprint capture — for visas and foreign jobs.
A police character certificate — also called a police clearance certificate, police report or criminal-record check — is an official statement from the Nigeria Police Force that you have no recorded criminal history. Embassies, foreign employers and emigration authorities ask for it constantly.
It is one of the more procedural documents to obtain, because it requires fingerprint capture and a check against police records. This guide covers what it costs in 2026, exactly what you need, and how the process runs end to end.
What the certificate is and who accepts it
The certificate is issued by the Nigeria Police Force (through the Criminal Investigation Department) and confirms whether you have a criminal record on file. It is valid for a defined period — usually six months — from the date of issue.
It is accepted, and often required, by:
- Embassies and high commissions for visa and residency applications.
- Foreign employers, especially in healthcare, security and finance.
- Emigration and permanent-residency programmes (Canada, UK, Australia, the Gulf states).
- Some Nigerian employers for sensitive roles.
How much it costs in 2026
There are two parts to the cost: the government processing fee paid to the police, and — if you use a filing service — a service fee for handling the paperwork, fingerprint booking and follow-up.
On Docufy the government fee is pass-through (we charge exactly what the police charge, with no markup), and the service fee is fixed and shown before you pay. The all-in figure, including 7.5% VAT on the service fee, is displayed on the filing page so there are no surprises. Avoid anyone who quotes a single vague "settlement" figure — a legitimate certificate has a published fee.
What you will need
Have these ready before you start — missing items are the most common cause of delay:
- A valid government-issued ID (international passport or NIN slip).
- Two recent passport photographs.
- The reason for the request (e.g. the visa or job it is for) — some destinations require it to be stated.
- Your fingerprints — captured in person at an approved point (see the process below).
- For some embassies, a covering or invitation letter.
The process, including fingerprint capture
Fingerprint capture is the step that makes this different from a desk filing. Your prints are taken in person and submitted with your application so the police can run the records check. Docufy prepares the application, books the capture, and tracks the file through to issuance — you only show up for the prints.
Why it takes around three weeks
The records check is a manual process across police databases, which is why a character certificate takes longer than most filings — our published SLA is around 21 days. Starting early matters: most visa and job deadlines do not move, and a rejected or incomplete application restarts the clock. The most common rejection causes are mismatched names across your documents and skipped fingerprint capture — both avoidable.
Questions
Frequently asked.
How much does a police character certificate cost in Nigeria in 2026?
A government processing fee paid to the Nigeria Police Force plus a fixed service fee if you use a filing platform. On Docufy the exact pass-through fee plus the service fee and VAT is shown before you pay — we never mark up the government fee.
How long does it take to get?
Around three weeks. The police run a manual records check, so it is slower than a desk filing. Our published SLA is about 21 business days; start well ahead of any visa or job deadline.
Is the police character certificate the same as a police report for a visa?
Yes — "police character certificate", "police clearance certificate", "police report" and "criminal record check" usually refer to the same document for visa and emigration purposes.
Do I have to appear in person?
For the fingerprint capture, yes — that step must be done in person at an approved point. Docufy handles the rest of the application and the follow-up so that is your only trip.
How long is it valid?
Typically six months from the date of issue. Check the specific requirement of the embassy or employer asking for it, as some accept a shorter window.
Ready to file your police character certificate?
Verified PDF in your encrypted vault — typically in 21 business days.
Keep reading