How to Get a Police Certificate of Clearance in Singapore for Foreigners

Singapore Police Force does not usually issue certificate of clearance to non-citizens but will entertain so in a case-to-case basis.

The guidelines below only cover processing done on site.

• Make an appeal to apply for COC

Documents required:

• [PDF] Letter from authority or your invitation to apply
• [PDF] Scanned copy of passport identity page
• [PDF] Scanned copy of your pass (front and back separately)
• [JPG] Digital passport-sized photograph in white background with a dimension of 400 by 514 pixels

Note: PDF format is max 2MB; JPG format is max 60KB

Wait for 5 working days for the approval. You will receive an SMS and an email notification.

• Apply for COC once appeal approval SMS/email is received

Required:

• Credit card/nets
• Appeal reference number

Cost: $55.00

• Schedule a fingerprint appointment and print the letter

Things to bring:

• Appointment letter
• Passport
• Folder/envelope (optional)

Address: 391 New Bridge Road, Blk D #02-701, 088762, Police Cantonment Complex

Your COC will be printed between 15-30 minutes after fingerprinting.

I have read in one of the forums about a mistake that when his clearance was printed, it shows a different picture. To be on the safe side, especially if time is of essence, bring a passport-sized photograph with you.

Invitation to Apply: Taking Risks is Not For the Faint of Heart

By the time I received the invitation to apply for 189 visa, I was so anxious to click that Apply button already. It was 22 November around 9PM GMT +8.

On 27 October, roughly a month before I received the ITA for 189 visa, I got invited for nomination in NSW for 190 visa. When someone receives this invitation for nomination, he has 14 days to decide to pursue or withdraw the application. 

I figured that since I already have an invitation waiting, which was yet to expire on 10 November and the next invitation round for subclass 189 was to happen on 9 November, I have a chance to get invited and should I get unlucky there is already a fallback to pursue the application for NSW nomination.

I did not get lucky. No visa 189 invitation on 9 November for me.

Looking at the trend from ImmiTracker and SkillSelect, I summed up the numbers and decided to take the risk. I waited for the next round of invitation, which was to happen on 23 November. 

Thank heavens I got invited on that round! Otherwise, I can only blame myself for wanting more than what has already been presented to me. And maybe up to present I am still convincing myself about that door of opportunity being closed because another one shall present itself magically.

The catch: The round after I got the ITA for 189 visa, none were invited in the same ANZSCO code as I have. 

Perfect timing!

How to Get an Australian PR Visa Grant in Less Than Two Weeks

It sounds very optimistic, isn't it? But it is not impossible either. 

I got mine in nine business days. Some even got theirs in five business days.

Of course, this timeline does not include documents preparation, skills assessment, English language test, health assessment, and most especially the timeline between EOI submission and selection - they shall be tackled in separate posts.

How did I do it? What did I do? What did I not do?

Disclaimer: This does not guarantee that you will get your grant in the same timeline as I did. Maybe I just got lucky. Maybe it was divine intervention. Who knows?

Do's

• Scan documents in high resolution coloured PDF if they are not notarised
• 5MB max size per file
• Sort and merge the documents by category in chronological order 
• e.g. multiple employers, diplomas, payslips, etc.
• Use filename convention which should be consistent to all the documents 
• e.g. DOE, John - EmploymentCertificate.pdf
• Provide all the documents you think are necessary at once during visa application submission
• max 60 files to upload per applicant

Dont's

• Do not over-provide documents. Remember: less talk, less mistakes

Checklist of documents provided:

• Health assessment result
• provided for directly by the clinic/hospital
• I, including my family in the application, have subjected to health examination prior visa application since visa fees are non-refundable. For a family of five, visa fee is a hefty amount that is why I made sure our health are cleared.
• You can generate the referral letter from ImmiAccount thru application of health declarations. Once submitted, referral letter with HAP ID is generated for you to show to the clinic/hospital.
• After your health checks, you can view the status within 24-72 hours from ImmiAccount. If the status says "Health clearance provided.." then congratulations, you can now proceed!
• Police clearance certificate
• Skills assessment result
• I took ACS assessment for ANZSCO 261313
• English language test result
• I took PTE-A and requested for them to send a copy of the result to DIBP (required)
• Diplomas
• Transcripts
• Employment certificates
• Other proofs of employment: payslips for the current year, income tax returns for the previous years, social security contributions documentations
• Birth certificate
• Marriage certificate
• Resume/CV
• Passport identity page (old and new)
• Evidence of all identity cards/documents mentioned in the visa application form
• Evidence of life insurance
• Immunisation record for the kids
• Forms 80, 1221, 1193, 1229

Apart from the higher being, I am also grateful to have gained insights from nice and helpful people of ExpatForum - please do not abuse these wonderful people, learn to back read!

If you find these information useful, drop me a note!