A Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) — sometimes called a criminal background clearance — is filed with an application for an immigration permit (permanent residence) (Law of Ukraine “On Immigration” No. 2491-III, Art. 9). The work permit list (Law No. 5067-VI, Art. 42-2) and the TRP list (Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 322, paras. 32–33) contain no PCC; for a Type D visa, the consular officer may request additional documents (Visa Rules, Resolution No. 118, para. 10). When a PCC is requested, for Bangladeshi nationals this means obtaining the certificate from Bangladesh's Criminal Investigation Department (CID), then apostilling it and having it translated into Ukrainian.
What the Bangladesh PCC Is
The Bangladesh Police Clearance Certificate is an official government document issued by Bangladesh Police through the office of the district Superintendent of Police or, in a metropolitan area, the Police Commissioner. It certifies that the named individual has no criminal record in the Bangladesh Police database as of the date of issue.
The certificate is printed on security paper, bears an official seal and signature, and includes the applicant's name, passport number, and date of birth. It is the only document Ukraine accepts as proof of clean criminal record from Bangladesh — private background check services, embassy letters, or other documents are not acceptable substitutes.
How to Apply
A Bangladesh Police Clearance Certificate is applied for online at pcc.police.gov.bd. Police verification takes place at the present address you give, and the district or metropolitan police for that address issue the certificate.
| Issuing authority | Bangladesh Police — office of the district Superintendent of Police or the Metropolitan Police Commissioner |
|---|---|
| Application | Online at pcc.police.gov.bd |
| Government fee | Tk 1,500 by treasury challan (code 1-7301-0001-2681) at Sonali Bank or Bangladesh Bank, or by card online plus service charge (pcc.police.gov.bd) |
| Status check | SMS “PCC S <application reference number>” to 26969 |
| Collection | Bring a copy of your passport or of the application |
| Accepted issue date | Set by the body that asks for the PCC — check before applying |
What Ukraine Requires: Apostille and Translation
A raw Bangladesh PCC is not directly usable in Ukraine. Two additional steps are mandatory:
Apostille Authentication
Bangladesh is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention. The PCC must be apostilled by the Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), Consular Wing, Dhaka. The apostille certifies the authenticity of the police official's signature and seal. Without apostille, Ukrainian immigration authorities will not accept the document.
Check the current MFA apostille fee and processing time on the MFA apostille portal (e-Apostille through MyGov).
Certified Ukrainian Translation
After apostille, the PCC must be translated into Ukrainian by a certified translator. Ukraine accepts translations certified either by a Ukrainian notary or by a licensed translation bureau operating in Ukraine. The translation must cover the full text of the PCC including the apostille attachment.
Translation is arranged on the Ukrainian side — your lawyer or service provider in Ukraine handles this step.
Step-by-Step Checklist
- Apply online at pcc.police.gov.bd with details exactly as in your passport
- Pay the Tk 1,500 fee by treasury challan or by card online; retain the payment receipt
- Collect the PCC with a copy of your passport or of the application
- Check the PCC carefully: name spelling, passport number, date of birth must match passport exactly
- Apply to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh for the apostille
- Collect apostilled PCC; verify apostille number and issuing authority details
- Send apostilled PCC to your Ukrainian lawyer or service provider for certified translation
- Confirm the PCC issue date against the date the requesting body accepts
Common Errors That Cause Rejection
- PCC too old. A PCC obtained early in a long process can be older than the requesting body accepts. Check the accepted issue date first and time the online application carefully.
- Wrong apostille authority. The apostille must come from the Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs — not from a district court, notary, or any other authority. Documents apostilled by the wrong authority are rejected without exception.
- Name mismatch. If your name appears differently on the PCC versus your passport (e.g. full name vs. abbreviated name), Ukraine may reject the document. Ensure the application details match your passport exactly before submitting.
- Missing translation of apostille attachment. The translation must include the apostille page itself, not just the main certificate text. Many translation errors arise from translating only the certificate body.
- Using a digital or unofficial copy. Ukraine requires original documents or certified true copies. A scanned PDF of the PCC is not acceptable for submission to ДМСУ.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply for the PCC from outside Bangladesh?
The application is online at pcc.police.gov.bd. If you are abroad, check on the portal and with the Bangladesh Embassy or High Commission in your country of residence how verification and delivery work for applicants outside Bangladesh.
Does the PCC need to show zero criminal record, or are minor issues acceptable?
For an immigration permit, a conviction to imprisonment for more than one year with an unexpunged record is a refusal ground (Law No. 2491-III, Art. 10). If you have any record — even a historical one — you should disclose this to a Ukrainian immigration lawyer before applying. Concealing a criminal record that is discovered later is false information in the application, itself a refusal ground.
I have lived in multiple countries. Do I need PCCs from all of them?
For an immigration permit, the certificate comes from your country of citizenship and/or your country of permanent residence (Law No. 2491-III, Art. 9). For a visa, follow the checklist the consulate gives you. Your immigration lawyer will advise based on your residence history.
What happens if the PCC gets too old during my Ukraine application process?
If the PCC becomes older than the requesting body accepts before you file, you will need a new one. Plan the PCC application timing so the certificate is fresh when you file.
Concerned about your PCC or document authentication chain? Our team reviews all documents before submission to Ukrainian authorities — catching errors before they cost you time and money.