Updated · NextMigrate Team
How to Get a Nigeria Police Certificate From Abroad (2026)
Your visa file is almost complete. Then one line on the checklist stops you: police certificate, Nigeria. You live in Toronto, London, Doha or Port of Spain. The form wants your fingerprints. A friend says you must fly home. Someone on WhatsApp offers to get it for you, for a big fee in naira. You do not know who to trust, and your deadline is getting closer.
The short answer: you can apply from abroad, online, on the Nigeria Police Force's POSSAP portal. Choose "Diaspora", pay the diaspora fee of $53.76 in US dollars, download the diaspora biometric (fingerprint) form, and ask a police officer where you live to take your fingerprints on it. Then upload the form with your passport bio page and proof of your address abroad (POSSAP FAQ, 2026). You do not need to fly home, and you do not need an agent.
The rest of this guide answers the exact questions people search: which address to write on the fingerprint form, how to do the thumb prints, how to pay from Canada, and where to get fingerprints in the UK, Australia, Canada or Trinidad.
This is general information. Fees and steps change, so check the POSSAP portal before you pay.
What has changed: the old route vs POSSAP
Much of what you read online describes the old process. GOV.UK's Nigeria entry still says all applications in Nigeria must be made in person at the Central Criminal Registry in Lagos, for ₦1,500. That page was last updated on 21 October 2015 (GOV.UK, 2015).
Today the Nigeria Police Force runs the Police Character Certificate through POSSAP, its online portal for police services. When you start a request, the portal asks you to pick "In Country" or "Diaspora" (POSSAP, 2026).
| Old route (paper) | POSSAP diaspora route (now) | |
|---|---|---|
| Where you apply | In person, or by mail to the Central Criminal Registry, Alagbon Close, Ikoyi, Lagos | Online at possap.gov.ng |
| Fingerprints | Certified set from local police, posted to Lagos | Diaspora biometric form, filled abroad and uploaded |
| Payment | Money order or cash in naira | $53.76, paid in US dollars online |
| Delivery | Courier to you | Certificate with a QR code you can check online |
The paper route still exists. IRCC lists it for Canadian applicants: you mail certified fingerprints, a copy of your passport photo page, an international money order payable to the Nigerian Police Force, C.I.D., and a prepaid return courier envelope (IRCC, 2020). For most people abroad, POSSAP is now faster and simpler.
How to get a Nigerian police clearance from abroad: 6 steps
- Create a POSSAP account. Go to possap.gov.ng and sign up as an individual. Nigerians use their NIN. Foreign nationals use "Expatriate ID", for example a passport with a residence permit, work permit or visa (POSSAP, 2026). You also take a selfie for face checks. POSSAP says to use a laptop or desktop, in good light (POSSAP FAQ, 2026).
- Choose Police Character Certificate, then "Diaspora". Fill in your details, reason for inquiry (for example Residency or Employment), destination country and country of residence.
- Download the diaspora biometric form. The portal offers a male and a female version. It is the CRO 21A fingerprint card. Print both pages.
- Get your fingerprints taken by a police officer where you live. See the country table below. The officer fills in the bottom of the form.
- Upload three documents. Your passport bio data page, your proof of residence abroad, and the filled biometric form (scan it clearly).
- Pay $53.76 in US dollars and submit. Then track the request in your account. If it is still pending after 2 weeks, POSSAP tells you to contact support on 02018884040 or info@possap.gov.ng (POSSAP FAQ, 2026).
Diaspora requests go to the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Central Criminal Registry, Alagbon Close, Ikoyi. IRCC and the Nigeria High Commission in Canberra name the same office for paper applications. The office is the same. Only the way you apply has changed.
How much does it cost?
| Cost | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| POSSAP diaspora fee | $53.76, paid in US dollars only. Pay the exact amount the portal shows | POSSAP FAQ, 2026 |
| Biometric capture at a Nigerian police facility | Free | POSSAP FAQ, 2026 |
| Fingerprints taken abroad | Set by your local police or fingerprint provider | Ask them before you book |
| Nigeria High Commission London, final authentication (paper route) | £60 postal order | Nigeria High Commission London, 2023 |
| Agent or "proxy" fee | Not an official fee | Avoid, see below |
If someone asks you for more than the amount POSSAP shows as the "official fee", they are adding their own charge. Biometric capture inside Nigeria is free, so nobody can charge you for "fingerprint processing" at a Nigerian police office.
How to make a successful payment from Canada (or anywhere abroad)
Payment is where many diaspora applications get stuck. Follow these rules from the POSSAP FAQ (POSSAP FAQ, 2026):
- Pay in US dollars, not naira. Diaspora payments must be in dollars, or your host country's currency, for the exact amount shown. If you paid in naira by mistake, email info@possap.gov.ng for a refund and pay again in dollars.
- Use a Visa or Mastercard that allows international online payments. POSSAP accepts MasterCard, Visa and Verve (POSSAP, 2026). Your bank may block a foreign online payment. If the payment fails, approve it in your banking app or call your bank, then try again.
- Pay on the right invoice. Think of the invoice like a train ticket for one named seat. You cannot move it to another train. POSSAP says payments cannot be transferred between invoices. If you paid on the wrong invoice, you can use the service on that invoice or pay again on the correct one.
- Keep the receipt. If you were debited but the invoice still shows unpaid, send the receipt to support. If POSSAP did not receive it, they will ask you to raise a complaint with your bank.
- Paid twice on the same invoice? Email info@possap.gov.ng with both receipts, the payment date, the invoice number, the account paid into, your bank account name and number, and your email and phone number to request a refund.
The Nigerian fingerprint form: address, thumb prints and who signs
The diaspora biometric form is short. Page 1 asks for your name, address, tribe, place of birth, year of birth, reason for inquiry, your signature and a full-face photo. Page 2 is the fingerprint card.
What address should I put on the Nigerian fingerprint form if I live abroad?
Write your current home address abroad, for example your address in Canada. Use the same address that appears on the proof of residence you upload. The diaspora route exists for people who live outside Nigeria, and POSSAP asks you to prove it with a document such as a residence document, a utility bill (water or electricity), a bank statement, a lease agreement, a driver's licence or a work permit (POSSAP FAQ, 2026).
The form only says "Address". It does not say "Nigerian address". If the officer reviewing your file sees a Lagos address on the form and a Calgary lease in the upload, that mismatch can cause a query. Your Nigerian address history goes in the online application, not on the card.
How to do the thumb prints on the police character certificate form
Do not do the prints yourself at home. A police officer should take them. Think of it like an exam script: the invigilator, not the student, signs it. The bottom of page 2 has boxes for "Impressions taken by", "Rank", "Date" and "Station". The card says these particulars are entered by the official taking the prints, so a form without them is not complete.
The card itself says how to take the prints:
- One print per box, numbered 1 to 10. Right hand first: 1 right thumb, 2 right forefinger, 3 middle, 4 ring, 5 little finger. Then the left hand: 6 left thumb to 10 left little finger.
- Plain prints below. The four fingers of each hand pressed down together, plus each thumb on its own.
- Line up the joint. The crease of the last finger joint should sit just above the black line marked "(Fold)".
- Bad print? A second print may be taken in the empty space above it.
- Missing or injured finger? The officer notes it under remarks instead of leaving a blank.
The card also says the form must be completed in full before the official starts taking prints. So fill in page 1 and attach your photo before your appointment.
Where to get fingerprints for the Nigeria police certificate
| Where you live | Where to get prints | What the official sources say |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | Your local police service, or the Nigerian High Commission in Ottawa | IRCC says fingerprints must be "taken and certified by a recognized police authority or the Nigerian embassy or consulate" (IRCC, 2020) |
| United Kingdom | Metropolitan Police or a fingerprint bureau near your postcode | The Nigeria High Commission in London names both (Nigeria High Commission London, 2023) |
| Australia | Any local police office | The Nigeria High Commission in Canberra asks for "a complete and certified set of finger prints from any local Police office" and says it does not process certificates itself (Nigeria High Commission Canberra, 2025) |
| Trinidad and Tobago | A Trinidad and Tobago Police Service station in Port of Spain | No official Nigerian guidance for Trinidad was found. Bring the printed CRO 21A form, ask for ink prints with the officer's rank, station and stamp. If the station refuses, ask the Nigeria High Commission in Port of Spain |
| Gulf, Europe, USA | Local police first, then the Nigerian embassy | Ask in writing which format they accept before you book |
Private fingerprint companies are common in Canada and the UK. IRCC's wording names police or a Nigerian mission. If you use a private company, check first that your destination will accept it.
What is the fastest route: online, proxy or a trip home?
| Route | Best for | Main risk |
|---|---|---|
| POSSAP diaspora, online | Almost everyone abroad | Card payment fails, or prints are unclear |
| Paper route by mail to Alagbon | People whose destination asks for it, or who cannot use POSSAP | Courier time both ways, money order |
| Trip home, apply "In Country" | People already flying to Nigeria | Your visa clock if you leave your current country |
| Relative or proxy in Nigeria | Follow-up visits to Alagbon if a request is stuck | A proxy cannot give your fingerprints for you |
The fastest legal route is the online one, done right the first time. A proxy can chase a stuck file in Lagos. A proxy cannot replace your fingerprints, your face check or your payment. Anyone offering a certificate "without your fingerprints" is offering a fake or an irregular document. Using it in a visa application is misrepresentation. In Canada, misrepresentation can make you inadmissible for 5 years (IRPA s. 40, 2026).
Which countries ask for it, and how recent must it be?
No single expiry date applies to your certificate everywhere. Think of it like a milk carton: the shop where you hand it in, not the farm, decides if it is still fresh. The Nigeria High Commission in Canberra says the certificate is valid for 6 months from issue (Nigeria High Commission Canberra, 2025). But your destination's rule is the one that decides your visa.
| Destination | Who needs a Nigerian certificate | How recent it must be |
|---|---|---|
| Canada, Express Entry (including CEC) | You and family members aged 18+, for every country where you stayed 6 months in a row or longer in the last 10 years | Current country: issued no more than 6 months before you submit. A country you left: issued after your last 6-month stay there (IRCC, 2026) |
| UK, Skilled Worker in health, education and social care roles | Every country where you were present 12 months or more in the last 10 years, aged 18+ | Latest country of residence: issued no earlier than 6 months before you apply (Home Office, 2025) |
| Australia, skilled visas | You and family members over 16, for every country where you lived 12 months in the past 10 years since turning 16 (Home Affairs, 2026) | Valid for 12 months from the date of issue for immigration purposes (Home Affairs, 2026) |
Nigeria police certificate for CEC and Express Entry
If you are in Canada on the Canadian Experience Class, Nigeria is usually a country you left. So your Nigerian certificate only needs to be issued after your last stay of 6 months in a row in Nigeria. You can order it early, even before your invitation. You have 60 days to submit your permanent residence application. If the certificate is late, IRCC accepts a letter of explanation with proof of your "best effort", such as receipts or tracking numbers (IRCC, 2026). Your POSSAP payment receipt and request number are that proof. See our Express Entry guide for the full process.
How to apply from the UK
You can use POSSAP like everyone else. The Nigeria High Commission in London also publishes a paper route. You get introduction letters from the High Commission, have your prints taken by the Metropolitan Police or a fingerprint bureau, and send them to the Nigeria Police in Ikoyi. The certificate is then authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja, with a final step at the High Commission for a £60 postal order (Nigeria High Commission London, 2023). Check with your employer or UKVI which version they want. Our UK Skilled Worker visa guide covers the rest of the file.
How to apply from Australia
The Nigeria High Commission in Canberra points you to POSSAP. It also lists a paper route: certified prints from local police, a copy of the first 3 pages of your passport, and your Nigerian addresses and dates, sent in person or through a representative to the Deputy Inspector-General, Criminal Investigation Department, Alagbon Close, Ikoyi, Lagos (Nigeria High Commission Canberra, 2025). Australia accepts it for 12 months, so you can order early with less risk.
Not Nigerian? If you lived in Nigeria for work
Many Indian, Pakistani, Filipino and Ugandan workers spent years in Lagos, Abuja or Port Harcourt. You may need a Nigerian certificate too. Canada asks for one if you stayed 6 months in a row or longer in the last 10 years. Australia asks if you lived there 12 months in the last 10 years. The UK asks for health, education and social care Skilled Worker roles if you were there 12 months or more in the last 10 years.
- Sign up with "Expatriate ID". POSSAP lets non-Nigerians register with a passport plus a residence permit, work permit or visa (POSSAP, 2026). Use the passport and permit you held in Nigeria if you still have copies.
- Keep your old Nigerian permit or CERPAC copy. It proves your dates of stay. For the paper route, the Nigeria High Commission in Canberra asks non-citizens for a copy of the passport page with their Nigerian visa (Nigeria High Commission Canberra, 2025).
- Ask POSSAP first if sign-up fails. Email info@possap.gov.ng before you pay anyone.
- Get your home country certificate too. An Indian applicant also needs an Indian PCC, a Pakistani applicant a Pakistani one, and so on. Our guide to police certificates for every country you have lived in maps them all.
Before you start: 4 checks that prevent rejections
- Your name matches everywhere. POSSAP pulls your name from NIMC (your NIN). If the order is wrong, fix your NIN record first (POSSAP FAQ, 2026). A certificate in a different name order from your passport will cause questions later.
- Your photo is recent. A "Face does not match" error is often caused by an old passport photo, says POSSAP. Contact support to replace it.
- Your proof of residence is in your name and shows your address abroad.
- Your destination accepts the format. Some destinations or employers want the certificate authenticated by Nigeria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Ask before you pay for it. Our guide to apostille or certified translation explains the difference.
Before you spend weeks on documents, check that the visa route itself fits you. The free eligibility check takes about 2 minutes. You can also compare visa processing times to plan when to order your certificate.
Not sure which country you’d qualify for?
6 quick questions about your age, skills and English. Free, 2 minutes, results on screen. No sign-up.
Free eligibility check →Agents and proxies: what to refuse
This certificate attracts fixers because it looks hard from abroad. With POSSAP, it is not. Refuse:
- Payment to a personal bank account or mobile wallet as an "official fee". The official fee is paid in dollars on POSSAP.
- Any offer of a certificate without your fingerprints, or "faster through a contact".
- Packages that bundle the certificate with a guaranteed visa or job.
If someone is giving you immigration advice, not just running errands, check their licence first. Our guide on how to check a migration agent is licensed shows you how. If you have already paid a fixer, read an agent took my money: what to do.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a Nigerian police clearance from abroad?
Apply online on POSSAP and choose "Diaspora". Pay $53.76 in US dollars, have local police take your fingerprints on the diaspora biometric form, and upload it with your passport bio page and proof of residence (POSSAP FAQ, 2026). You do not need to travel to Nigeria.
How much does a Nigeria police character certificate cost for the diaspora?
The POSSAP diaspora fee is $53.76, paid in US dollars (POSSAP FAQ, 2026). Your local police or fingerprint provider may charge for taking prints. Any agent fee is extra and not official.
What address should I put on the Nigerian fingerprint form if I live in Canada?
Your current home address in Canada. Use the same address shown on the proof of residence you upload, such as a lease or utility bill. Your past Nigerian addresses go in the online application.
How do I make a successful payment for the Nigeria police certificate from Canada?
Pay the exact amount in US dollars with a Visa or Mastercard that allows international online payments. Approve the payment with your bank if it is blocked. Do not pay in naira, and do not pay on a different invoice, because payments cannot be moved between invoices (POSSAP FAQ, 2026).
Where can I get fingerprints for the Nigeria police certificate in Port of Spain, Trinidad?
Take the printed diaspora biometric form to a Trinidad and Tobago Police Service station and ask for ink fingerprints, with the officer's name, rank, station and date filled in. If they cannot help, contact the Nigeria High Commission in Port of Spain.
Do I need a Nigeria police certificate for CEC?
Yes, if you stayed in Nigeria for 6 months in a row or longer in the last 10 years after turning 18. Because you no longer live in Nigeria, it must be issued after your last 6-month stay there (IRCC, 2026).
How long is a Nigerian police certificate valid?
The Nigeria High Commission in Canberra says 6 months from issue (Nigeria High Commission Canberra, 2025). Your destination's rule matters more. Australia accepts police certificates for 12 months from issue. Canada and the UK have their own recency rules, shown in the table above.
What to do next
Create your POSSAP account early, even if you are not ready to pay. If your NIN record needs fixing, it is better to find out before your 60-day window starts. Then book your fingerprint appointment, and order the certificate so it lands inside your destination's recency window. For the full document list this certificate belongs to, see documents needed to migrate abroad. Still choosing a destination? Start with the best countries for Nigerians to migrate to.
