SKCK

HOW TO GET POLICE CLEARANCE IN INDONESIA (SKCK)

Once or twice in someone’s life, they need to obtain a police clearance. It could be for various reasons: prerequisites of new job opportunities, registering for elections or public roles, continuing their study, enlisting in the army or police force, obtaining permanent residency, or the naturalization process.

In Indonesia, the police clearance is known as “Surat Keterangan Catatan Kepolisian” or “SKCK”.

You are on the correct page if you are, among others, foreign nationals who are in the process of:

naturalization in Indonesia or another country;
obtaining permanent residence in another country, or
adopting children.

In this article, we are going to discuss about:

What is an Indonesian Police Clearance Certificate (SKCK)?

Officially, the Indonesian Police Clearance Certificate or “SKCK” is an official certificate issued by the Indonesian national police to a citizen/applicant to fulfill his or her request or a need due to the provisions that require it. This document will be based on the results of biodata research and existing police records about the relevant person.

SKCK will also serve as an attestation to the existence (or nonexistence) of someone’s criminal record in Indonesia.

It applies both to Indonesian citizens as well as foreigners.

Why does someone need an Indonesian Police Clearance Certificate (SKCK)?

As we have briefly mentioned above, SKCK serves as an attestation to someone’s criminal record in Indonesia.

There are various reasons why someone would need to prove their clean criminal record in Indonesia, and it can also be different between Indonesian citizen and a foreigner.

For Indonesians, we normally require the police clearance for the following purposes:

For employment related purposes, such as: applying for a job in a certain company or applying for a position as a civil servant;
For local administrative and governance-related purposes, such as: candidacy for village head or for public office, or requirements for firearm ownership permits outside of TNI and Polri membership;
For international travel and migration purposes, such as: to obtain a passport and/or visa, working abroad, or obtaining permanent residency in another country.
For academic reasons, such as to continue education at the university;
For specialized professions and public roles, such as to become: a notary, a lawyer or a judge.

Meanwhile, foreigners might be required to obtain Indonesian police clearance if they are in the following situations:

Applying for permanent residency in another country;
In the process of naturalization, whether in Indonesia or another country; or
Adopting a child.

Who can obtain an Indonesian Police Clearance Certificate (SKCK)?

The general rule is that the Indonesian Police Clearance Certificate (SKCK) can be obtained by all Indonesian citizens.

Foreigners residing (or have resided) in Indonesia can also obtain the Indonesian police clearance, provided they possess either a temporary stay permit (KITAS) or a permanent stay permit (KITAP). Please note that foreigners in Indonesia on a short-term basis under the Visit Visa or Visa on Arrival, as well as those staying under visa exemption, are not eligible to obtain this certificate.

How long is the validity of an Indonesian Police Clearance Certificate (SKCK)?

Indonesian police clearance is legally valid for 6 (six) months.

It can be expired before 6 (six) months if during this period the applicant commits a criminal action or if the police found a criminal action which is suspected committed by the applicant.

What are the requirements to obtain the Indonesian Police Clearance Certificate (SKCK)?

To obtain the Indonesian Police Clearance Certificate (SKCK) foreigners need to provide the following documents:

SKCK registration form.
Copy of Passport.
Original sponsorship application letter from the company or institution that employs, uses, or is (was) responsible for the foreign national, or from the spouse (if the foreigner stays in Indonesia for family reasons).
Copy of Temporary Stay Permit Card (KITAS) or Permanent Stay Permit Card (KITAP).
Copy of the Permit to Employ Foreign Workers (IMTA) from the Ministry of Labor (if the foreigners were working in Indonesia) or copy of marriage certificate (for foreigners who are married to Indonesian citizens).
Copy of the Police Report Card (STM).
4x6 colored passport-sized photos with a yellow background.
Fingerprint documents.

What if you do not have sufficient documents to apply for the Police Clearance in Indonesia?

In the process of applying for the Police Clearance in Indonesia, some individuals may face challenges in procuring certain essential documents.

A common obstacle is in acquiring a sponsorship letter from a previous employer, especially if the company has ceased operations, the employment concluded on unfavorable terms, or the company is hesitant to provide such documentation due to potential risks.

However, there are ways to navigate these challenges. At Tampubolon Legal Solutions, we could assist you in finding alternative solutions tailored to your situation, such as securing sponsorship from a trustworthy third party.

How to apply for the Indonesian Police Clearance Certificate (SKCK)?

It is possible for Indonesian citizens to apply for Indonesian police clearance via an application system supported by the Indonesian National Police. Once the online application is submitted, based on the specific purpose of the SKCK, applicants are required to physically visit the respective precinct, regional police office, or the central police headquarters to provide their fingerprints for documentation.

For foreigners, the procedure is slightly different, especially since their desired SKCK is typically issued by the national police headquarters. Generally, the process will be:

Preparing all necessary documents.
Visit the Indonesian National Police Headquarters in person to submit the documents as mentioned earlier and have fingerprints taken.
After submission, the Indonesian National Police Headquarters will review and process the provided materials, subsequently issuing the Police Clearance Certificate. Please note that the SKCK will be issued in two languages, i.e. in Bahasa Indonesia and in English.

It's important to note that foreigners who have previously lived in Indonesia but no longer reside here can still seek assistance in applying for the SKCK. At Tampubolon Legal Solutions, we offer services to facilitate the application of an Indonesian police clearance certificate.

How can Tampubolon Legal Solutions help you?

At Tampubolon Legal Solutions, our team of Indonesian lawyers provides a full range of immigration services. Part of our activity is dedicated to simplifying the arduous task for foreign nationals in obtaining official documents like the Police Clearance Certificate or SKCK.

Our experienced professionals will be with you throughout the entire process, helping you navigate through the often-challenging Indonesian bureaucracy.

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