What document you actually need
A Police Clearance Certificate — issued as the Police Character Certificate by NADRA (National Database and Registration Authority) — is required for most Ukrainian immigration routes: work permits, TRP applications, and several study programmes. Ukrainian authorities expect the NADRA-issued certificate. A provincial or local police-station certificate is not a substitute.
How to obtain it from NADRA
Apply through the NADRA Pak-Identity portal or at a NADRA Registration Centre. You will need your original CNIC, your passport, and passport-size photographs. Standard processing typically runs 7–14 working days; urgent processing is available at a higher fee. Overseas Pakistanis can initiate the process through a Pakistani diplomatic mission, but the certificate still issues from NADRA.
Indicative fees
| NADRA PCC (standard) | ~PKR 1,500 |
|---|---|
| NADRA PCC (urgent) | ~PKR 2,500–3,500 |
| MoFA Islamabad apostille | ~PKR 200–500 |
| Sworn Ukrainian translation | ~USD 10–20 per page (in Ukraine) |
Government fees are indicative and change — verify the current rate on the NADRA portal. These are official fees only, not agent or service charges.
The apostille and translation chain
The certificate is not usable in Ukraine until it is apostilled at MoFA Islamabad (Pakistan joined the Hague Apostille Convention in March 2021). Apostille first, then a sworn Ukrainian translation — translating an unapostilled certificate produces an unusable result. See apostille & legalisation for the full sequence.
Validity window
Ukrainian immigration authorities typically require a certificate issued within the last 3–6 months. Apply close to your submission date — a certificate that expires mid-process forces a re-issue and delays the whole file.
Common mistakes
- Getting a provincial / thana certificate instead of the NADRA PCC.
- Not apostilling the certificate before submission.
- Translating before apostille — the order is fixed.
- Letting the certificate age out of the validity window.
- Paying an agent a large markup for a routine government document.