Indonesian SKCK (Police Clearance Certificate): Application and Photo
An Indonesian police clearance certificate, known as an SKCK, is an official document from the Indonesian National Police stating whether someone has a police record. You may need it when applying for a job, continuing your education, or preparing a visa or residence application. Both Indonesian citizens and foreign nationals are covered by the SKCK framework, although their application requirements differ.
This guide explains how to get a police clearance certificate in Indonesia, including online registration, documents, fees and validity. It also covers applications in Bali and preparing the photograph that accompanies your request.
Table of contents
- Indonesia's police clearance certificate (SKCK) explained
- Documents required for an Indonesian police clearance certificate application
- How to get a police clearance certificate in Indonesia: SKCK application process
- SKCK application fees, processing time and validity
- Police clearance certificate in Bali: where and how to apply
- SKCK photo requirements for a police clearance certificate
- Get your SKCK photo online with Visafoto!
- Do you still need printed SKCK photos?
- What to do if your SKCK photo will not upload
- Indonesian police clearance certificate FAQ
Indonesia's police clearance certificate (SKCK) explained
SKCK stands for Surat Keterangan Catatan Kepolisian. It is Indonesia's police record certificate, also commonly described in English as a police clearance certificate or certificate of good conduct. It reports the presence or absence of police records, rather than guaranteeing that every applicant has a clear criminal history.
Typical reasons for requesting an SKCK include recruitment, further education, professional appointments, visa applications, naturalisation and residence applications. Ask the organisation requesting it to specify the purpose and, for overseas use, the destination country before you apply.
Under Perpol No. 1 of 2026, an SKCK is issued for one purpose and one destination country and is prepared in Indonesian and English. For overseas applications, also check the receiving authority's rules on how recently the certificate must have been issued and whether further authentication is needed.
Documents required for an Indonesian police clearance certificate application
Prepare your identity information, supporting records and a separate portrait before starting. The application displays the requirements for your category; do not treat an older paper checklist as the exact upload list for every online applicant.
Indonesian citizens: WNI requirements
Have the following ready for the fields or checks that request them:
- Your KTP identity card and 16-digit NIK identity number.
- Your Kartu Keluarga (KK), or family card.
- Your birth record or educational documents, as requested.
- Your passport details where relevant to an overseas purpose.
- Your formal SKCK portrait.
- An active email address, telephone number and details of the certificate's intended use.
Active national health-insurance membership is generally required and checked through BPJS data. The 2026 regulation exempts Indonesian citizens who are abroad, and foreign nationals resident in Indonesia who are not working or whose employment in Indonesia is for less than six months.
Foreign nationals: WNA requirements
The official microsite provides a separate WNA registration route using a passport number, KITAS or KITAP residence-permit details, email and telephone number. Prepare those details and the WNA portrait, plus any further evidence requested. A tourist visa is not a KITAS or KITAP; visiting Indonesia alone does not establish eligibility for this resident application route.
For either category, keep these images separate:
- SKCK portrait: the individual document-style photograph for the certificate.
- Identity-verification image: a selfie or another image requested to confirm who is registering.
- Identity-document image: a clear copy of your KTP or another requested document.
Upload each image only in the field intended for it. A selfie holding an identity card is not a substitute for the formal portrait.
How to get a police clearance certificate in Indonesia: SKCK application process
Start through Polri's official digital service, select the correct applicant category and provide the certificate's intended purpose. Online registration does not automatically mean that no office visit will be necessary.
Apply for Indonesian police clearance online
The official SKCK service portal lists Polri Super App as its main channel and a microsite as an alternative. Use its links to access the service rather than an unrelated site offering to issue the certificate.
- Register and verify your identity. Select WNI or WNA where prompted, enter the requested identity and contact details, and complete the account checks.
- Start the SKCK application. Enter your personal information, address, history and purpose as requested. Specify the destination country when applicable.
- Select the issuing or collection location. Choose from the options available for your category and purpose; do not assume every police office handles every request.
- Upload the requested documents and portrait. Use readable document copies and the individual portrait, not a sheet containing several photographs. Follow each field's own file instructions.
- Review the preview and declarations. Check spelling, passport or identity numbers, purpose and photograph before confirming the information.
- Pay through the official channel provided. Save the receipt and application reference or collection confirmation.
- Follow status and collection instructions. Respond to requests for corrections and bring the confirmation and identity documents specified for collection.
A successful upload or payment does not by itself mean the certificate is ready. Check the application status before travelling to a collection office. If you have a technical problem, use the help service rather than sharing your password or verification codes with an intermediary.
Can you apply at a police counter instead?
The national framework provides for manual issuance when the digital system is officially declared unavailable. It is not an unconditional alternative to online registration. Ask the relevant office how to proceed if the service is down or you cannot complete the request.
SKCK application fees, processing time and validity
The official SKCK application fee is Rp30,000 for WNI and WNA. Photo preparation, printing and any optional third-party assistance are separate costs, not part of that police fee. Pay using the method shown in the official application.
An SKCK is valid for six months. If it expires before you use it, request a current certificate through the service. A receiving employer or immigration authority may have its own requirement for a more recently issued certificate.
Allow time for registration, verification, corrections and collection. A local office's short counter-service estimate is not a nationwide guarantee for the complete application. Keep your reference number so you can check progress without starting a duplicate request.
Police clearance certificate in Bali: where and how to apply
To apply for a police clearance certificate in Bali, register through the national SKCK service and choose an available location for your category and purpose. The official portal lists Polda Bali at Jl. WR Supratman No. 7, Denpasar. Check the location on your application confirmation before visiting.
Local procedures matter. For example, Polres Tabanan's online SKCK instructions, updated 27 August 2026, describe registering through Super App, uploading supporting documents, choosing Tabanan for printing, paying Rp30,000 and attending the counter with the registration proof, payment proof and original KTP. This is a local example, not an island-wide checklist.
Foreign residents should use the WNA category, not WNI. If you have already left Bali or do not hold KITAS or KITAP, contact the official service for the appropriate route; do not enter a different applicant category to bypass the residence-document fields.
SKCK photo requirements for a police clearance certificate
Prepare a colour portrait with a red background for Indonesian citizens (WNI) or a yellow background for foreign applicants (WNA). Use the size and technical instructions shown for your application, and check any separate requirements for printed copies.
| Photo detail | What to prepare |
|---|---|
| Background for Indonesian citizens (WNI) | Red |
| Background for foreign applicants (WNA) | Yellow, not white |
| Size specified in police service checklists | 4 cm wide × 6 cm high, equivalent to 40×60 mm |
| Face and clothing | Face clearly visible; follow the office's clothing and accessory instructions |
| Online submission | An individual digital portrait in the format and file size accepted by the application |
| Printed copies | Prepare copies only as required by your selected service's current instructions |
SKCK photo background: red for Indonesian citizens, yellow for foreigners
The national rule distinguishes citizenship: red for WNI and yellow for WNA. For foreign applicants, Article 5(4)(b) of Perpol No. 1 of 2026 requires a yellow background for the portrait supplied through the digital application. Article 14(4)(b) specifies yellow for the manual procedure too. This is a national SKCK requirement, not a Bali-only convention.
Is a white background accepted for a foreigner's SKCK photo?
White is not an accepted alternative under the published national SKCK rules. They specify yellow for foreign applicants and do not list white as a substitute. A white-background photograph prepared for a passport or visa does not meet this SKCK background requirement. Use yellow for the finished SKCK portrait.
SKCK photo size
The photo you submit for the Indonesian police clearance certificate must be 40 mm wide and 60 mm high. Our 4×6 cm photo guide explains the format in more detail.
SKCK photo clothing, face visibility and head coverings
Dress neatly and keep your face unobstructed. For example, Polres Malang's service checklist specifies collared clothing, a full view of the face and no glasses. Apply any additional instructions from the office handling your request.
If you wear a hijab, arrange it so that your full face remains visible. Do not let fabric cover your cheeks, eyes or chin. Avoid accessories that hide facial details.
For a clear source photograph, face the camera directly, hold your head upright and keep a relaxed expression. Check that your eyes are visible and the image is sharp. These simple capture tips help produce a recognisable portrait; they are not a separate set of numerical police specifications.
Get your SKCK photo online with Visafoto!
You can prepare your portrait at home with Visafoto, using a photo taken on your phone or camera. There is no need to find a red wall, buy a backdrop or visit a studio just to change the background and crop the picture.
Take your SKCK photo at home
Ask someone to photograph you, or use your camera's timer. Keep the camera at face level and include your whole head and shoulders, with some space around them for cropping. Wear the clothing required for your application before taking the picture.
Your starting background does not have to be perfect. Visafoto can replace it with red and improve uneven lighting, brightness and contrast. Start with a clear view of your face rather than spending time arranging a studio-style setup.
A source photograph can look like this:
Prepare the size, crop and red background
Upload your picture and choose the photo format that matches your SKCK instructions. For a requested 4×6 cm red-background portrait, select the corresponding size and background rather than a square passport format.
Visafoto handles resizing, cropping and background replacement, and adjusts framing and image quality while preserving your facial features. You do not need to calculate the crop manually or stretch the picture to make it fit.
Use our document-photo format list to find the appropriate option. If you need help matching an application's instructions to the available formats, our support specialists can help you choose before you order.
Result by Visafoto:
Download your digital photo and printable template
You receive an individual digital portrait and a printable layout. Use the individual image for the photo-upload field. If your police office asks for printed copies, use the layout to print several portraits on the matching paper size.
Do not upload the complete print sheet as your formal portrait. It contains multiple pictures and is intended for printing, not an individual photo field.
Get personal help and refund protection
Visafoto's support team is available 24/7. Experienced specialists consider support cases individually, whether you need help with your source photo, the selected format or the finished result.
If the authority rejects a photo purchased from Visafoto, you can ask for assistance or request a 100% refund of your photo purchase. This covers the photo service, not the SKCK application fee. Visafoto prepares your picture; you submit the certificate application through Polri.
Do you still need printed SKCK photos?
Published checklists differ. Tangerang Kota's SKCK page lists five red-background 4×6 photographs, while Malang's published checklist lists six. These are office-specific published instructions, not proof of a nationwide copy count under the newer regulation.
Before printing, confirm whether you need separate photographs, how many are requested and whether the same requirements apply to your application channel. A local page may retain an older checklist, so use the instructions attached to your current request or ask the issuing office if they conflict.
What to do if your SKCK photo will not upload
Start with the error shown by the application. Upload problems may concern the file, the preview or the service itself; submitting the same file repeatedly will not resolve every issue.
- The file is too large: export a smaller copy within the displayed limit, then check that the face remains sharp.
- The format is not accepted: convert the image to an accepted format. Changing its filename from one extension to another does not convert it.
- The preview shows several portraits: replace the print sheet with the individual digital photo.
- The face looks stretched or sideways: correct the orientation and preserve the image's proportions when resizing.
- The picture is blurred or hides facial details: choose a clearer source frame or take another photo before preparing the replacement.
If the service continues to report a technical error, use its official help channel. Save the error text and your application reference, but do not share account passwords or one-time verification codes. Follow any case-specific replacement instructions you receive.
Indonesian police clearance certificate FAQ
Is an SKCK the same as an Indonesian police clearance certificate?
Yes. SKCK is the Indonesian document commonly requested as a police clearance or police record certificate. Tell the issuing service exactly what you need it for, especially when it is intended for an overseas application.
Can foreigners apply for Indonesian police clearance online?
The official microsite has a WNA route using passport and KITAS or KITAP details. Foreign applicants use a yellow-background portrait, not the red-background photograph for WNI. Check the service's instructions for any additional evidence or special circumstances.
How long is an SKCK valid?
Six months. Check the receiving organisation's requirements as well: an immigration authority or employer may request a certificate issued more recently than that.
Can someone else collect my SKCK?
The 2026 regulation permits collection by a representative with a power of attorney, or surat kuasa. Follow the service's instructions for that authorisation and the collection documents rather than assuming another person can simply present your reference number.
What background colour is required for an SKCK photo?
Indonesian citizens use red; foreign applicants use yellow. Blue is not the specified SKCK background for either category, and white is not a permitted substitute for the yellow WNA background under the published national rules.
Is an SKCK photo 4×6 cm or 4×6 inches?
The 4×6 format in the police checklists means centimetres: 40 mm wide and 60 mm high. A 4×6-inch sheet is much larger and may be used to print several portraits.
How many printed photos do I need for an SKCK?
There is no single copy count to infer from the 2026 regulation. Published local examples include five and six photographs. Follow the current instructions for your selected service rather than treating either number as a national requirement.
Can I complete an SKCK application without visiting a police office?
Online application and physical collection are separate steps. Check the collection options and instructions attached to your request; do not assume that submitting online removes every need to attend an office.
Last updated: 27 October 2026.