The Ministry of Education and Sports, through its Foreign Study Permission Branch, has issued an urgent notice clarifying the procedure for obtaining a No Objection Certificate (NOC). The ministry said the NOC application process has been shifted to an online and digital system, and applicants generally do not need to visit the ministry merely to submit an application.

The ministry said the method of receiving the final NOC can vary depending on verification. Students whose details, including date of birth (DOB), are successfully verified through the Central Information Management System (CIMS) may be able to obtain the NOC without physical attendance. Where additional verification is required, the applicant may be instructed through the NOC portal to appear in person. The ministry stressed that applicants should follow the information shown in their own NOC portal rather than relying on unofficial instructions.

The notice was issued after complaints that some educational consultancy firms were telling students that physical presence at consultancy offices or the ministry was compulsory, creating confusion and unnecessary inconvenience. The ministry has instructed consultancies to provide accurate information, avoid pressuring students into unnecessary visits, and refrain from misleading applicants. It warned that institutions found spreading false information or attempting to gain improper benefits could face strict regulatory action.

The ministry has advised students to obtain NOC-related information only through its official NOC website, user manual and designated ministry contact channels, including the official NOC email address.