We do not issue police clearance certificates, and we do not apply for them. Passport Seva (PSK, POPSK or Regional Passport Office) or the police issue the PCC to you. Everything on this page is about what happens after that.
The difference in one table
Both routes prove the same thing: that an Indian official really signed your PCC. They differ in who gives the final confirmation and how many stamps it takes.
| Apostille | Embassy attestation | |
|---|---|---|
| Used for | Countries in the Hague Apostille Convention | Countries outside it, or whose offices do not accept an Indian apostille |
| Final stamp in India | MEA apostille | The destination embassy, after MEA attestation |
| Step abroad | None | For the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait, that country's foreign ministry |
| Can be checked online | Yes. The new MEA apostille carries a QR code. | Depends on the embassy |
| Our price | ₹1,000 (₹1,500 with Notary + SDM) | On quote |
Neither one is "stronger". An apostille sent to Dubai gets rejected just as surely as a UAE embassy stamp sent to Lisbon. The only right choice is the one your destination uses.
Your PCC type changes the first step
Before either route, look at who issued your certificate. A passport office PCC usually goes straight to the MEA. A police-issued PCC first needs authentication in the state that issued it, by Notary + SDM where accepted or by the state's authentication department (usually the Home Department).
- Passport office PCC: ₹1,000
- Police PCC via Notary + SDM: ₹1,500
- Italy, Spain, Portugal: state department, on quote
- UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, China, Thailand
- Always priced on quote
- Foreign ministry step abroad for some Gulf countries
The details of each first step are on passport office PCC and police station PCC.
Destinations by route
These are the routes we follow from our own processing practice. A specific employer or university can still ask for something extra, so we read your checklist before starting.
| Route | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| MEA apostille | Croatia, Germany, South Korea, the Philippines, Romania, Czech Republic, Greece, Russia | Several also ask for a translation |
| Apostille, state department first | Italy, Spain, Portugal | No Notary + SDM route for a PCC; translation required |
| QR e-apostille only | Saudi Arabia | Indians have been exempt from a PCC for Saudi visas since November 2022; some employers still ask |
| Apostille + translation | Bahrain, Vietnam | Bahrain embassy attestation only in rare cases |
| Embassy attestation | UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman | Foreign ministry step done in the destination country |
| Embassy legalisation | China, Thailand | Indian apostilles are not valid in China |
| Neither | Canada, Australia, New Zealand, UK, USA | Submit the PCC as issued |
Countries that need neither
This is where people lose money most often. Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the UK and the USA all ask for an Indian PCC for many visas, but none of them asks for an apostille or embassy stamp on it. You upload or submit the certificate exactly as it was issued. Canada's immigration department does not mention apostille in its India instructions. New Zealand goes further and accepts only a Regional Passport Office PCC from Indians living in India, again with no apostille.
If someone offers to apostille a PCC for one of these countries, ask them which rule they are following. We will not sell you that stamp. The exception is a private employer or licensing body that asks for it in writing. If you have such a letter, send it to us and we will read it.
Questions about apostille vs attestation
Can one PCC carry both an apostille and an embassy attestation?
It is unusual and rarely useful. Each destination uses one route. If you are applying to two countries on different routes, it is usually cleaner to get a second PCC.
Is attestation the same as legalisation?
For a PCC, yes in practice. Both mean the MEA attests the certificate and the destination embassy then adds its own stamp. China and Thailand tend to call it legalisation, while Gulf countries call it attestation.
Oman is in the Hague Convention. Why is it on the embassy list?
Because in our processing experience, PCCs for Oman are attested through the embassy. Your sponsor's document list decides. Send it to us before you start.
Why does attestation cost more than an apostille?
It has more stages. The MEA attests the PCC and then the embassy adds its own stamp, with its own charges and timings. That is why we quote it per country.
How can someone abroad check that my apostille is genuine?
The current MEA apostille carries a QR code that links to the MEA's verification record. Saudi Arabia accepts only this QR version.
Does either stamp make my PCC valid for longer?
No. The apostille or attestation confirms the signature only. How recent the PCC must be is set by the country that receives it.