First check: does your country need an apostille at all?
Many families in Punjab have relatives in Canada, the UK, Australia or the USA, and expect Europe to work the same way. It does not. Those four countries take an Indian PCC exactly as issued. No apostille, no attestation. If you are applying to any of them, you do not need us for the PCC, and you should not pay anyone for an apostille on it.
Europe is the opposite. The countries Punjab applicants most often head to ask for the PCC with an MEA apostille, and several want a translation in their own language as well.
Saanjh police PCC or passport office PCC
Punjab residents can hold either kind. The Punjab Police list a police clearance certificate among the services at their Saanjh community policing centres. The passport office PCC comes through Passport Seva from RPO Amritsar or RPO Jalandhar. Applicants who use the Ludhiana PSK fall under RPO Chandigarh.
RPO Amritsar, Jalandhar or Chandigarh
Passport office PCC
Signed by an MEA passport officer, so it goes straight to the MEA. ₹1,000.
Saanjh Kendra or district police
Punjab Police PCC
A state document needs a Punjab authority to confirm it before the MEA. In most states this is the Home Department. For Punjab, the schedule of state signing authorities that Indian missions publish lists the Department of NRI Affairs.
Spain looks for a police-issued PCC. An advisory from the Indian Embassy in Madrid, published through BLS, says Spanish authorities insist on a PCC from the Indian police, apostilled by the MEA. If Spain is your destination, a Punjab Police PCC is the safer choice. For Italy, Spain and Portugal, a police PCC goes through the state department only. Notary + SDM is not used for these three.
Translation and timing, country by country
The apostille is the same MEA stamp for all six countries. What changes is the translation and how recent the PCC must be.
| Country | Translation | Points to note |
|---|---|---|
| Portugal | Portuguese translation, also apostilled | The VFS India checklist asks for an MEA apostille on the PCC and a second one on the translation |
| Italy | Italian translation certified by the Italian consulate | We prepare the translation. The certification is the consulate's own act, and only the consulate can give it |
| Spain | Spanish translation | Spanish consulates want a PCC issued within 6 months of your application |
| Croatia | Check with your employer | The VFS work checklist asks Indian nationals for a PCC with an apostille stamp |
| Romania | Romanian translation | The work authorisation file wants the record translated and legalised |
| Germany | Ask the authority | Nursing recognition in Berlin asks for a certificate not older than 3 months |
Translation comes after the apostille, so the translator can include the apostille text. A translation made from a PCC that is not yet apostilled has to be done again.
Sending your PCC from Punjab
Our only office is at C-5, A/2, New Ashok Nagar, New Delhi 110096. We have no branch in Punjab and we do not collect from homes. Courier the original from Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar, Mohali or your village, and we return it by Blue Dart or another secure courier with tracking.
- Original PCC, flat and unlaminated
- Copy of your passport, front and back pages
- Destination country and the visa type, for example a Portugal D1 or a Croatian work permit
- Your VFS or employer checklist, and whether you need the translation from us
- Photo on WhatsAppWe read who signed the PCC and quote apostille plus translation.
- Courier to DelhiOne parcel for the whole family is fine.
- State step, if neededPunjab Police PCCs only.
- MEA apostille, then translationPlus a second apostille on the translation for Portugal.
- Return to PunjabBlue Dart, tracking on WhatsApp.
We give you a time estimate with the price, before you send anything.
Questions from Punjab applicants
My brother went to Canada without an apostille. Why does Portugal need one?
Canada, the UK, Australia and the USA accept the Indian PCC as issued. Portugal, like most of Europe, is part of the Apostille Convention and wants the MEA apostille as proof the PCC is genuine. Portugal also wants the Portuguese translation apostilled.
Can I apostille my Punjab Police PCC through another state to save time?
No. A police PCC must be authenticated by the state that issued it. The Indian Embassy in Kuwait states that an attestation from a different state is not treated as genuine, and European offices check the chain too.
Can you get the Italian consulate's certification on my translation?
No. We prepare the Italian translation of the apostilled PCC. The certification is given by the Italian consulate itself, and you or your representative present it there.
My Spain appointment is seven months after my PCC date. Is that a problem?
Yes. Spanish consulates ask for a PCC issued no more than 6 months before the application. Get a fresh PCC first, then send it to us.
Does Croatia want a Croatian translation?
The VFS work checklist we have seen asks for the PCC with an apostille stamp. Translation needs vary by employer and office, so ask your employer. If they want one, we translate into Croatian too.
Should I send my degree with the PCC?
You can, but for Italy, Spain and Portugal a degree goes through the state education department, not the PCC route. See degree certificate apostille.