A Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) is one of the most important documents required for people planning to work, study, migrate, or settle abroad. Many foreign embassies and immigration authorities ask for attested PCC to verify that the applicant has no criminal record in India.
This guide explains the PCC attestation process in India, required documents, timeline, and common mistakes to avoid.
A PCC is an official document issued by:
Passport Seva Kendra (PSK), or
Local police authorities
It certifies that the applicant has no adverse criminal record during their stay in India.
For overseas use, PCC must be legally authenticated through attestation or apostille.
PCC attestation is required for:
Employment visas
Permanent residency (PR) applications
Immigration and long-term visas
Study abroad and dependent visas
Embassies use PCC to assess the applicant’s background and eligibility.
The requirement depends on the destination country:
Hague Convention countries → PCC apostille
Non-Hague countries (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait) → MEA + Embassy attestation
You can understand the difference in detail at Apostille vs Attestation.
Apply for PCC through the Passport Seva Kendra or concerned police authority.
The PCC is submitted to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) for apostille or attestation.
For non-Hague countries, the concerned embassy attests the PCC after MEA approval.
For MEA-related procedures, refer to MEA Attestation Services.
Original Police Clearance Certificate
Passport copy
Visa copy (if available)
Authorization letter (if using an agent)
Ensure all details match your passport to avoid rejection.
PCC issuance: 7–15 working days
MEA apostille/attestation: 1–2 working days
Embassy attestation (if required): 3–7 working days
Total timeline depends on the destination country.
PCC attestation is frequently required for:
UAE
Saudi Arabia
Qatar
Kuwait
Canada
Australia
Country-specific requirements can be checked at Attestation Countries.
Using expired PCC
Applying apostille for non-Hague countries
Name mismatch between PCC and passport
Submitting damaged or laminated PCC
Professional services help by:
Guiding correct attestation type
Handling embassy procedures
Reducing processing delays
Providing doorstep document collection
You can explore more services at Document Attestation Services.
Police Clearance Certificate attestation is a mandatory step for many overseas applications. Understanding the correct process, documents, and country requirements ensures smooth visa and immigration approval.
Starting early helps avoid last-minute complications.