PCC Apostille in Delhi: Passport Office and Delhi Police Certificates
PCC apostille in Delhi depends first on who signed your police clearance certificate. A passport PCC from the Regional Passport Office, Delhi goes straight to the MEA. A clearance issued by Delhi Police follows the personal document route through notary and SDM.
By the INFINITYGRO documentation teamUpdated Facts checked against MEA and HCCH
PCC apostille sample
Which Delhi police clearance certificate can be apostilled fastest? The passport PCC is quickest. It is signed by a passport officer at the Regional Passport Office, Delhi, so for PCC apostille in Delhi it goes directly to the MEA with no notary or SDM step. A Delhi Police clearance certificate needs notary and SDM attestation first, or authentication by the Delhi Secretariat Home department, before the MEA apostille.
Two certificates, two paths
People say PCC for two different papers. The first is the passport PCC. You apply on passportindia.gov.in and the Regional Passport Office issues it after police verification. A passport officer signs it. The certificate records whether any adverse police record was found against you.
The second comes from Delhi Police itself. It is often called a police clearance or character certificate. A police officer signs it, not a passport officer.
The MEA treats them differently. It can verify a passport officer's signature directly. A police officer's signature first has to be confirmed by a notary and the SDM, or by the Delhi government's Home department.
Key facts
| Passport office | Regional Passport Office, Delhi |
|---|---|
| Passport PCC portal | passportindia.gov.in |
| Passport PCC route | Direct to MEA, no notary or SDM |
| Police-issued certificate | Delhi Police clearance certificate |
| Police PCC route | Notary, SDM, then MEA |
| State route authority | Deputy Secretary Home (Passport), Delhi Secretariat |
| MEA apostille fee | Rs 50 per document |
Getting a passport PCC from RPO Delhi
The MEA lists one Regional Passport Office for Delhi. Applications go through passportindia.gov.in, and you attend a Passport Seva Kendra for document checks. Police verification takes place at your address.
Once issued, give us the original. We send it to the MEA through an authorised centre. There is no notary or SDM stage, which cuts the work involved. Keep the PCC flat and clean, and do not staple papers to it.
Your current address decides which passport office handles you. NCR residents outside Delhi may come under a different office, so check on passportindia.gov.in.
PCC apostille in Delhi for police-issued certificates
Employers abroad sometimes ask for a certificate from the local police rather than the passport office. For a Delhi Police clearance certificate the steps run like this:
- Notary attestation of the certificate.
- Attestation by the SDM in Delhi.
- Apostille by the MEA CPV Division.
The state route is also open. The Deputy Secretary Home (Passport) at the Delhi Secretariat authenticates it before the MEA. We advise on which one fits your receiving office. More on the MEA apostille page.
Which kind do destinations ask for
We keep this general because rules change and each office decides for itself. Immigration and visa offices often name the passport PCC. Some employers and licensing bodies ask for a certificate from the local police in the place you live.
Read the instructions you were given. If it says issued by the passport authority, apply on passportindia.gov.in. If it names the police, apply to Delhi Police.
Gulf countries such as the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait do not accept the apostille. They need MEA attestation and embassy legalization. See our embassy attestation service.
How recent should the certificate be
Many receiving offices want a clearance issued within a recent period. That window is set by them, not by the MEA, and it differs between countries and employers.
Ask the office for its exact requirement before you apply. Then plan the apostille soon after the certificate is issued, so it does not age while it travels. Once your PCC reaches us, the Delhi route usually takes 2 to 3 working days.
If your plans change and the certificate expires before you use it, you will need a new PCC and a new apostille. The old apostille cannot be moved to a new certificate.
Serving New Delhi and all Delhi districts
Whether you live in New Delhi, South Delhi, Dwarka, Rohini or Shahdara, you can bring the PCC to our office at C-5 A/2, New Ashok Nagar, Delhi 110096. Collection is also in person.
Applicants who have already moved abroad can courier the original to us through a family member. We send it back by Blue Dart or a similar tracked courier. There is no home pickup.
Problems that hold up a PCC
Most delays come from small details. The name on the PCC must match the passport exactly. If an initial is expanded on one and not the other, an affidavit may be needed.
The MEA does not apostille scans, printouts of an email or photocopies. You need the original paper. If you laminated the certificate, the back cannot be stamped and you will need a fresh one.
Some applicants hold both kinds of certificate. Send only the one your receiving office asked for, since each document is a separate apostille with its own fee. If you are unsure, send us the instructions and we will read them with you.
Where the destination wants the certificate in its own language, we can arrange certified translation after the apostille.
Checklist before you hand it over
- The original PCC, not a scan or photocopy
- A copy of your passport with the same name spelling
- The destination country and the purpose
- Any letter from the receiving office stating its rules
Our charge for the Delhi route is Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 per document, including the Rs 50 MEA fee. Courier is extra. Contact us on +91 85955 58517.
Real police clearance certificate apostille samples
Click any sample to enlarge. Personal details are masked.
Delhi police clearance certificate apostille FAQs
Does a passport PCC from RPO Delhi need SDM attestation?
No. A passport officer signs it, so it goes straight to the MEA for apostille. This is the main reason the passport PCC is often the simpler choice when the receiving office accepts it.
Can a Delhi Police clearance certificate be apostilled?
Yes. It follows the personal document route: notary, SDM and then the MEA, or the Delhi Secretariat Home department before the MEA.
How long is a PCC valid for use abroad?
There is no single rule. The receiving office decides, so ask them how recent the certificate must be.
I live in Delhi but my passport has an old address. Which office handles my PCC?
Usually your current address decides. Check the jurisdiction on passportindia.gov.in before applying.
Can I send the PCC from abroad?
Yes. Many clients ask a relative in India to courier the original to us, or post it themselves. We return it to any address in India by tracked courier.
Is PCC apostille in Delhi enough for Dubai?
No. The UAE does not accept the apostille. It needs MEA attestation and UAE embassy legalization instead.
Other documents from Delhi
- Marriage Certificate apostille
- Birth Certificate apostille
- Degree Certificate apostille
- Diploma Certificate apostille
- PCC apostille
PCC apostille in other states
Getting a Delhi police clearance certificate ready for abroad?
WhatsApp a photo of the document and the destination country. We reply with the route, the timeline and one total price.