PCC Apostille in West Bengal for Overseas Applications
PCC apostille in West Bengal usually concerns a certificate from the Regional Passport Office, Kolkata, at 4 Brabourne Road. That office covers 28 police districts in West Bengal, and also Sikkim and Tripura. A passport officer's PCC goes directly to the MEA, while a police clearance from Kolkata Police or a district SP needs notary and SDM first.
By the INFINITYGRO documentation teamUpdated Facts checked against MEA and HCCH
PCC apostille sample
I live in Howrah and need a police clearance for a UK visa. What is the fastest way to get it apostilled? Get the PCC from the Kolkata passport office through passportindia.gov.in. A passport officer signs it, so PCC apostille in West Bengal for this certificate needs no notary or SDM. We send it straight to the MEA. The UK accepts the apostille. A local police certificate would need extra verification steps first.
One office, three states
The Regional Passport Office in Kolkata is one of the busiest in eastern India. Its jurisdiction is listed by police district rather than by revenue district. It covers 28 police districts in West Bengal, so city police areas and rural police districts are counted separately.
It also serves the four districts of Sikkim and the eight districts of Tripura. Applicants book on passportindia.gov.in and attend a Passport Seva Kendra or a Post Office Passport Seva Kendra near them.
Because the office serves three states, appointment demand can be high. Book early on the portal, and keep your current address proof ready for the verification visit. The PCC is issued only after the police report reaches the passport office.
Key facts
| Regional Passport Office | Kolkata |
|---|---|
| Address | 4 Brabourne Road, 1st floor, Kolkata 700001 |
| Coverage in the state | 28 police districts of West Bengal |
| Also covers | Sikkim (4 districts) and Tripura (8 districts) |
| Application portal | passportindia.gov.in |
| Passport PCC route | Direct to MEA |
| Police certificate route | Notary and SDM, or Home (Foreigners and NRIs), Kolkata, then MEA |
| MEA fee | Rs 50 per document |
Passport office PCC or police clearance from Kolkata Police
The two documents look different and follow different routes.
- Issued by RPO Kolkata: printed on passport office letterhead, signed by a passport officer, linked to your passport number. It goes to the MEA directly.
- Issued by a police office: signed by a police officer of a commissionerate or district. It is treated as a state document and needs notary and SDM verification, or the West Bengal Home (Foreigners and NRIs) Department, before the MEA.
When a foreign checklist names the issuing authority, follow it exactly.
If the checklist only asks for a police clearance without naming who issues it, ask the receiving office whether a passport office PCC will do. It is the simpler document to apostille because it skips the notary and SDM stage.
You can also contact us through our contact page with a photo of the certificate. We will confirm which route it follows before you send it.
PCC apostille in West Bengal: our process
- Send the original PCC and a passport copy to our office in New Ashok Nagar, Delhi.
- We check the name, passport number and signature block.
- A passport office PCC goes straight to the MEA's authorised outsourced centre. A police certificate goes through notary and SDM first.
- The MEA's CPV Division adds the apostille.
- The finished PCC is couriered back to your address with tracking.
See our PCC apostille hub for the national process.
For Kolkata applicants
Kolkata residents can follow their passport PCC at the Brabourne Road office if there is a delay in police verification. Once the PCC is issued, courier it to us in Delhi. You do not need to travel.
Students and nurses from Kolkata often need a PCC alongside degree or nursing documents. Each is apostilled separately, and we can handle them in one order. If you are in Delhi NCR, you may hand the documents over at our office.
Applicants from Howrah, Durgapur, Siliguri and other parts of the state use the same courier process. Pack the PCC flat with a passport copy and a note naming the destination country, and keep your courier receipt until we confirm that the parcel has arrived.
Destinations and what they expect
Countries such as the UK, USA, Canada, Australia and most of Europe accept the apostille. In the Gulf, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Bahrain accept it too.
The UAE, Qatar and Kuwait are not members of the Convention. A PCC for these countries needs MEA attestation and then embassy legalization, which we arrange. See our UAE attestation charges. China and Germany do not accept an apostille from India.
Nurses and healthcare workers heading to the UK or Ireland, and students going to Europe, are among our most frequent West Bengal PCC clients. Their checklists often name the passport office PCC specifically, so read them carefully before applying.
Age of the certificate
A receiving office usually wants a recent PCC, and each office decides how recent. Confirm this with them before you apply, and send the PCC for apostille soon after you receive it.
Apply from your present address. If you moved within West Bengal, the police station covering your new address carries out the verification.
Some applicants need PCCs for two countries at the same time, for example a work visa and a family visa. Each receiving office keeps the original it receives, so plan for separate certificates and separate apostilles.
Language and name checks
Passport office PCCs are in English. A certificate from a local police office may include Bengali. A certified translation may then be asked for; we arrange it through our translation service.
Make sure the spelling of your name and your father's name matches your passport. If it does not, get the certificate corrected before the apostille.
If you hold an old passport with a different spelling, mention it in your PCC application. A PCC printed with the old spelling can create questions abroad when it is compared with your current passport.
Real police clearance certificate apostille samples
Click any sample to enlarge. Personal details are masked.
West Bengal police clearance certificate apostille FAQs
Does the Kolkata RPO also serve Sikkim and Tripura?
Yes. Its published jurisdiction covers 28 police districts of West Bengal, 4 districts of Sikkim and 8 districts of Tripura.
What does PCC apostille in West Bengal cost?
Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 per document all-inclusive on our Delhi route, including the Rs 50 MEA fee. Courier is extra.
Does the MEA review my police record?
No. It verifies the signature of the issuing officer only.
Can I submit the PCC to the MEA myself?
No. Since July 2012 the MEA accepts documents only through its authorised outsourced centres.
Is a photocopy enough?
No. Only the original signed PCC can be apostilled.
Can you pick up my PCC from my home in Kolkata?
Home collection is not available. Courier the original to our Delhi office, or drop it off in person if you are in Delhi NCR.
Other documents from West Bengal
- Marriage Certificate apostille
- Birth Certificate apostille
- Degree Certificate apostille
- Diploma Certificate apostille
- PCC apostille
PCC apostille in other states
Getting a West Bengal 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.