PCC Apostille in Karnataka: Passport Office and Police Certificates
A PCC apostille in Karnataka starts with one question: did the Regional Passport Office in Bengaluru issue your certificate, or the state police? The two papers look alike to many applicants but take different paths to the Ministry of External Affairs. INFINITYGRO Attestation handles both for clients across the state.
By the INFINITYGRO documentation teamUpdated Facts checked against MEA and HCCH
PCC apostille sample
Does a Karnataka passport office PCC need a notary before apostille? No. A passport office PCC carries a passport officer's signature, so it can go straight to the MEA. For a PCC apostille in Karnataka issued by the police instead, we first complete notary and SDM verification in Delhi, or the state Home Department route. Our charge is Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 per document, plus courier.
Two certificates, two paths
Karnataka residents can get a police clearance from two places. Knowing which one you hold saves time and money.
Passport PCC
You apply on passportindia.gov.in and attend a Passport Seva Kendra. The certificate is signed by a passport officer. Because a central government officer signs it, the MEA can apostille it directly.
State police certificate
Karnataka Police issues verification certificates through the Seva Sindhu citizen portal. You apply and pay online and download a digitally signed certificate. This is treated as a personal document, so it passes through notary and SDM, or the state Home Department, before the MEA.
Key facts
| Passport office for the state | Regional Passport Office, Bengaluru |
|---|---|
| Passport Seva Kendras | Bengaluru (Lalbagh, Marathahalli), Hubballi, Mangaluru |
| Passport PCC portal | passportindia.gov.in |
| State police verification | Applied and downloaded on Seva Sindhu (sevasindhu.karnataka.gov.in) |
| Police certificate format | Digitally signed, downloaded from the portal |
| State route for police papers | Under Secretary, Home Department (Passport and Foreigners) |
| Apostille authority | MEA, CPV Division, New Delhi |
Passport offices that serve Karnataka
The Regional Passport Office in Bengaluru covers the state. Applicants can book at Passport Seva Kendras in Bengaluru at Lalbagh and Marathahalli, and at Hubballi and Mangaluru. Post Office Passport Seva Kendras in many district towns also take appointments.
When you book a PCC appointment, carry your passport and address proof as listed on the portal. The passport office checks your address with the local police before it issues the certificate. The PCC is printed on passport office letterhead and signed by the officer on duty.
If you live abroad now, the Indian mission in your country issues the PCC instead. That certificate follows the rules of the mission and may not need an apostille from India at all.
Applying for police verification on Seva Sindhu
Karnataka moved police verification online some years ago. The state's Seva Sindhu portal lists police verification among its citizen services. You fill the form, upload documents and pay online. Police complete the checks and the certificate becomes available to download from the same portal.
Verification on Seva Sindhu covers several groups, such as employees, domestic workers and others who need a background check. Passport address checks are not part of it, as those run through the passport system.
The certificate is digitally signed. That helps with authenticity, but it changes how the apostille chain works, as the next part explains.
PCC apostille in Karnataka: what we do
- Check a scan of your PCC on WhatsApp and confirm which kind it is.
- For a passport PCC, prepare it for direct MEA submission through an authorised centre.
- For a Seva Sindhu certificate, arrange notary and SDM verification in Delhi first.
- Collect the apostilled certificate and send it back by tracked courier.
Each PCC is one apostille. If you need two copies for two countries, get two originals. Our PCC apostille hub explains the general rules.
A note on digitally signed printouts
The Seva Sindhu certificate arrives as a digitally signed file. A plain printout has no wet signature or seal, and some verifying offices hesitate to sign it. If yours is refused, ask the issuing police office for a signed copy, or apply for the passport PCC instead.
Do not laminate the PCC. The apostille sticker goes on the back.
Bengaluru, Mysuru, Mangaluru and Kalaburagi applicants
In Bengaluru, many IT professionals need a PCC for a work permit or permanent residence abroad. Book at the nearest Seva Kendra and courier the original to us.
Mysuru residents are served by the Bengaluru Regional Passport Office. Mangaluru has its own Seva Kendra, which suits families in coastal districts. Many Mangaluru clients work in the Gulf, where attestation often replaces the apostille. Kalaburagi applicants in north Karnataka also fall under the Bengaluru office and can book the nearest Seva Kendra listed on the portal.
Wherever you are, the original reaches our Delhi office by courier. We do not offer home pickup.
Which country wants which PCC
Foreign immigration offices most often ask for the passport office PCC, since it covers your record across India. Some employers and schools accept a state police certificate. Check the exact wording of the request before you apply.
For the UAE, Qatar or Kuwait, the PCC needs MEA attestation and embassy legalisation in place of an apostille. See our embassy attestation page and the UAE charges page. Indian apostilles are not used in China or Germany either.
Ask the receiving office how recent the PCC must be. Apply close to your filing date so the certificate does not lapse while you wait.
Common reasons a PCC gets held up
- The name on the PCC does not match the passport. This needs an affidavit or a fresh PCC.
- The applicant sends a scan or colour copy. Only the original can be apostilled.
- The PCC was laminated, so the back cannot take the sticker.
- A state police certificate is sent for direct MEA stamping without notary and SDM steps.
Send us a scan first and we will flag these issues before the original travels.
Real police clearance certificate apostille samples
Click any sample to enlarge. Personal details are masked.
Karnataka police clearance certificate apostille FAQs
Can I apostille a PCC issued by a Bengaluru police station?
Yes. It follows the personal document route with notary and SDM verification before the MEA.
Is a PCC from the Hubballi Seva Kendra treated differently?
No. Every Seva Kendra in the state works under the Bengaluru Regional Passport Office. The PCC is signed by a passport officer, so the MEA can stamp it directly.
What is the cost of a PCC apostille in Karnataka?
Our all-inclusive charge is Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 per document, which covers the MEA fee of Rs 50. Courier is extra. A passport PCC skips the notary and SDM step, which keeps it simple.
How old can my PCC be?
It depends on the country. Many offices want a recent PCC. Ask them for their validity window before you apply.
Can someone else courier my PCC to you?
Yes. Anyone can send the original. Share a passport copy with us by WhatsApp.
I also need my degree apostilled. Can you combine them?
Yes. Each document is a separate apostille. Contact us with the full list.
Other documents from Karnataka
- Marriage Certificate apostille
- Birth Certificate apostille
- Degree Certificate apostille
- Diploma Certificate apostille
- PCC apostille
PCC apostille in other states
Getting a Karnataka 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.