PCC Apostille for Vietnam: The Rule for Indian Police Clearance Certificates
An Indian police clearance certificate going to Vietnam no longer needs a Vietnam Embassy stamp. Since 11 September 2026 the MEA apostille is the only legalisation. What matters now is which kind of PCC you hold, because a Passport Seva PCC and a police station PCC take different routes, times and prices. This post explains both.
PCC for Vietnam: quick answer
PCC apostille for Vietnam is the MEA apostille on an Indian police clearance certificate, and since 11 September 2026 it is all Vietnam needs. On that date the Apostille Convention entered into force for Vietnam, and the Vietnam Embassy in New Delhi stopped legalising Indian public documents covered by it. A PCC legalised by the embassy before that date remains valid.
The route depends on who issued your PCC. A Passport Seva PCC goes to the MEA without notary or SDM: Rs 1,000–1,500 all-inclusive, about 2–3 working days. A police station PCC needs notary and SDM attestation first: Rs 1,500 fixed, about 5–7 working days. For a work permit, the record must be no more than 6 months old when the file is submitted.
The rule for an Indian PCC going to Vietnam
| Legalisation | MEA apostille only, since 11 September 2026 |
|---|---|
| Vietnam Embassy | No longer legalises Indian public documents covered by the Apostille Convention |
| Earlier embassy legalisation | Remains valid in Vietnam, according to the embassy’s notice |
| Age for a work permit | Issued no more than 6 months before the application is submitted (Decree 219/2025/ND-CP) |
| Language | Vietnamese translation, notarised or certified under Vietnamese law |
Passport Seva PCC or police station PCC: which do you hold?
Passport Seva PCC
Issued through Passport Seva by a passport office.
- No notary or SDM stage
- MEA apostille in about 2–3 working days
- Rs 1,000–1,500 all-inclusive
Police station PCC
Issued by a local police station or a district police office.
- Notary and SDM attestation in Delhi first
- Then the MEA apostille; about 5–7 working days
- Rs 1,500 fixed, all-inclusive
Your employer in Vietnam may say which kind it prefers. Either kind can be apostilled; tell us which one you hold when you first message us.
Timing your PCC against the 6-month limit
Under Decree 219/2025/ND-CP, a criminal record certificate in a work permit file must have been issued no more than 6 months before the application is submitted. The count starts from the PCC’s issue date, not from the date of the apostille.
Count backwards
Start from your employer’s filing date in Vietnam and work back: filing, translation, courier, apostille, PCC issue.
Do not apply too early
A PCC obtained long before the job offer can pass 6 months before the file goes in, and you would need a new one.
Send it on at once
Courier the PCC to Delhi as soon as it is issued, so most of the 6 months remain when it reaches your employer.
How we handle PCC apostille for Vietnam
- 1Tell us the PCC typeWhatsApp a photo. We confirm the route, price and days in writing.
- 2Send the originalCourier it to our New Ashok Nagar office, or drop it off in Delhi. No home pickup.
- 3Notary and SDM, if neededOnly for a police station PCC.
- 4MEA apostilleThe MEA fixes a numbered apostille. No embassy stage follows.
- 5ReturnBlue Dart or another secure courier, or collection from our office.
Translation and the rest of the file
Whether your PCC is in English, Hindi or a regional language, it needs a Vietnamese translation for use in Vietnam. INFINITYGRO translates PCCs into Vietnamese after the apostille; check whether your employer wants the translation certified in Vietnam. See our translation services.
A work permit file also needs your degree and proof of experience. See our Vietnam work permit papers guide and our post on the experience letter for a Vietnam work permit.
PCC apostille for Vietnam: fees and time
| Passport Seva PCC, MEA apostille | Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500, all-inclusive: the Rs 50 MEA fee and our service; usually 2–3 working days |
|---|---|
| Police station PCC, notary + SDM + MEA apostille | Rs 1,500 fixed, all-inclusive; usually 5–7 working days |
| Vietnam Embassy fee | None since 11 September 2026 |
| Courier | Extra, both ways |
| Translation | Quoted by language and page |
Times run from the day the PCC reaches us in Delhi.
FAQs: PCC Apostille for Vietnam: The Rule for Indian Police Clearance Certificates
Does an Indian PCC need Vietnam Embassy attestation?
Not since 11 September 2026. The Vietnam Embassy in New Delhi no longer legalises Indian public documents covered by the Apostille Convention. An Indian PCC with the MEA apostille is used in Vietnam without an embassy stamp. Earlier embassy legalisations remain valid.
How much does PCC apostille for Vietnam cost?
A Passport Seva PCC costs Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 all-inclusive. A police station PCC costs a fixed Rs 1,500, which includes the notary and SDM stages. Courier both ways and any Vietnamese translation are extra.
How long does it take?
About 2 to 3 working days for a Passport Seva PCC and 5 to 7 working days for a police station PCC, counted from the day it reaches our Delhi office. Add courier time from your city and back.
How old can the PCC be for a Vietnam work permit?
Under Decree 219/2025/ND-CP the criminal record certificate must have been issued no more than 6 months before the work permit application is submitted. Time your PCC so that apostille, courier and translation fit inside that window.
Can you get the PCC for me?
No. INFINITYGRO does not apply for police clearance certificates or police verification on anyone’s behalf. You obtain the PCC yourself, from Passport Seva or the police, and we take it through the apostille stages in Delhi.
Which PCC is better for Vietnam?
Follow your employer’s instructions if they name one. Both kinds can be apostilled for Vietnam. A Passport Seva PCC is quicker and can cost less at our end, because it does not need the notary and SDM stages.
I have lived in Vietnam. Do I still need an Indian PCC?
Ask your employer which record they need. Someone who has lived in Vietnam may be asked for a Vietnamese criminal record as well as, or instead of, an Indian PCC. If they want the Indian PCC, we apostille it as described here.
Do I need a Vietnamese translation of the PCC?
Usually yes. The embassy’s notice requires a Vietnamese translation, notarised or certified under Vietnamese law, for documents not in Vietnamese. INFINITYGRO translates into Vietnamese; your employer may prefer to have it certified in Vietnam.
Official sources
Get your PCC apostille for Vietnam started
WhatsApp a photo of your PCC and tell us whether it is from Passport Seva or a police station. We confirm the route, days and total in writing.
Office: C – 5 A/2 New Ashok Nagar, Delhi – 110096 · Monday to Saturday, 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM · office drop-off or courier, no home pickup
Related guides
Disclaimer: INFINITYGRO is a private document facilitation service, not a government office or embassy. Apostilles and attestations are issued only by the Ministry of External Affairs and the embassies concerned; we do not issue, correct or verify certificates. Rules and fees can change, so check the requirements of the authority that will receive your document.
Last reviewed: October 2026