PCC Apostille for Portugal, with Portuguese Translation
PCC apostille for Portugal is a single MEA sticker on your Indian police clearance certificate, because Portugal and India are both parties to the Hague Apostille Convention. No Portuguese Embassy stamp is needed. What often trips applicants up is the translation and the age of the PCC, so this guide covers both alongside the apostille route.
PCC apostille for Portugal: quick answer
PCC apostille for Portugal is the MEA apostille on an Indian police clearance certificate that will be used in a Portuguese visa, residence or employment file. Portugal has been a party to the Apostille Convention since 1969 and India since 2005, so the apostille is enough and the Portuguese Embassy does not legalise the PCC.
A Passport Seva PCC goes straight to the MEA: Rs 1,000–1,500 all-inclusive, usually 2–3 working days with INFINITYGRO. A police station PCC first needs a notary and the SDM in Delhi: Rs 1,500 fixed, usually 5–7 working days. Portuguese offices may also ask for a Portuguese translation, which we quote by page.
Where an apostilled Indian PCC is used in Portugal
National visa files
Long-stay visa applications lodged with Portuguese consular posts commonly list a criminal record certificate from the country of residence.
Residence with AIMA
AIMA, the agency that took over from SEF in October 2023, handles residence permits and may ask for a PCC in the file.
Employers and universities
Some employers, professional bodies and universities ask for a PCC when you register or sign a contract.
Follow the checklist of the office handling your file. It decides whether it wants a Passport Seva PCC, how old it may be and whether the translation must be certified in Portugal.
PCC apostille for Portugal, step by step
- 1Photo on WhatsAppSend the PCC and passport front page. We confirm the route, time and total in writing.
- 2Send the originalCourier it to our New Ashok Nagar office or drop it off in Delhi.
- 3Notary and SDMOnly if a police station issued the PCC.
- 4MEA apostilleSticker on the back with a unique number; no Portuguese Embassy stage.
- 5Translation, if orderedPortuguese translation of the PCC and the apostille text.
- 6ReturnBy Blue Dart or another secure courier, in India or abroad.
Portuguese translation: order and format
Translate after the apostille
If the translation is made after the apostille, it can cover the sticker as well as the PCC, so the Portuguese reader sees both. This is the order most applicants use.
Ask who must certify it
Some Portuguese offices accept a translation made in India; others want it certified in Portugal. Ask before ordering, so you do not pay for a translation twice.
PCC age and other Portugal checks
- Check how recent the PCC must be on the date your file is lodged
- Make sure the name matches your passport exactly
- Use a Passport Seva PCC if the checklist names one
- Allow courier time to Delhi and back, plus translation time
- Keep scans of both sides after the apostille
Portugal’s other documents, such as a degree or a marriage certificate, also take the MEA apostille. Sending them together saves a courier trip.
A PCC with the MEA apostille
Front: the PCC
Back: the MEA apostille
PCC apostille for Portugal: fees and time
| Passport Seva PCC | Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500, all-inclusive: Rs 50 MEA fee and our service; usually 2–3 working days |
|---|---|
| Police station PCC | Rs 1,500 fixed, including notary and SDM attestation in Delhi; usually 5–7 working days |
| PCC issued by an Indian Embassy abroad | Quoted in writing after we see the PCC |
| Portuguese Embassy legalisation | Not needed; Portugal accepts the apostille |
| Portuguese translation | Quoted by page |
| Courier | Extra, both ways |
PCC Apostille for Portugal, with Portuguese Translation: real sample
A real document from our files, with personal details hidden. Check the stamps on your own document against it.
FAQs: PCC Apostille for Portugal, with Portuguese Translation
Does my PCC for Portugal need Portuguese Embassy attestation?
No. Portugal and India are both parties to the Hague Apostille Convention, so the MEA apostille is the only certification needed. The Portuguese Embassy in New Delhi does not need to stamp an apostilled PCC.
How much does PCC apostille for Portugal cost?
Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 all-inclusive for a Passport Seva PCC, and Rs 1,500 fixed for a police station PCC including notary and SDM in Delhi. Portuguese translation and courier are extra and quoted in writing before you send anything.
Should the PCC be translated before or after the apostille?
Usually after, so the translation can cover the apostille sticker too. Ask the Portuguese office whether it accepts a translation made in India or wants one certified in Portugal, and order accordingly. We translate into Portuguese, quoted by page.
Is SEF still the authority for residence permits?
No. SEF was replaced in October 2023. Residence permits are now handled by AIMA, the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum. Older guides that tell you to follow SEF instructions are out of date, so check AIMA’s current checklist.
How old can my PCC be for Portugal?
The apostille does not expire, but Portuguese offices usually accept a PCC only for a limited period after its issue date. Check the limit in your visa or AIMA checklist before you pay for the apostille on an older PCC.
Can you apply for the PCC for my Portugal visa?
No. INFINITYGRO does not apply for PCCs, book Passport Seva appointments or arrange police verification. The PCC comes from Passport Seva or the police; we handle the MEA apostille and translation once it has been issued.
I am already in Portugal. Can my PCC be apostilled in India?
Yes. A relative can courier the original PCC to our Delhi office or drop it off. If you hold a PCC issued by the Indian Embassy in Lisbon, send a photo first and we quote that case in writing.
Which is better for Portugal, a Passport Seva PCC or a police station PCC?
Follow your checklist. Many applicants use a Passport Seva PCC because it is linked to the passport and goes straight to the MEA, which is quicker and cheaper. A police station PCC also works where accepted but needs a notary and SDM first.
Official sources
Get your PCC apostilled for Portugal
WhatsApp a photo of your document and the country it is for. We confirm the route, time and total in writing before you send anything.
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
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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