PCC Apostille Process at the MEA: What Happens to Your PCC in Delhi
The PCC apostille process at the MEA looks simple from outside: a sticker on the back of the certificate. Inside, the Ministry of External Affairs only apostilles signatures it can confirm, which is why a Passport Seva PCC goes straight in and a police station PCC takes a detour. This post follows a PCC through each desk in Delhi.
PCC apostille process at the MEA: quick answer
PCC apostille process at the MEA, in short: the PCC is submitted to the Ministry of External Affairs through its outsourced collection centre in Delhi, the MEA confirms the signature on it, and an apostille sticker with a unique number is fixed on the back. A Passport Seva PCC carries a passport officer’s signature, which the MEA can act on directly. A police station PCC is first attested by a notary and the SDM in Delhi.
With INFINITYGRO, a Passport Seva PCC costs Rs 1,000–1,500 all-inclusive, including the Rs 50 MEA fee, and usually takes 2–3 working days. A police station PCC costs Rs 1,500 fixed and usually takes 5–7 working days.
The PCC apostille process at the MEA in one table
| Before the MEA | Passport Seva PCC: nothing. Police station PCC: notary and SDM attestation in Delhi |
|---|---|
| Submission | Original PCC and passport copy handed in at the MEA’s outsourced collection centre |
| MEA check | The signature or authentication on the PCC is confirmed |
| Apostille | A sticker with a unique number, date and seal is fixed on the back |
| Return | Collected from the centre and couriered or handed back to you |
Passport Seva PCC: the direct route
Passport Seva is run by the MEA, so a PCC signed by a passport officer is a document the Ministry can confirm without another stamp in between.
- 1Photo and countryWhatsApp a photo and the destination. We confirm apostille or attestation, time and total.
- 2Original to DelhiCourier or drop-off at our New Ashok Nagar office.
- 3MEA submissionWe hand it in at the collection centre with a passport copy.
- 4ApostilleUsually ready in 2–3 working days.
Police station PCC: why the notary and SDM come first
A PCC from a police station is signed by an officer whose signature the MEA has no direct way to confirm. Authentication in Delhi bridges that gap before the MEA stage.
Notary
A notary in Delhi attests the PCC.
SDM
The Sub-Divisional Magistrate authenticates the notary’s signature and seal, so the MEA can apostille it.
With INFINITYGRO this route costs Rs 1,500 fixed, including notary and SDM, and usually takes 5–7 working days. Some countries prefer a Passport Seva PCC, so check your checklist first.
What the MEA apostille shows and how to verify it
The Apostille Convention fixes the content of every apostille. On a PCC apostilled by the MEA you will find these ten items:
- Country: India
- Name of the person who signed the PCC, or of the authenticating officer
- Capacity in which that person acted
- The seal or stamp the document bears
- Place of certification
- Date of the apostille
- Issuing authority: the Ministry of External Affairs
- Unique apostille number
- Seal or stamp of the MEA
- Signature of the MEA officer
The number and date can be checked on the MEA’s apostille verification page. For non-Hague countries such as the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait, the MEA uses an attestation stamp instead and the embassy legalises it.
A PCC before and after the MEA
Front: the PCC
Back: the MEA apostille
PCC apostille at the MEA: 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 |
| Embassy legalisation for non-Hague countries | Embassy fee extra; confirmed in your written quote |
| Courier | Extra, both ways |
| Translation | Quoted by language and page |
FAQs: PCC Apostille Process at the MEA: What Happens to Your PCC in Delhi
Can I walk into the MEA with my PCC?
The MEA accepts documents for apostille through its outsourced collection centres rather than at a ministry counter. INFINITYGRO submits the PCC there for you, so you can courier it from anywhere or drop it at our New Ashok Nagar office.
What is the MEA fee for a PCC apostille?
The MEA charges Rs 50 per document for the apostille. With INFINITYGRO it is already included in the all-inclusive Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 for a Passport Seva PCC and in the Rs 1,500 fixed price for a police station PCC.
Why does a police station PCC need a notary and SDM?
The MEA apostilles signatures it can confirm. A passport officer’s signature fits that; a local police officer’s does not. The notary and the SDM in Delhi authenticate the police PCC first, and the MEA then apostilles it.
How long does the PCC apostille process at the MEA take?
Usually 2 to 3 working days for a Passport Seva PCC and 5 to 7 for a police station PCC, counted from when the original reaches our Delhi office. Courier time from your city and back is extra.
Does the MEA check my criminal record?
No. The MEA confirms the signature and seal on the PCC, not its contents. Whatever the PCC says about your record was decided by the issuing police or passport office before it reached the MEA.
How can I verify the apostille on my PCC?
Use the apostille number and date printed on the sticker with the MEA’s apostille verification page. The receiving authority abroad can do the same. If the details do not show, contact us straight away.
Does the MEA help me get the PCC?
No, and neither does INFINITYGRO. A PCC is issued through Passport Seva, your police station or an Indian mission abroad. The PCC apostille process at the MEA begins only once you hold the issued PCC and send it to us.
Is the process different for the UAE?
Yes. The UAE is not a Hague Convention party, so the MEA attests the PCC instead of apostilling it, and the UAE Embassy then legalises it online. For a PCC there is no UAE MOFA stage after that.
Official sources
Let us take your PCC through the MEA
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