How to Get Your Police Clearance Certificate Attested in India
A PCC is a document that is needed by a person planning to work, study, or migrate to another country. It gives an assurance that the person does not have a criminal history in his native country. But when seeking visas, especially the Gulf countries, Europe or North America, it is not enough to obtain a PCC. The PCC needs to undergo an attestation process called PCC Attestationin order to be accepted as legal in another country. In case of you being in India, then this is how you can get your Police Clearance Certificate attested step by step.
The reasons why countries abroad need attested PCCs are:
- Working permits - Employers do not want to deal with a criminal.
- Residency permits - PCCs are used to confirm the backgrounds of applicants who seek the approval of the immigration authorities.
- Family visas - To have an eligible sponsor, PCC attestation is required.
- Student visas - It is also required in certain courses or research courses by some universities.
PCC Attestation in India step-by-step Process.
Obtain the PCC
The first is to register at a PCC with the local police station or Passport Seva Kendra of the Ministry of External Affairs or MEA. The certificate comes out following the background checks.
State-Level Attestation
After being issued, the PCC has to be verified by the State Home Department or the Sub-Divisional Magistrate or SDM. This measure is done to ensure that the document is authentic at the state level.
MEA Attestation
Once verified on state level, the document is sent to Ministry of External Affairs or MEA in India. The MEA Attestation is important, because it gives central government approval of the PCC.
Embassy Attestation
Then embassy attestation is required by the host country. As an example, should you be migrating to Qatar, Saudi Arabia or the UAE, the relevant embassy in India will verify and attest the PCC. This is a measure to ensure the destination country accepts that the certificate is valid.
MOFA Attestation Abroad
Once documents get to the destination country, further attestation by Ministry of Foreign Affairs is required. This renders the PCC as legally applicable to employment, immigration, or education procedures.
PCC Attestation Forms.
- Original PCC
- copies of their passport
- Visa copy (if available)
- Photographs (passport size)
- Authorization letter (when the application is made via an agent).
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Omitting state verification - Most applicants attempt to deliver their PCC directly to MEA or the embassy, and are rejected.
- Late submission of documents - Incomplete documents such as passport copies or authorization letters may slow down the process.
- Delaying the application - As attestation is a procedure that has several steps, the last-minute rush can lead to missed deadlines.
- False or unknown agents - Counterfeit or ineffective agents may handle papers in a way that results in huge loss.
The police Clearance Certificate attestation in India is a well-organized procedure. It might sound time consuming but every step is essential in order to make your document legally accepted in another country. Applicants usually seek professional attestation services to reduce delays, ease the process and ensure conformity. With an optimal PCC attestation, you can rest assured in making job applications overseas, visa applications and immigration arrangements.