Indian Police Certificate Translation

Do You Need to Translate Your Indian Police Certificate?

If you have lived in India and you are applying for UK settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain), citizenship or certain long-term visas, you will need an Indian Police Clearance Certificate (PCC)and a certified English translation of it. Most Indian PCCs are issued in English, but UKVI may still want a certified translation before it accepts one.

UKVI Requirement

The UK Home Office asks for a police certificate from every country where you have lived for 12 months or more in the last 10 years. An Indian Police Clearance Certificate must come with a certified translation, or certification that the document is genuine, even when it is already in English.

When Do You Need an Indian Police Certificate for UK Visa?

Settlement Applications (ILR)

Needed for indefinite leave to remain if you have lived in India for 12 months or more in the past 10 years

British Citizenship Applications

Required for naturalization if you have spent 12 months or more in India during the qualifying period

Spouse Visa Extension to Settlement

May be needed when you move from a spouse visa to settlement, if you have spent a lot of time in India

Understanding Indian Police Clearance Certificates

Passport Office PCC (Most Common)

Issued by the Regional Passport Office (RPO). You can apply online through the Passport Seva portal. It is usually in English with some Hindi text.

Police Station/District PCC

Issued by your local police station or the District SP office. The format changes from state to state. It may carry regional language text that needs translation.

Indian High Commission PCC (UK Applicants)

Indian nationals in UK can apply through Indian High Commission in London. Typically in English.

What Makes an Indian PCC Translation UKVI-Compliant?

Professional Certification

A certified translation, or official certification that the document is accurate, even when it is already in English

Complete Document Coverage

Every piece of text certified, including Hindi, regional language text and official stamps

Translator Details

Full name, qualifications, signature, and contact details of certified translator

Date of Certification

Clear indication of when the certification was completed

Step-by-Step Process

Obtain Indian Police Clearance Certificate

Apply through the Passport Seva portal (the usual route), the Indian High Commission in London, or a local police station in India. This normally takes 2-4 weeks.

Upload Document

Upload a clear scan to a UKVI-certified translation service for professional certification.

Choose Speed

Standard (24 hours) - £17.99/page

Rush (8 hours) - £29.99/page

Receive Certified Translation

We email you a professional PDF with the certification page, a copy of the original, and the certified translation.

Common Questions

Why translate if my Indian PCC is already in English?

UKVI wants a certified translation, or certification, for every foreign police certificate. A UK-qualified translator confirms the document is genuine, which is what Home Office standards require.

How much does Indian PCC translation cost?

£17.99 per page (24-hour) or £29.99 per page (8-hour rush). Most Indian PCCs are 1 page.

How long is Indian PCC valid?

An Indian Police Clearance Certificate is usually valid for 6 months from the date of issue. Get yours close to the date you plan to apply.

How do I get PCC from Indian High Commission in London?

Go to Indian Visa and Consular Services (IVCS) at India House, Aldwych, London WC2B 4NA. Apply in person with your passport, proof of UK residence and the fee. It takes 2-3 weeks.

What if I lived in multiple Indian states?

A Passport Office PCC covers the whole of India. With a police station PCC, you may need one from each state where you lived for 12 months or more.

Which UK Visa Types Require Indian Police Certificate Translation?

Not every UK visa needs an Indian PCC, but several main routes do. These are the applications that usually need a certified translation of your Indian Police Clearance Certificate:

Spouse / Partner Visa

If you spent 12 months or more in India in the 10 years before you apply, you must include a certified Indian PCC translation with your partner or spouse visa application under Appendix FM.

Skilled Worker Visa

Skilled Worker applicants who have lived in India for 12 months or more must give a police certificate from India. The certified translation shows UKVI case workers that the document is genuine.

Student Visa

Student visa applicants aged 18 and over who have lived in India for 12 months or more in a row may need an Indian PCC with a certified translation, above all for longer courses.

Settlement (ILR) and British Citizenship

Indefinite Leave to Remain and naturalisation as a British citizen are the routes that most often need a certified Indian PCC translation. They are required if India appears in your 10-year residence history.

State-Specific PCC Format Variations

India has no single standard police clearance certificate. The format, the mix of languages and the issuing office all depend on the state. That decides whether your PCC has non-English text to translate, and how hard that work will be.

Maharashtra (Mumbai / Pune)

Local police station PCCs usually have Marathi headings, job titles and rubber stamps beside the English text. They need full Marathi-English certification. Passport Office PCCs from the Mumbai RPO are mostly English and simpler to certify.

Tamil Nadu (Chennai)

Police station certificates from Tamil Nadu may carry Tamil script in the headers, date fields and official stamps. The Tamil used is formal official language. The translator must be fluent in both Tamil and English to certify them.

Kerala

PCCs from Kerala district SP offices often have Malayalam beside the English. The script is unlike any other and needs specialist knowledge. Passport Office PCCs from the Thiruvananthapuram RPO are mostly in English.

West Bengal (Kolkata)

Local police station certificates from West Bengal may have Bengali in the headers, job titles and dates. These need a Bengali-English specialist. The Kolkata RPO issues national-format PCCs that are mostly English.

Delhi (NCR)

Delhi Police and district SP certificates often use Hindi throughout, above all in printed headings and job titles. These need Hindi-English translation at £17.99/page. The Delhi RPO Passport Office PCC is in English only.

Punjab (Chandigarh / Amritsar)

PCCs from Punjab police stations often have Punjabi (Gurmukhi script) or Hindi in the official sections. They need a translator fluent in Punjabi or Hindi as well as English. The Chandigarh RPO issues the standard national-format English PCC.

Tip: Use Passport Office PCC Where Possible

The national Passport Office PCC, which you apply for through the Passport Seva portal, comes in English with very little regional language on it. One document covers your whole residence history in India. It is the simplest and cheapest option for UK visa applicants, and any page that needs translation is £17.99/page.

MEA Apostille Process for Indian Documents

India acceded to the Hague Apostille Convention in 2005, in force from 14 July that year. This means the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) can now apostille Indian public documents, including police clearance certificates. An apostille makes a document legally recognised in all 125+ member countries, with no further legalisation. That matters for UK settlement and citizenship applications.

When Is an MEA Apostille Required?

For most UK visa and settlement applications, a certified translation alone meets UKVI requirements, and you do not need an apostille. You may need one if:

The Home Office specifically requests apostilled source documents in a Request for Further Information (RFI)
You are applying for British citizenship (naturalisation) and the caseworker requests authentication
Your consulate or visa processing post has specific requirements for your nationality
You are using the document in Indian or other foreign legal proceedings alongside the UK application

Obtain Your Original Indian PCC

Apply online through the Passport Seva portal, or visit your nearest Regional Passport Office. The document must be an original issued by an Indian government authority, because photocopies cannot be apostilled.

Submit to MEA for Apostille

Send the original PCC to the MEA Authentication Cell in New Delhi, or to a regional authentication branch in Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad or Chandigarh. They stick the apostille on the back of the document. This usually takes 1–3 working days.

Obtain Certified English Translation

Once the apostille is on, scan the whole document, including the apostille page, and order a certified translation from a UKVI-compliant service. The translator certifies every page, including the apostille text.

Submit Apostilled Original and Certified Translation Together

Put both the apostilled original PCC and the certified translation in your UK visa bundle. The apostille shows the document is genuine. The certified translation gives the Home Office the English version it requires.

Quick Checklist

Obtain Indian PCC from Passport Office or Indian High Commission
Ensure certificate is within 6-month validity
Ensure clear scan (300 DPI minimum)
Upload to UKVI-certified service
Receive professional certification
Submit with UK settlement or citizenship application

Indian Police Certificate Translation Pricing

Standard (24 hours): £17.99/page for English-only PCCs. Documents containing Hindi or regional language text (e.g., police station PCCs from Maharashtra, UP, Tamil Nadu) are priced at £17.99/page because Devanagari and other non-Latin Indian scripts need a specialist translator. Most Passport Office PCCs are 1 page at £17.99. Rush 8-hour service available at £29.99/page.

Common UKVI Rejection Reasons for Indian PCC Translations

Untranslated Hindi or Regional Language Stamps

Police station PCCs often carry Hindi stamps, office headings or notes. If these are left untranslated, UKVI will reject your submission. Make sure your translator certifies ALL the text, including every non-English part.

Expired Certificate at Time of Submission

Indian PCCs are valid for 6 months from issue. If yours expires before your UK application is decided, it will not be accepted. Always get your PCC close to the date you plan to apply.

Name Mismatch Between PCC and Passport

The translation must write your name exactly as your current passport does. Different spellings, such as "Suresh Kumar" and "Suresh Kumaar", can flag an identity mismatch. Always check that the certified translation matches your passport.

Uncertified or Informal Translation

UKVI will not accept a translation done by friends, family or an uncertified service. It must carry an official certification statement with the translator's full credentials, signature and contact details, as Home Office standards require.

Indian PCC Formats by State

Indian police clearance certificates differ a lot from state to state and office to office. Knowing which type you hold helps us take the right approach to the translation:

Maharashtra (Mumbai, Pune)

Police station PCCs often have Marathi headings and stamps beside the English text. They need full bilingual translation.

Uttar Pradesh (Delhi-NCR)

Certificates from the District SP often use Hindi throughout. They need specialist Hindi-English translation at £17.99/page.

Tamil Nadu

Local police PCCs may carry Tamil script beside the English. The translator must be fluent in Tamil so that all the text is correctly certified.

Passport Office PCC (National)

Issued by Regional Passport Offices. Mostly English with very little Hindi. This is the cheapest option, at the standard Latin script rate.

Apostille and Authentication for Indian PCCs

Do You Need an Apostille?

For most UK visa and settlement applications you do not need an apostille on your Indian PCC. The certified translation alone meets UKVI requirements. There are exceptions:

British citizenship (naturalisation) applications sometimes ask for apostilled source documents
Some entry clearance visa categories may require Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) attestation
If you apply from outside the UK, check what your own consulate asks for

India is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention. Apostilles for Indian documents are issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi or regional offices in Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Chandigarh.

How to Translate an Indian Police Certificate for UK Settlement Visa