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What is Apostille?

An Apostille is a Type of Authentication of Documents That is Accepted in Countries that are Part of The Hague Convention. It Certifies the Legitimacy of the Signature, The Capacity of the Signer, and The Seal/Stamp on the Document. In India, the Ministry of External Affairs is the Sole Authority for Issuing Apostille Stickers.

Once An Apostille is Done, No further legalization is Required from the Embassy or Consulate of the foreign country. Apostilled Documents are legally valid and Recognized in All Member Countries of The Hague Convention, Including Oman, France, USA, Germany, Spain, Japan, South Korea, The Netherlands, Cyprus, Romania, and Others.

Step 1: Notary Attestation?

The First Step in the Apostille Process is Getting the Document Attested by a Public Notary. This is a Preliminary Verification Step to Confirm the Authenticity of the Document and the Identity of the Person Signing it.

Why is Notary Attestation Required?

Notary Attestation Ensures That:

• The Document is Genuine.
• The Signature on the Document is Verified.
• The Document Has Not Been Tampered.

Notarization is Done by a licensed Notary Public, who Places a Stamp and Signature on the Document. This Applies to All Types of Documents – Personal, Educational, or Affidavits.

Step 2: State Level Attestation – Home Department / HRD Attestation/SDM

After Notarization, the Document Needs to be Legalized by the Respective State Department Depending on the Type of Document:

• Personal Documents (Like Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate, Death Certificate) – Home Department / General Administration Department (GAD) of the Issuing State.

• Educational Documents (like Degrees, Diplomas, Mark Sheets) – Human Resource Development (HRD) Department of the Issuing State.

• Commercial Documents – Require Attestation From the Chamber of Commerce.

Home Department Attestation

This is Required for Personal Documents and is Conducted by The State Home Department of the Document's Origin. The Home Department Verifies the Issuing Authority, Such as the Municipal Corporation or Registrar.

HRD Attestation (for Educational Documents)

The HRD Department of Each State Authenticates the Educational Documents After Verifying Them From the Concerned University or Educational Board. In Most Cases, Original Mark Sheets and Degrees are Submitted along with a Verification Letter.

SDM Attestation

SDM Attestation is a Crucial and Time Saving Step in the Apostille Process for Documents Issued in India. It Refers to the Authentication of Documents by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Before They are Apostille by the MEA. This Attestation is Commonly used for Educational and Personal Documents. SDM Attestation serves as an Alternative to State Home Department Legalization, Offering a Faster and More Efficient Process.

Chamber of Commerce Attestation (for Commercial Documents)

Before MEA Apostille, Business or Commercial Documents such as Invoices, Certificate of Incorporation, GMP Certificate, or Articles of Association must be Attested by the Local Chamber of Commerce.

Step 3: MEA Apostille – Ministry of External Affairs

After the Document is Authenticated by the Relevant State Department, SDM or Chamber of Commerce, It is Submitted to the Ministry of External Affairs for the Final Apostille.

What is an MEA Apostille Sticker?

The MEA issues an Apostille in the form of a Computer-Generated, Tamper-Proof Square-Shaped Sticker Pasted on the Back of the Original Document. It includes:

• Unique Apostille Number
• Name of the Country Issuing the Apostille (India)
• Name of the Person Signing the Document
• Seal of the MEA
• Date of Issuance

The Apostille Sticker Confirms That the Document Has Been Legally Verified and is Valid for Use in all Hague Convention Countries. No Embassy Attestation is Required After This for These Countries.