Assuming your Indian documents may need to be presented in another country, you may have encountered the term “apostille,” right? That’s the process you do to have your documents legal everywhere. There are a couple of things that may compel you to apostille your documents, e.g. your aspiration to study, get a job, immigration, or trade in a different country.
How to apostille your documents from India, a step-by-step guide will be given in this blog post
What is Apostille?
The Hague Convention of 1961 is the body to which 1961 was fixed and it was the infancy of Apostille. It is an internationally accepted document certification process typically used by countries adherent to the Hague Convention. It is a process that validates the authenticity of your document so that you cannot have to go through extra recognition process when you move to a foreign country.
For example, while planning to move to another country for the purpose of a job or study, the local authorities may request your birth certificate, education certificates, or marriage certificate with apostille to assure that they are real ones.
Why Do You Need an Apostille?
An apostille is necessary in cases like the following:
- Studying Abroad: The colleges you apply to might call for you to submit your educational credentials such as your degree and academic record.
- Working Overseas: You might be required to provide your degree or work experience letter or a police clearance certificate that is apostilled to your employer.
- Immigration: If you are moving to another country, your birth certificate, marriage certificate or other necessary documents may need an apostille.
- Business Purposes: Business papers such as a company registration certificate or power of attorney may require an apostille to enable their use in international trade.
If your Indian documents are to be used in a Hague Convention country, you must have an apostille. If not, your document may be refused.
Step-by-Step Guide to Apostille Documents in India
Step 1: Identify the Type of Document
Documents which need an apostille are generally divided into two groups:
- 1. Personal Documents
- Birth Certificate
- Marriage Certificate
- Death Certificate
- Divorce Certificate
- Medical Certificate
- Police Clearance Certificate (PCC)
- 2. Educational Documents
- School Certificates (10th, 12th Marksheet)
- Degree or Diploma Certificate
- Transcripts
- Bonafide Certificate
- 3. Commercial Documents
- Business Registration Certificate
- Power of Attorney
- Export-Import Documents
- Partnership Deed
Different apostille processes are followed in each document. Their process depends on the document type whether they are personal, educational or commercial ones.
Step 2: Get Your Document Notarized (If Required)
Some documents need to be notarized before and after an apostille process. These documents may include, for example, the affidavit or the power of attorney which you may need to get notarized first.
Notarization is necessary to make sure that a document was signed by the right people and can be verified further.
Step 3: State-Level Authentication
Some special documents need to have the “Apostille” mark and must be approved by the State Government Department before they can be presented as evidence in those areas.
- Personal Documents (Birth, Marriage, Death Certificates, etc.) → Verified by the Home Department of the respective state.
- Educational Documents (Degree, Diploma, School Certificates) → Verified by the State Education Department (HRD – Human Resource Development Department).
- Commercial Documents → Verified by the Chamber of Commerce.
After state authentication, the documents are ready for apostille by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
Step 4: Apostille from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)
Apostille authentication is the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)’s final nod in India. The interim authority of the state is checked and if there is a boost to the certificate a sticker is placed and sent back to the person.
How to Submit Documents for Apostille at MEA?
Service providers like apostille services Delhi can make the procedure easy for us. We will deal with it in one of those two ways is best by the employed for MEA apostille of documents:
- 1. Through an Authorized Apostille Service Provider
- The Indian Government has selected a few private companies to handle the apostille procedure on their behalf.
- These agencies pick up your papers and get them ratified at the state level, following that, they will submit them for apostille to the MEA.
- This is the simplest and quickest way to make an apostille stay.
- 2. Submitting Directly to MEA
- Its up to you if to carry out the process by delivering personally or through an MEA office.
- However, after you have secured the apostille from the local government, then the process tends to be lengthy
The MEA does not accept walk-ins, only agencies approved if you are applying as an individual.
Step 5: Receiving the Apostilled Document
When the document is apostilled by MEA, it is then given back to you thereby attached is a special apostille sticker to it.
- The apostille sticker serves as a confirmation of the genuineness of your document.
- It includes a unique identification number to the document, you can use it to verify online.
- The document is now valid to be used in any Hague Convention country and it was legalized with the help of apostille certification.
How Long Does It Take to Get an Apostille in India?
The time needed for apostille depends on:
- The type of document (personal, educational, commercial).
- The state from which it is issued(i.e. some states shall have their documents verified faster than others).
- If you decide to employ an apostille agency or undergo this procedure by yourself also plays a part in how long the process is going to be.
Usually, the apostille process gets completed in 3 to 10 working days if it is being done via an agent. On the contrary, if you are doing it yourself, it may take a little while longer because there will be more levels of verification.
How Much Does Apostille Cost in India?
Apostilling process expenses vary based on:
- The number of documents required to be apostilled.
- The service provider you have selected.
- The state verification fee (if applicable).
By and large, you can be ready to fork out from ₹500 to ₹3000 apiece for apostille services in India, depending on the document type and your urgency.
Which Countries Accept Apostilled Documents from India?
The documents that have been apostilled are legal in the countries that are members of the Hague Convention. There are a number of countries that are the key destinations for Indian apostilled documents, including:
- United States (USA)
- United Kingdom (UK)
- Canada
- Australia
- Germany
- France
- Italy
- Netherlands
- Spain
- Japan
If the destination country is a non-member of the Hague Convention, please make sure to proceed with Embassy Attestation instead of an apostille service.
Final Tips for Apostille Process in India
- Plan ahead: If an apostille is a mandatory requirement for migration, the employment or study process, then it is better to be an early bird.
- Use a trusted service provider: To avoid unnecessary worry, prefer to outsource your apostille to any authorized agent in India.
- Check document requirements: Various nations have some specific guidelines for the apostille process so make a careful check of them before sending your paper works.
- Ensure document correctness: Make sure that no spelling mistakes or mismatches exist in your documents before you submit them.
Conclusion
Getting an apostille in India should be a simple process, if you follow the right steps required. A short visa application form, a requirement for the university, or presenting of business documents in another country, Apostille services Bangalore is your best option for a faster legalization of the documents.
The first will lead you to the successful completion of the process with a thorough understanding of the process and the use of the service provider. You might as well think about contacting a professional agency in the case of quick requests regarding apostille.
You now have step-by-step instructions on apostilling documents from India and you can, thus, venture out confidently not only within but beyond the national border!
Also read about PCC Attestation Services In India