What is the Process for Certificate Apostille?
Attestation, apostille, legalization… it can feel daunting at first. But we’re here to simplify the journey! Our experienced team navigates the complexities of getting your certificates apostilled.
Apostille is a process of certifying documents for use in foreign countries, as part of the Hague Convention of 1961. Apostilled documents are recognized in all countries that are signatories to the Hague Convention. In India, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is responsible for providing Apostille services. The process is typically required for documents like educational certificates, birth certificates, marriage certificates, and other personal or commercial documents.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to the process of obtaining an Apostille for documents in India:
1. Identify the Type of Document:
The process differs slightly depending on whether you are Apostilling personal, educational, or commercial documents.
Personal Documents: Birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates, affidavits.
Educational Documents: Degree certificates, diplomas, mark sheets.
Commercial Documents: Power of attorney, business agreements, invoices, etc.
2. Get the Document Attested by a Local Authority:
Before the MEA Apostille, the document must be attested by an appropriate state or local authority. This step ensures that the document is legitimate.
For Educational Documents: The document must be attested by the respective State Education Department or Human Resource Department (HRD) of the state where the educational institution is located.
For Personal Documents: These documents must be attested by the Home Department or General Administration Department (GAD) of the state where the document was issued.
For Commercial Documents: Documents must first be attested by a Chamber of Commerce in India.
3. Submit to a Regional Authentication Center (RAC) (Optional):
Some states have a Regional Authentication Center (RAC), which can facilitate the state-level attestation of documents. Check whether your state has this option, as it may simplify the attestation process.
4. Attestation by Ministry of External Affairs (MEA):
After state attestation, the document must be submitted to the MEA for Apostille.
Ways to Apply for Apostille with MEA:
- Online via Outsourcing Agencies: MEA has authorized several agencies for handling document submission. You can approach an agency like VFS Global, Urogulf, or BLS International.
- Direct Submission to MEA (For Commercial Documents): For some types of commercial documents, direct submission to MEA can be done via the Ministry’s CPV (Consular, Passport, and Visa Division).
Apostille Sticker and Verification:
Once processed by MEA, a unique Apostille sticker, containing a unique identification number, is attached to the back of the document. This sticker verifies the authenticity of the document, which can be verified online by the receiving country.
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