AOA Apostille and Attestation of Articles of Association
An AOA apostille is usually requested when a foreign party wants to see who can sign for your company and how decisions are made. The articles of association are the internal rulebook every Indian company files with the Registrar of Companies under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. INFINITYGRO prepares the articles for chamber authentication, the MEA and, where needed, embassy legalization.
By the INFINITYGRO documentation teamUpdated Facts checked against MEA and HCCH
MEA attestation stamp and Apostille sticker
How are articles of association apostilled for use abroad? The current articles are printed in full and certified as a true copy by a director or company secretary, then notarised, or you obtain a copy certified by the Registrar of Companies. A recognised Chamber of Commerce authenticates the copy and the MEA issues the AOA apostille. For the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait or China, MEA attestation and embassy legalization replace the apostille.
Foreign parties read the articles for signing authority
A bank compliance team or a foreign registry usually asks for the articles for one reason. They want to know who may bind the company. The articles set out how directors are appointed, how the board meets, how the common seal (if any) is used and how shares are transferred. Read with a board resolution, they show that the person signing a contract abroad has authority to do so.
That is why the articles are seldom sent alone. Expect to send them with the memorandum and the certificate of incorporation, and often a power of attorney.
Key facts
| What it is | Internal rules on directors, shares, meetings and signing powers |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | Section 5, Companies Act 2013; model articles in Schedule I, Tables F to J |
| Filed with | Registrar of Companies, MCA (e-AOA, Form INC-34, with SPICe+) |
| Certified by | Director or company secretary; or ROC certified copy |
| First step | Notary, then recognised Chamber of Commerce |
| MEA step | Apostille or normal attestation by MEA CPV Division |
| Embassy countries | UAE (plus UAE MOFA), Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, China |
| MEA fee | Rs 50 per apostille; normal attestation free |
Where the articles come from
Section 5 of the Companies Act 2013 governs articles of association. Schedule I contains model sets: Table F for companies limited by shares, Tables G and H for companies limited by guarantee, and Tables I and J for unlimited companies. A company may adopt a model table in full, in part, or write its own articles.
Companies incorporated through SPICe+ typically file their articles electronically as e-AOA in Form INC-34. Older companies have printed articles signed by the subscribers. Amendments are made by special resolution and filed with the ROC, so many companies hold articles that differ from the original version.
Private, public and one person companies
The type of company affects what the articles contain, and foreign readers sometimes ask about it. Private company articles restrict the right to transfer shares and limit the number of members. Public company articles generally allow free transfer. A one person company has articles that name a nominee who takes over if the sole member dies or becomes incapable.
None of this changes the legalization route. It does change what the receiving office looks for. A foreign bank opening an account for a private company may check the transfer restrictions and the quorum for board meetings. A free zone authority may look for the clause that lets directors delegate powers to a manager or attorney.
If the receiving office has a specific clause in mind, tell us when you send the documents. We can flag it in the covering letter so the reviewer finds it quickly.
Articles of Association (AOA) route by destination country
Each card shows whether the country takes an MEA Apostille or embassy legalization. Click a flag for that country.
UAEEmbassy legalization
QatarEmbassy legalization
KuwaitEmbassy legalization
Saudi ArabiaApostille
OmanApostille
EgyptEmbassy legalization
IraqEmbassy legalization
ChinaEmbassy legalization
VietnamApostille
IndonesiaApostille
United KingdomApostille
United StatesApostille
No country matches. Call us: we handle most embassies in New Delhi.
Apostille MEA Apostille is the final stepEmbassy legalization MEA attestation, then the embassy in New DelhiGerman verification verified through the German Embassy
Preparing the articles for authentication
Print the complete articles as currently in force. A long document is normal; private company articles can run to many pages. Then choose one of these:
- Company true copy plus notary. A serving director or the company secretary signs as a certified true copy and stamps it. A notary attests it.
- Registrar-certified copy. Request it through the MCA portal's Get Certified Copies service under incorporation documents. A physical copy certified by the Registrar is sent to you.
If your articles were amended, attach or incorporate the amendments. Do not send an old version with a separate note of changes unless the receiving authority has asked for that format.
Do not staple loose pages in a different order or remove the subscriber page. Keep the document exactly as filed.
AOA apostille for Hague member countries
For the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Turkey and most European states (not Germany), the articles take three steps:
- Notarised or registrar-certified copy.
- Chamber of Commerce authentication, through a Delhi chamber such as PHD Chamber, FICCI, ASSOCHAM or the Delhi Chamber of Commerce.
- MEA apostille, applied through the ministry's authorised outsourced centres at a government fee of Rs 50.
Vietnam has accepted apostilles since 11 September 2026. The apostille confirms the signature and seal of the authenticating officer only, as explained on our MEA apostille page.
Embassy legalization: UAE, Gulf, China
The UAE needs chamber authentication, MEA attestation, UAE Embassy legalization in New Delhi and a final UAE MOFA stamp in the UAE. Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Sudan and Yemen need chamber, MEA attestation and their embassy.
China requires a red-sticker notary before the chamber, then MEA attestation and the Chinese Embassy, because apostilles do not apply between India and China. For Germany, Indian documents are not legalized; German offices may ask their embassy to verify them.
Embassy fees vary and are often higher for commercial papers. See our embassy attestation page for the general process.
Sending the articles to us
- Complete current articles, every page.
- True copy certification by a serving director or the company secretary.
- Covering letter on letterhead with destination and purpose.
- Details of any companion documents for the same country.
Courier the papers to our office at C-5 A/2 New Ashok Nagar, Delhi, or drop them off if you are in Delhi NCR. We return everything by Blue Dart or another tracked courier. We do not offer home pickup.
Points that cause rejection
- The articles name a different company because the name changed and the copy was not updated.
- The certifying director has resigned or is not on the MCA record.
- An AOA apostille is presented in the UAE, Kuwait or Qatar, where the embassy chain is required.
- Pages missing or out of order.
- Copies laminated or bound in a way that hides the last page.
Arabic, French, Spanish or Chinese translations can be arranged through our certified translation service.
What it costs
The MEA charges Rs 50 for an apostille and nothing for normal attestation. The chamber and embassy fees are separate and set by them. INFINITYGRO quotes per document in writing before you send anything, with courier charges extra. Contact us with your destination for a quote.
What the MEA stamps look like
Click any sample to enlarge. Personal details are masked.
Articles of Association (AOA) apostille FAQs
Do I need both MOA and AOA legalized?
Most foreign registries and banks ask for both, along with the certificate of incorporation. Check the list from the receiving office, but plan for the full set.
Our company adopted Table F without changes. Is the AOA still needed?
Yes, if the foreign party asks for it. The articles filed with the ROC are still your company's articles, even if they follow the model table.
Who can certify the true copy?
A director currently on the company record or the company secretary. The signatory's name and designation should be printed below the signature.
Will the MEA check our articles?
No. The MEA verifies the authenticating officer's signature, not the content of the articles.
How recent must the certified copy be?
The apostille does not expire. Some receiving offices still prefer a copy certified and legalized recently, so confirm their rule before starting.
Is an AOA apostille accepted in the UK?
Yes. The UK is a Hague Convention member, so the MEA apostille is the normal route.
Can the articles go to China with an apostille?
No. China needs a red-sticker notary, chamber, MEA attestation and Chinese Embassy legalization.
Need your Articles of Association (AOA) legalized?
WhatsApp a photo of the document and the destination country. We reply with the route and a written quote.