Apostille and Attestation FAQ for Indian Documents
This apostille and attestation FAQ collects the questions our clients ask most often, from students and families to exporters. Answers follow the rules of the Ministry of External Affairs and the 1961 Hague Convention. Where your case is unusual, a quick message to INFINITYGRO gets a direct answer.
By the INFINITYGRO documentation teamUpdated Facts checked against MEA and HCCH
MEA attestation stamp and Apostille sticker
What is the single most important question to ask first? Which country will receive the document, and which office there asked for it? Every answer in this apostille and attestation FAQ depends on that. Convention countries take an MEA apostille. Non-member countries such as the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and China need MEA attestation and embassy legalization. The receiving office's checklist decides the rest.
Choosing between the two
Do I need an apostille or attestation? It depends on the country. If it is a party to the Apostille Convention and has no objection with India, take the MEA apostille. If not, take MEA attestation followed by embassy legalization.
Is one better than the other? Neither is better. They answer different countries. The wrong one is simply refused. A plain explainer is on what is an apostille.
The office abroad asked for "legalization". Which is that? Legalization is the general word. For a convention country it usually means an apostille. For other countries it means the embassy chain. Ask the office which stamp it expects if the wording is unclear.
My destination joined the convention recently. Does my old attestation still count? That is for the receiving office. Many keep accepting earlier embassy-legalized documents for a while, and some ask for a fresh apostille. Check before redoing anything.
Key facts
| Apostille issued by | Ministry of External Affairs (CPV Division) |
|---|---|
| India in the convention | Since 14 July 2005 |
| Contracting parties | 130 (HCCH, 30 June 2026) |
| MEA apostille fee | Rs 50 per document |
| MEA normal attestation | Free |
| Our Delhi route (personal/educational) | Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 per document, all-inclusive; courier extra |
| Usual Delhi route time | 2 to 3 working days |
| Sending documents | Courier to New Ashok Nagar, Delhi, or drop off; tracked return courier |
Questions about the documents themselves
Can you work from a photocopy? No. The MEA does not legalize photocopies. We need the original, or for company papers a copy authenticated by a Chamber of Commerce.
My certificate is laminated. What now? Stamps cannot be fixed on lamination. You will usually need a duplicate from the issuer.
My name is spelled differently on two documents. Prepare a name affidavit. The offices stamp what is in front of them, but the office abroad compares it with your passport.
Guides for each group: educational, personal and commercial documents.
Can a certificate printed from a government portal be attested? Often yes. Many birth, death and company certificates are now issued online with a digital signature. A clear printout is normally used, and the authentication step treats it like other documents. We check each one before quoting.
My documents are in Hindi or a state language. They can still be attested. The office abroad may also want a certified translation, which we arrange.
Money and time
What does the government charge? Rs 50 per document for an MEA apostille. MEA normal attestation is free. Embassies set their own fees, usually higher for commercial papers.
What do you charge? For personal and educational papers on the Delhi route, Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 per document, including notary, SDM, MEA fee and service. Courier is extra. Commercial papers and embassy work are quoted per document in writing.
How fast is it? The Delhi route usually takes 2 to 3 working days. State departments and embassies add their own time, which we confirm when quoting.
Why do embassy fees vary so much? Each embassy sets its own fee, and many charge more for commercial documents than for personal or educational ones. Our fee pages for the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and China list the current amounts.
Are there hidden charges? We quote per document in writing before you send anything, so you see the full amount in advance. Courier is shown separately.
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
ChinaEmbassy legalization
EgyptEmbassy legalization
United KingdomApostille
United StatesApostille
GermanyGerman verification
SpainApostille
VietnamApostille
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
Sending and getting documents back
Most questions in this apostille and attestation FAQ about logistics come down to three answers.
Do you collect from home? No. Clients outside Delhi courier documents to our office at New Ashok Nagar, Delhi. Delhi NCR clients can drop off and collect in person.
How do they come back? By Blue Dart or a similar tracked courier, to any address in India.
Can a relative send them for me? Yes. Include your passport copy and tell us who to update.
Are my originals safe in transit? Use a tracked courier, keep scans of every page before sending, and never send your passport itself. A clear copy of it is all we need.
Special countries
China: India objected to China's accession, so the apostille does not apply. Use a red-sticker notary, MEA attestation and the Chinese Embassy.
Germany: Germany does not legalize Indian documents. German authorities may verify them through the German Embassy.
UAE: MEA attestation, UAE Embassy, then UAE MOFA after arrival. See the full embassy attestation process.
When this apostille and attestation FAQ is not enough
An apostille and attestation FAQ can only cover the common cases. Some cases need a person to look at the paper: closed universities, old handwritten records, documents issued abroad, or a refusal from an office overseas. Send a clear photo and the receiving office's checklist on WhatsApp, or use our contact page. We reply with the route and a written quote.
What the MEA stamps look like
Click any sample to enlarge. Personal details are masked.
Frequently asked questions
Who issues an apostille in India?
Only the Ministry of External Affairs, through its CPV Division. State offices, SDMs, chambers and notaries handle the steps before it. No state government or private agency can issue an apostille, so treat any offer of a "state apostille" with caution.
Can I submit documents to the MEA myself?
No. Since July 2012 the MEA accepts documents only through authorised outsourced centres or its branch secretariats.
Does the MEA verify the contents of my document?
No. It checks the signature of the officer who authenticated it earlier. It does not take responsibility for the contents.
Is every mark sheet a separate document?
Yes. Each certificate, mark sheet or transcript gets its own apostille and fee. A degree plus three years of mark sheets is four documents. Check which papers the office abroad really wants before sending the whole set.
Can a sealed transcript envelope be apostilled?
No. Stamps go on the document itself. Ask your university for an open copy.
Does an apostille expire?
The apostille has no expiry date. The office abroad may still want a recently issued document, such as a fresh PCC.
Is HRD attestation compulsory?
Only if the receiving office asks for it. Many accept the Delhi notary and SDM route. Some Gulf employers name state HRD in their checklist, and in that case the state Education department must verify the document before the MEA step.
Does Saudi Arabia accept apostilles from India?
Yes. Saudi Arabia is an apostille partner, so the MEA apostille is the final step.
Is Vietnam now an apostille country?
Yes, from 11 September 2026 the apostille applies between India and Vietnam. Documents for Vietnam from that date need an MEA apostille in place of Vietnamese Embassy legalization.
Can I use one apostille in several countries?
Yes. An apostille is accepted across convention countries that have no objection with India. Embassy legalization works for one country only.
Do you translate documents?
Yes. We arrange certified translation in Arabic, French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese and other languages.
Are you a government office?
No. INFINITYGRO is a private agency in New Delhi. We prepare documents, handle submissions to the notary, SDM, state departments, chambers, MEA centres and embassies, and return everything to you by tracked courier.
Need documents legalized?
WhatsApp a photo of the document and the destination country. We reply with the route and a written quote.