Australia Apostille for Indian Documents
An Australia apostille is the MEA sticker that makes an Indian document acceptable to Australian authorities, universities, courts and companies. Both India and Australia are parties to the Hague Apostille Convention, so the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi issues the final certificate and no embassy step follows.
By the INFINITYGRO documentation teamUpdated Facts checked against MEA and HCCH
Documents from India for Australia
Do Indian documents need an apostille for Australia? Only when the Australian body asks for it. Many visa and skills assessment processes accept certified copies, but courts, state registries, employers and business partners often want an Australia apostille. In that case the document is first verified by the state authority or a Chamber of Commerce, then MEA issues the apostille. The Australian High Commission is not involved.
Check whether you need an apostille at all
Australia is a little unusual. A large share of migration and study applications are lodged online with scanned or certified copies. The Department of Home Affairs, universities and skills assessment bodies each publish their own document rules, and many of them never mention an apostille.
So the first step is simple. Read the checklist of the body that will receive your paper. If it says "apostille" or "legalised", go ahead. If it only says "certified copy", an apostille may be extra cost with no benefit. We are happy to look at the checklist with you before you send anything.
Key facts
| Convention status | India and Australia are both Apostille parties |
|---|---|
| Final step in India | MEA Apostille (CPV Division) |
| Embassy step | None. The High Commission does not legalize apostilled papers |
| Education documents | State education department verification, then MEA |
| Personal documents | State Home/GAD or SDM verification, then MEA |
| Company documents | Chamber of Commerce, then MEA |
| MEA fee | Rs 50 per document (government fee) |
| Translation | English documents need none; others usually need a NAATI-certified English translation |
Who in Australia usually asks for an apostille
- State and territory registries of births, deaths and marriages, for example when registering a change of name.
- Family courts and lawyers handling divorce, custody or property matters.
- Employers and professional boards that want extra assurance on a degree.
- Banks and Australian companies dealing with an Indian director, shareholder or supplier.
- Notaries in Australia who prepare documents relying on Indian papers.
For each of these, the MEA apostille replaces the old practice of legalization at the High Commission.
Australia apostille route step by step
- Verification in India. Degrees and mark sheets go to the state education department of the issuing state. Birth, marriage and police certificates go to the state Home or General Administration department, or to the SDM in Delhi. Company documents go to a recognised Chamber of Commerce.
- Notary where needed. Affidavits, powers of attorney and copies of company records are notarised first.
- MEA Apostille. MEA checks the signature of the verifying officer and fixes the apostille. It does not check the content.
- Return courier. We send the papers back by Blue Dart or a similar tracked courier.
See our page on MEA apostille in India for how MEA handles submissions through authorised centres.
Documents we commonly apostille for Australia
- Degree certificates, diplomas and transcripts
- Birth certificates for children joining parents
- Marriage certificates for partner matters
- Police clearance and character certificates
- Powers of attorney for property or bank work in India or Australia
- Certificates of incorporation, board resolutions and export papers
Notes for exporters selling to Australia
Australian importers and agents sometimes ask for apostilled company documents when they register a new overseas supplier or appoint a distributor. Typical papers are the certificate of incorporation, an agency agreement and a power of attorney. Trade papers like invoices and certificates of origin are usually handled through customs channels, though a buyer may still ask for one to be apostilled.
For any company paper, the Chamber of Commerce step comes before MEA. Our commercial documents page lists which chambers we use.
Translation for Australian use
Most Indian certificates are already in English. Where a certificate is in Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati or another language, Australian government bodies generally expect an English translation by a translator accredited by NAATI. We can arrange the translation; ask us which translator credentials your receiving body accepts before we start.
What to send us
- Original document, unlaminated
- Clear copy of your passport
- The checklist or email from the Australian body, if you have one
- Return address and phone number
We quote per document in writing first. Courier charges are separate. Contact us on WhatsApp to begin.
Document guides for Australia
The same route applies to most documents; each guide covers what to send and the common mistakes.
What the stamps look like
Click any sample to enlarge. Personal details are masked.
Australia FAQs
Does the Australian High Commission stamp documents after MEA?
No. Once MEA has issued the apostille, the document is ready for Australia. The High Commission does not add a further stamp.
Can a copy of my degree be apostilled?
MEA apostilles documents bearing a verified signature. A notarised copy can sometimes be apostilled, but many Australian bodies prefer the original degree. Ask the receiving body first.
Is an Australia apostille needed for a student visa?
Usually not. Student visa applications are normally lodged online with scanned documents. Check your university and the visa checklist.
My birth certificate is in Hindi. What do I do?
Get it verified and apostilled as it is, then have it translated into English by a NAATI-accredited translator if the Australian authority requires one.
Can you apostille a document I already had attested for another country?
Yes, as long as the original verification stamps are valid. We review it before sending to MEA.
Do I need to visit Delhi?
No. Send the documents by courier. Clients in Delhi NCR can also drop them at our office.
Other Apostille countries
AlgeriaApostille
ArgentinaApostille
AustriaApostille
BahrainApostille
BangladeshApostille
BelgiumApostille
BoliviaApostille
BrazilApostille
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 documents to Australia?
WhatsApp a photo of the document and tell us its use. We reply with the route and a written quote.