Degree Certificate Apostille in India: Routes, Cost and Countries
A degree certificate apostille is the stamp from the Ministry of External Affairs (CPV Division) that lets a university, employer or licensing body in a Hague Convention country accept your Indian degree. INFINITYGRO Attestation prepares and submits degrees from every Indian university. Delhi NCR graduates can drop off at our New Ashok Nagar office; everyone else couriers the documents in.
By the INFINITYGRO documentation teamUpdated Facts checked against MEA and HCCH
Degree certificate apostille sample
How do I get my degree apostilled in India? For a degree certificate apostille, the original degree is first authenticated in India and then the MEA adds the apostille. Most graduates use the Delhi route of notary, SDM and MEA, which usually takes 2 to 3 working days. Some cases go through the state education department instead, and universities connected to e-Sanad can be processed online using your passport number.
What an apostilled degree proves, and who asks for it
An apostille is a single certificate attached to your document under the Hague Apostille Convention. India joined the Convention on 14 July 2005, and it now has 130 contracting parties. Once the MEA stamps your degree, other member countries accept it without a further embassy check.
The apostille confirms that the signature of the Indian officer who authenticated the degree is genuine. It does not confirm your marks, your attendance or the quality of the course. The receiving office still judges those on its own terms.
You will usually be asked for an apostilled degree when you apply for:
- A work visa or skilled migration in Europe, Australia, the UK, the USA or Canada
- A master's or doctoral programme abroad
- A professional licence such as nursing, engineering, teaching or medicine
- A residence permit or a job contract signed with a foreign employer
Key facts
| Apostille issued by | Ministry of External Affairs, CPV Division, New Delhi |
|---|---|
| Government fee | Rs 50 per document (MEA) |
| INFINITYGRO Delhi route | Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 per document, all-inclusive; courier extra |
| Usual time, Delhi route | 2 to 3 working days |
| Routes available | Delhi route, state education department route, e-Sanad |
| Counted separately | Degree, each mark sheet, each transcript |
| Apostille not accepted in | China, Germany, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt |
| You send | Original degree, passport copy, mark sheets if needed |
Three routes for a degree certificate apostille
Every degree reaches the MEA through one of three paths. Which one fits depends on your university and what the receiving office expects.
1. Delhi route
The degree is notarised, then verified by an SDM in Delhi, and then sent to the MEA for the apostille. This route is accepted for most educational documents from any state, and it is the fastest. We handle each step from our office.
2. State route
The education or HRD department of the state where your university sits verifies the degree first. The MEA then adds the apostille. Choose this when a foreign university, employer or licensing body specifically asks for state verification. Each state names its own designated officer, and their working pace varies.
3. e-Sanad
Some universities and boards have connected their records to e-Sanad, the online system the MEA runs with NIC. Here the institution verifies the document online and the MEA apostilles it without the paper chain. You need a passport copy because the passport number is entered in the application. Many institutions are still not connected, so we check before choosing this path.
Read more on the MEA apostille process.
Mark sheets, transcripts and provisional certificates
The MEA stamps one document at a time. A degree, each semester mark sheet and a consolidated transcript are all separate apostilles, each with its own Rs 50 fee. Ask the receiving office exactly which papers it wants before you send them. Many universities abroad want the degree plus the final transcript only.
A transcript issued by your university in a sealed envelope is a separate document from your mark sheets. If the foreign office wants the sealed envelope unopened, an apostille on it is not possible, because the stamp goes on the document itself. Ask your university for an extra open copy for apostille.
A provisional certificate is a temporary document issued before convocation. Some offices accept an apostilled provisional certificate for a few months, but most licensing boards want the final degree. If you already hold the final degree, apostille that one.
Degree Certificate apostille by state
Choose the state or union territory that issued the document.
Using the degree for equivalency, licences and further study
Credential evaluators, professional councils and foreign ministries of education each set their own rules. Some want an apostilled copy from you. Others want documents sent directly by your university. A few want both. Read the instructions of the body that will assess you before booking an apostille.
Licensing bodies in health, engineering and teaching often ask for the full set: degree, transcript, and sometimes a syllabus or a registration certificate from an Indian council. Each of these is a separate document and may follow a different route.
If your degree or mark sheets are in Hindi or a regional language, the receiving office may also want a certified translation. We arrange certified translation in all major languages.
How the process differs by state
The MEA step is the same everywhere in India. The part that changes is the verification before it. On the state route, each state uses its own designated authority. In Maharashtra it is the Higher and Technical Education department. In Karnataka, the Regional Commissioners handle it. Kerala uses its Certificate Authentication Centres in three cities. Tamil Nadu sends documents to the Public Department in Chennai.
States also differ in which universities are on e-Sanad and how long their offices take. A degree from a central or deemed university may be treated differently from one issued by a state university.
To see the officer, universities and practical notes for your degree, choose your state from the state directory below. Each state page covers that state only, for example Maharashtra.
Where an apostilled degree is valid, and where it is not
The apostille works only between countries that both belong to the Convention and have not objected to each other. Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, the UK, the USA, Canada, Australia and most of Europe accept it.
- China: India objected to China's accession on 8 September 2023, so the apostille does not apply between the two countries.
- Germany: Germany objected to India's accession in 2005 and verifies Indian documents through its embassy instead.
- UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt: these are not members. Your degree needs MEA attestation followed by embassy legalization.
We handle that second process too. See our embassy attestation service.
Fees, timing and what to send
The MEA charges Rs 50 per apostille. Our all-inclusive Delhi route fee is Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 per document. That covers the notary, the SDM, the MEA fee and our service. Courier charges are extra. The Delhi route usually takes 2 to 3 working days once we have your documents. State routes depend on the department and are slower.
- Original degree certificate (never a photocopy)
- Original mark sheets or transcript, only if the receiving office wants them
- Clear copy of your passport's front and back pages
- Name-change affidavit if the degree name differs from the passport
Post your documents to C-5 A/2 New Ashok Nagar, Delhi 110096 by a tracked courier. We return them by Blue Dart or a similar tracked service. We do not offer home pickup.
Common mistakes that hold up a degree
Most delays with a degree certificate apostille come from a handful of avoidable problems.
- Laminated degree: the stamp goes on the back, which lamination blocks. Ask your university for a duplicate if the original is sealed in plastic.
- Name mismatch: a spelling or surname difference from your passport needs an affidavit before submission.
- Wrong route: using the Delhi route when the receiving body wanted state verification means doing it again.
- Wrong country type: apostille for a UAE job is wasted. The UAE needs attestation instead.
- Sending only the degree: many evaluators also want the transcript, and a second round costs time.
What a degree certificate apostille looks like
Click any sample to enlarge. Personal details are masked.
Degree Certificate apostille FAQs
Is a degree apostille valid for life?
The apostille itself has no expiry date. Some receiving offices prefer documents processed recently, so check with them if your apostille is several years old.
Can I get an apostille on a photocopy of my degree?
No. The MEA does not apostille photocopies. The process needs the original degree, or a duplicate issued by the university.
Do I need to come to Delhi in person?
No. You can courier the original to our office and we return it by tracked courier. Delhi NCR clients can drop it off if they prefer.
My university is in another state. Can I still use the Delhi route?
Yes, in most cases. The Delhi route is accepted for educational documents from any state. Choose the state route only if the receiving office asks for state verification.
Is e-Sanad cheaper or faster?
It avoids sending paper, but only when your university is connected. We check your institution first and tell you which route makes sense.
Do I need both apostille and attestation for one country?
No. A country takes one or the other. Hague members accept the apostille; non-members such as the UAE need MEA attestation plus embassy legalization.
Will my degree be translated?
The apostille does not translate anything. If your degree is not in English, the receiving office may want a certified translation, which we can arrange.
Send your degree certificate details
WhatsApp a photo of the document and the destination country. We reply with the route and one total price.