Diploma Certificate Apostille in India for Polytechnic, Nursing and ITI
Getting a diploma certificate apostille starts with the body that issued it: a state board of technical education, a state nursing council, or the NCVT or SCVT for ITI trades. The Ministry of External Affairs then adds the apostille. INFINITYGRO Attestation checks which kind of diploma you hold before choosing the route.
By the INFINITYGRO documentation teamUpdated Facts checked against MEA and HCCH
QR-code MEA Apostille sample
Can a polytechnic or ITI diploma be apostilled in India? Yes. A diploma certificate apostille is available for diplomas issued by a recognised board, council or university. Polytechnic diplomas come from state technical education boards, nursing diplomas from state nursing councils, and ITI certificates from NCVT or SCVT. Certificates from private training centres may not be accepted for authentication, so we check yours first.
Why diploma holders need an apostille
Technicians, nurses and tradespeople are among the largest groups of Indians who work abroad. Foreign employers and visa offices want proof that your diploma is genuine before they hire you or issue a work permit. The apostille gives them that proof in one stamp.
Common reasons include:
- A work permit for a technician, electrician, welder or plumber role
- Nursing registration or a care-worker visa
- Admission to a bachelor's programme abroad using the diploma for credit
- Trade testing or skills assessment for migration
The apostille confirms the signature of the Indian officer who authenticated your diploma. It does not rate your training or your grades.
Key facts
| Final stamp by | MEA, CPV Division, New Delhi |
|---|---|
| Who verifies the diploma | Issuing board, council or university, or the state education authority |
| Diplomas usually accepted | Polytechnic, nursing (GNM, ANM), ITI (NCVT/SCVT), university diplomas |
| Check first | Private computer, IT and short-course certificates |
| MEA fee | Rs 50 per document |
| Our Delhi route fee | Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 per document; courier extra |
| Delhi route time | Usually 2 to 3 working days |
Diploma certificate apostille by type of diploma
Polytechnic and engineering diplomas
These are issued by the state board or university that runs technical education. Examples are the Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education and SBTET in Telangana. The board's records are what the state verifies.
Nursing diplomas
GNM and ANM diplomas are usually issued by the state nursing council or examination board. Nurses going abroad often need the registration certificate from the council as well, which is a separate document.
ITI certificates
National Trade Certificates come under the NCVT, run by the Directorate General of Training. State trade certificates come under the SCVT of each state. Keep the certificate and the mark sheet together; they are separate apostilles.
Private and computer diplomas
Certificates from private computer centres, coaching institutes or franchise academies are often not recognised by a state board or university. In that case the state may refuse to verify them, and an apostille may not be possible. Send us a scan first and we will tell you honestly whether it can be done.
Delhi route, state route and e-Sanad for diplomas
Delhi route. The diploma is notarised, verified by an SDM in Delhi and then apostilled by the MEA. It is accepted for most educational documents from any state and is usually the quickest choice.
State route. The education or technical education department of the issuing state verifies the diploma with the board, and the MEA apostilles it. Use this when the employer or licensing body asks for state verification. In several states the technical education director is the named officer for diplomas.
e-Sanad. A few boards and universities have put their records on the MEA's online e-Sanad system. Verification then happens online, and you need a passport copy because the passport number is entered. Most diploma boards are not yet connected.
See the full MEA apostille guide for how the final stage works.
Diploma Certificate apostille by state
Choose the state or union territory that issued the document.
Checks to run before you send a diploma
A few minutes of checking saves a wasted round trip. Start with the name of the issuing body printed on the certificate. If it names a state board, a state council, a university or the NCVT, the diploma can normally be verified. If it names only the private institute, ask the institute which board or university it is affiliated to.
Next, look at the signatures. A diploma signed by the board's controller of examinations or registrar is easier to verify than one signed only by a principal. Some boards also print a serial number or QR code, which helps the verifying office trace the record.
Finally, confirm what the employer abroad wants. Some ask for the diploma only. Others want the diploma, the final mark sheet and an experience letter. Experience letters from companies are commercial or personal documents and follow a different process from the diploma itself.
Once these points are clear, your diploma certificate apostille usually moves without any surprises.
Why your state matters for a diploma
Diplomas are issued at state level far more often than degrees, so the issuing body changes from state to state. Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Haryana and Punjab each have their own technical education board or directorate. Nursing councils and SCVT offices are also state bodies.
On the state route, the designated officer differs too. Punjab names its Director of Technical Education and Industrial Training. Goa and Assam list their technical education directors. Other states route diplomas through the general education or home department.
Choose your state from the state directory below to see the board, the authority and the notes for that state. For example, read the Gujarat diploma page.
Countries that accept it, and those that need attestation
Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, the UK, the USA, Canada, Australia and most European countries accept an apostilled diploma. Many Indian technicians and nurses work in the Gulf, so the next point matters.
The UAE, Qatar and Kuwait are not Convention members. A diploma for a job there needs MEA attestation and then embassy legalization. Egypt is the same. China does not accept Indian apostilles after India's objection in September 2023, and Germany checks Indian documents through its embassy.
Planning a Gulf job? See UAE attestation charges or our wider embassy attestation service.
Cost, time and the papers we need
The government fee is Rs 50 per apostille. Our all-inclusive charge for the Delhi route is Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 per document, covering notary, SDM, MEA fee and service. Courier is extra. Expect 2 to 3 working days on the Delhi route after the documents reach us.
- Original diploma certificate
- Original final-year mark sheet, if asked for
- Nursing council registration certificate, if your employer wants it
- Passport copy, front and back
- Affidavit if your name differs from the passport
Courier the originals to C-5 A/2 New Ashok Nagar, Delhi 110096, or drop them off if you are in Delhi NCR. We send them back by Blue Dart or a similar tracked courier.
Problems we see with diplomas
These are the issues that most often stop a diploma certificate apostille partway through.
- The diploma is from a private centre with no board recognition, so no officer will verify it.
- The certificate is laminated, which blocks the stamp on the back.
- The mark sheet and diploma show slightly different names.
- The client apostilles the diploma for a UAE or Qatar job, where attestation was needed.
- The trade certificate is in a regional language and the employer wants English. We can arrange certified translation.
What a diploma certificate apostille looks like
Click any sample to enlarge. Personal details are masked.
Diploma Certificate apostille FAQs
Is an ITI certificate treated as a diploma for apostille?
It follows the same educational document process. The NCVT or SCVT certificate is verified and then apostilled by the MEA.
Can a nursing diploma and a nursing registration both be apostilled?
Yes, as two separate documents. Each one gets its own apostille and fee.
My institute has closed. Can I still apostille my diploma?
It depends on whether the board or council that issued it still holds the records. Send us a scan and the institute name so we can check.
Do I need the original diploma?
Yes. The MEA does not apostille photocopies. A duplicate issued by the board can be used if the original is lost.
Which route is faster for a polytechnic diploma?
The Delhi route is usually faster. Use the state route only if the receiving office asks for state verification.
Will an apostilled diploma work in Germany?
No. Germany does not accept apostilles from India and verifies documents through its embassy.
Can an experience letter be apostilled with my diploma?
An experience letter is not an educational document, so it follows a different route. Tell us about it when you send the diploma and we will quote both.
Send your diploma certificate details
WhatsApp a photo of the document and the destination country. We reply with the route and one total price.