Getting a Birth Certificate Apostille in Meghalaya
A birth certificate apostille in Meghalaya starts with a certificate issued by a Registrar of Births and Deaths working under the Director of Health Services (MCH&FW), Shillong, who is also the state's Chief Registrar. The registrar's signature must be confirmed before the Ministry of External Affairs will add its apostille. INFINITYGRO arranges both steps by courier.
By the INFINITYGRO documentation teamUpdated Facts checked against MEA and HCCH
Birth certificate apostille sample
Who issues birth certificates in Meghalaya, and can they be apostilled? Registrars of Births and Deaths under the Health and Family Welfare Department issue them, with the Director of Health Services (MCH&FW) as Chief Registrar. A birth certificate apostille in Meghalaya is possible once the original is verified, through the Delhi notary and SDM or through the Political Department in Shillong, and then sent to the MEA.
How Meghalaya's health department runs registration
In Meghalaya, birth registration sits with the Health and Family Welfare Department. The Director of Health Services (MCH&FW) in Shillong acts as Chief Registrar of Births and Deaths. Registrars of Births and Deaths in each area record births and issue certificates.
In May 2023 the state notified the use of the Civil Registration System software of the Registrar General of India for all registrars. The aim was uniform registration and central data. A state notice under its public services framework also lists the birth certificate as a service, to be delivered within 14 working days of a complete application, with the Chief Registrar as the appellate authority.
Your certificate will name the registration unit and carry the registrar's signature and seal. That signature is what the verifying authority confirms. If the seal is faint or the signature missing, ask the unit for a fresh extract before you start.
Key facts
| Chief Registrar | Director of Health Services (MCH&FW), Shillong |
|---|---|
| Issuing department | Health and Family Welfare, through Registrars of Births and Deaths |
| State rules | Meghalaya Registration of Births and Deaths Rules, 1999 |
| Service time under state notification | 14 working days (corrigendum of 6 September 2023) |
| Registration software | CRS of the Registrar General of India, notified May 2023 |
| State route authority | Political Department, Shillong |
| Apostille | MEA, Rs 50 per document |
Adding a name and registering late under the 1999 Rules
The Meghalaya Registration of Births and Deaths Rules, 1999 cover two problems we often see. The first is a certificate without the child's name. Parents should give the name within 12 months of registration. After that, and within 15 years, the registrar can still enter it on a small late fee, against a copy of the extract already issued.
The second is late registration. A delay of up to 30 days beyond the normal period needs a late fee. Up to one year needs the District Registrar's written permission and an affidavit. Beyond one year, a First Class Magistrate's order is required.
Routes for birth certificate apostille in Meghalaya
Delhi route
A notary attests the certificate, the SDM in Delhi verifies it, and the MEA adds the apostille. It usually takes 2 to 3 working days once the document reaches us. Our all-inclusive charge for this route is Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 per document, with courier extra.
State route
The MEA lists the Political Department in Shillong as a designated authority for personal documents. It verifies the registrar's signature, and the certificate then goes to the MEA. Use it when a foreign office asks for state verification.
Read about the final stage on our MEA apostille page.
Papers to send
- Original birth certificate with the registrar's signature and seal
- Passport copy of the person named, or of a parent for a child
- Destination country and purpose
- Affidavit if any name differs from the passport
A laminated certificate cannot be stamped on the back, and photocopies are never apostilled. If the certificate has text in Khasi, Garo or another language besides English, ask about certified translation.
Pack the certificate flat between two pieces of card. Avoid folding it along the seal or signature. Put a short note inside with your phone number, the destination country and whether you need a translation.
Clients in Shillong
Shillong is where most of our Meghalaya files come from. The Chief Registrar's office and the Political Department are both in the city. Births in Shillong may have been registered at a hospital unit or within the Shillong Municipal Board area.
We do not pick up from homes in Shillong. Send the original by tracked courier to our New Ashok Nagar office in Delhi. We return it by Blue Dart or a similar secure courier. Clients from Tura, Jowai and other towns follow the same process.
Mention the town and the registration unit in your cover note. It helps us choose the right route and answer questions from the verifying office quickly.
Where the apostilled certificate is used
Common purposes are a child's passport or visa, school admission abroad, residence permits, citizenship by descent and OCI-related use in another country. The apostille is accepted in Hague members such as the UK, the USA, Canada, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Bahrain.
It is not accepted for China or Germany. The UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and Egypt need MEA attestation and embassy legalization through our embassy attestation service.
The apostille confirms who signed, not what was written. Get any wrong entry corrected at the registrar before you send it.
For a child's passport or dependant visa, the receiving office may ask for both parents' passports as well. Keep copies ready. The apostille itself covers only the birth certificate, and other documents such as a marriage certificate need their own.
Start with a photo
Send a clear photo of the certificate on WhatsApp at +91 85955 58517. We will tell you if the name field, seal or format needs attention. The birth certificate apostille hub explains the general process, and our contact page lists other ways to reach us.
Older certificates written by hand are often still valid. Some foreign offices, however, want a fresh computerised copy, which the registrar holding the record can usually provide. Ask the receiving office before you post the original.
Real birth certificate apostille samples
Click any sample to enlarge. Personal details are masked.
Meghalaya birth certificate apostille FAQs
Who is the appellate authority if my certificate is delayed?
Under the state's service notification, the Chief Registrar of Births and Deaths is the appellate authority for the birth certificate service.
Can a certificate from the Shillong Municipal Board area be apostilled?
Yes. A registered certificate signed by an authorised registrar can be apostilled after verification.
Is a birth certificate apostille in Meghalaya valid in Germany?
No. Germany verifies Indian documents through its embassy instead.
Can I submit at the MEA counter myself?
No. Since July 2012 the MEA takes documents only through its authorised outsourced centres.
Do I need separate apostilles for two certificates?
Yes. Each certificate is a separate document with its own apostille.
Which route should I pick for birth certificate apostille in Meghalaya?
For most destinations the Delhi route is enough. Choose the Shillong Political Department route only if the receiving office asks for state verification.
Other documents from Meghalaya
- Marriage Certificate apostille
- Birth Certificate apostille
- Degree Certificate apostille
- Diploma Certificate apostille
- PCC apostille
Birth Certificate apostille in other states
Getting a Meghalaya birth certificate ready for abroad?
WhatsApp a photo of the document and the destination country. We reply with the route, the timeline and one total price.