Getting a Degree Certificate Apostille in Kerala
Kerala sends more graduates abroad than almost any other state, and a degree certificate apostille in Kerala is often the first paper they need. The state verifies educational documents through Certificate Authentication Centres of the General Education Department at Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Kozhikode. INFINITYGRO Attestation in Delhi takes care of the MEA side for degrees from every Kerala university.
By the INFINITYGRO documentation teamUpdated Facts checked against MEA and HCCH
Degree certificate apostille sample
Where is a Kerala degree verified before the MEA apostille? A Kerala degree can be verified at a Certificate Authentication Centre of the General Education Department, or notarised and verified by the SDM in Delhi. The MEA then adds the apostille. A degree certificate apostille in Kerala costs Rs 50 per document in MEA fees, and every mark list is a separate document.
Kerala universities we see most often
Our Kerala clients hold degrees from a wide range of universities. The common ones are:
- University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram
- Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam
- University of Calicut, near Kozhikode
- Kannur University
- Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT), Kochi
- APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University, for engineering degrees since 2015
- Kerala University of Health Sciences, Thrissur, for medical and nursing degrees
- Central University of Kerala, Kasaragod
Engineers who studied before KTU existed usually hold degrees from Kerala, MG, Calicut or CUSAT. Those are still valid and are processed the same way.
Key facts
| State verifying offices | Certificate Authentication Centres, Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Kozhikode |
|---|---|
| Run by | General Education Department, Government of Kerala |
| Also on the MEA list | Home Department, Secretariat, Thiruvananthapuram |
| Authentication for private institutes | NORKA-ROOTS Regional Authentication Centres |
| Apostille authority | Ministry of External Affairs (CPV Division) |
| MEA fee | Rs 50 per document |
| INFINITYGRO Delhi route | Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 per document, 2 to 3 working days |
How Kerala's Certificate Authentication Centres fit in
The MEA list of state authorities names officers of the General Education Department at Certificate Authentication Centres in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Kozhikode. Their signature tells the MEA that the state has checked the degree.
NORKA-ROOTS, the state agency for non-resident Keralites, also runs Regional Authentication Centres in the same three cities. A 2021 government order extended this authentication to certificates from recognised private institutions.
You need the state route only when a foreign university, employer or regulator asks for it. Otherwise the Delhi route is faster for most clients outside Kerala. It also suits people who have already moved abroad and have family posting papers on their behalf.
Degree certificate apostille in Kerala: picking a route
- Delhi route: notary, then SDM in Delhi, then the MEA. Accepted for most degrees from any state.
- Kerala route: a Certificate Authentication Centre verifies the degree, and the MEA apostilles it.
- e-Sanad: universities linked to e-Sanad verify online. You give your passport number at this stage.
The MEA has taken documents only through its authorised outsourced centres since July 2012. We file through them for you.
Mark lists, consolidated grade cards and provisional certificates
Kerala universities usually issue a mark list for each semester and a consolidated grade card at the end. Each one is a separate document for the MEA and needs its own apostille.
The provisional certificate issued soon after results is different from the final degree. Many universities abroad want the final degree certificate. If you have only the provisional one, ask the receiving body whether it will accept it.
The MEA checks the authorising officer's signature only. It does not check your marks or the course content.
Medical, nursing and engineering graduates
Kerala's doctors and nurses face extra steps abroad. A UK, Irish or Gulf regulator often wants the apostilled degree and also a direct verification from the university or council. The Kerala University of Health Sciences handles verification for degrees it awarded. Older medical degrees from before KUHS was set up were awarded by the general universities, so the request goes there.
Engineers applying for work visas in Australia or Canada may face a skills assessment that wants transcripts. Ask your university for a sealed transcript as well as the apostilled degree, and check which one the assessor needs.
For a PhD or postgraduate degree, the steps are the same. Every certificate is still a separate document.
Clients in Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram and Thrissur
We work from Delhi, so Kerala clients courier their degrees to us. We return them by Blue Dart or a similar tracked courier. Home collection is not offered.
- Kochi: CUSAT and MG University graduates, many in engineering and shipping.
- Thiruvananthapuram: University of Kerala degrees and a steady stream of medical graduates.
- Thrissur: Calicut University and Kerala University of Health Sciences degrees, often for nurses and doctors.
If you are in Kerala and need state verification, you may find it easier to visit a Certificate Authentication Centre yourself, then send the verified degree to us for the MEA step.
Gulf countries and the apostille
Many Kerala graduates head to the Gulf. Saudi Arabia, Oman and Bahrain accept the apostille. The UAE, Qatar and Kuwait do not, so those need MEA attestation and embassy legalization. We do this through our embassy attestation service, and the UAE charges page lists the costs.
The UK, USA, Canada, Australia and most of Europe accept the apostille. China and Germany do not.
Before you post your degree
- Send the original, never a photocopy
- Avoid lamination, as the back gets stamped
- Check that your name matches your passport, or prepare an affidavit
- Keep a passport copy ready
- A Malayalam document may need certified translation; see our translation service
More details are in our degree apostille hub.
Real degree certificate apostille samples
Click any sample to enlarge. Personal details are masked.
Kerala degree certificate apostille FAQs
Is NORKA authentication the same as an apostille?
No. NORKA-ROOTS or the Certificate Authentication Centre gives state verification. The apostille comes only from the MEA after that step.
Can I skip the Kerala state step?
Usually yes. The Delhi route through notary and SDM is accepted for most degrees. Use the state step only if the receiving body asks.
Does a KTU degree get apostilled the same way?
Yes. APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University degrees follow the same routes as other Kerala universities.
Is a degree certificate apostille in Kerala valid in Qatar?
No. Qatar is outside the convention. You need MEA attestation and Qatar embassy legalization.
How many apostilles for my degree and mark lists?
One for each document. A degree plus eight semester mark lists means nine apostilles.
Can my parents send the degree while I am abroad?
Yes. Anyone can courier the original to us. We need a scan of your passport, and the papers come back to the address you give.
Other documents from Kerala
- Marriage Certificate apostille
- Birth Certificate apostille
- Degree Certificate apostille
- Diploma Certificate apostille
- PCC apostille
Degree Certificate apostille in other states
Getting a Kerala degree 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.