Degree Certificate Apostille in Lakshadweep: A Practical Route
Islanders face a special problem: Lakshadweep does not appear on the MEA's list of state and territory authentication authorities. So a degree certificate apostille in Lakshadweep is usually done through the Delhi route, with a notary and the SDM in Delhi before the MEA. Most degrees earned on the islands come from Pondicherry University, which has jurisdiction over higher education institutions in Lakshadweep.
By the INFINITYGRO documentation teamUpdated Facts checked against MEA and HCCH
Degree certificate apostille sample
How can a graduate from Lakshadweep get a degree apostilled? Lakshadweep has no designated authority on the MEA list, so a degree certificate apostille in Lakshadweep normally uses the Delhi route: notary, SDM in Delhi, then the MEA. Couriering the original to us in Delhi avoids the trip to the mainland. Check with the Collectorate in Kavaratti if a receiving body insists on local verification.
Where Lakshadweep degrees come from
Pondicherry University states that it has jurisdiction over the higher education institutions in Lakshadweep. Its affiliated government colleges are on the islands of Kadmat, Androth, Kavaratti and Minicoy. The Kadmat college serves Kadmat and Androth and offers undergraduate programmes.
Andrott also has the P. M. Sayeed Calicut University Centre, set up in 2005 as a centre of the University of Calicut. Its courses have included aquaculture and commerce at undergraduate and postgraduate level.
Many islanders also study on the mainland, especially in Kerala. A degree from a Kerala university can use the Kerala route. Read our Kerala degree page for that.
Key facts
| Territory authority on MEA list | None listed |
|---|---|
| Recommended route | Delhi route: notary, SDM Delhi, MEA |
| Local office to ask | Collectorate, Kavaratti |
| Higher education jurisdiction | Pondicherry University |
| Island colleges | Kadmat, Androth, Kavaratti and Minicoy |
| Calicut University centre | P. M. Sayeed Calicut University Centre, Andrott |
| MEA fee | Rs 50 per document |
Why no territory office is on the MEA list
Most states and Union Territories have named officers whose signature the MEA recognises. Lakshadweep does not appear on that list. In practice, this means the territory route that works in other states is not available.
The Delhi route fills that gap. A notary attests the degree, the SDM in Delhi verifies the notary, and the MEA adds the apostille. It is accepted for most educational documents from anywhere in India.
If a foreign body specifically asks for local government verification, contact the Collectorate in Kavaratti first. Ask them in writing, so you have their answer on record.
Degree certificate apostille in Lakshadweep, step by step
- Send a clear scan of the degree on WhatsApp. We check the university, your name and the destination country.
- Courier the original to our Delhi office. Ship and air links can be slow, so allow extra time.
- We arrange the notary and the Delhi SDM verification.
- We file the degree with the MEA through its authorised outsourced centre. The MEA has not accepted papers from individuals since July 2012.
- We return the apostilled degree by tracked courier.
Once we have the original, the Delhi route usually takes 2 to 3 working days.
Pondicherry or Calicut: reading your certificate
Islanders who studied at different times may hold degrees from different universities. The Andrott centre was set up as a centre of the University of Calicut. Pondicherry University now states that it has jurisdiction over higher education institutions in the territory.
For the apostille, the university printed on your degree is the one that matters. If a receiving body abroad wants the university to confirm the degree directly, the request goes to that university, not to the college on your island.
Degrees from the Government College of Teacher Education in Kavaratti, if you hold one, follow the same logic. Look at the name and seal on the final certificate, and tell us what it says when you first get in touch.
Online verification through e-Sanad
The MEA's e-Sanad system lets connected universities verify degrees online. If your university is connected, this can save a courier trip. You need your passport number for it.
Not every university is on e-Sanad. We check whether yours is before you post anything. For islanders, this is worth asking about first, because courier from the islands takes longer than from most places.
Mark sheets and provisional certificates
Every mark sheet or statement of marks is its own document. Each one needs a separate apostille and a separate Rs 50 MEA fee.
A provisional certificate is not the final degree. Many foreign offices want the final one. If your convocation degree has been issued, apostille that.
Transcripts are requested from the university. Ask the receiving body whether it needs them apostilled or sent in a sealed envelope.
Clients in Kavaratti and the other islands
Kavaratti is the administrative capital, and the Collectorate is there. Clients from Kavaratti, Agatti, Andrott, Kadmat, Minicoy and the other islands all courier their originals to our Delhi office. Your papers come back by Blue Dart or a similar service with tracking. We do not offer pickup.
Courier services can be patchy on some islands. Some clients hand their papers to a relative travelling to Kochi or Kozhikode, who then sends them on from there. Keep a scan of every page before the original leaves your hands.
Destinations and documents
Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, the UK, the USA, Canada, Australia and most of Europe accept the apostille. The UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and Egypt need MEA attestation and embassy legalization. Many islanders work in the Gulf, so check which applies. See our embassy attestation service. Neither China nor Germany accepts the Indian apostille.
- Original degree, not laminated
- Name as in your passport, or an affidavit
- Passport copy
- Translation of Malayalam text if asked, through our translation service
See the degree apostille hub for more.
Real degree certificate apostille samples
Click any sample to enlarge. Personal details are masked.
Lakshadweep degree certificate apostille FAQs
Is there a Lakshadweep office that signs degrees for the MEA?
Lakshadweep is not on the MEA list of authorities. The Delhi route is the usual option.
My college on Kadmat is under Pondicherry University. Can I use the Puducherry route?
Ask the receiving body first. The Delhi route is simpler and is accepted in most cases.
Is a degree certificate apostille in Lakshadweep valid in Saudi Arabia?
Yes. Saudi Arabia accepts the apostille.
Do I need to travel to Delhi?
No. Courier the original to us and we return it by tracked courier.
Does every mark sheet need its own apostille?
Yes. The MEA treats each document separately.
Does the MEA check what my degree says?
No. The MEA only confirms the signature of the officer who signed before it, such as the Delhi SDM.
Other documents from Lakshadweep
- Marriage Certificate apostille
- Birth Certificate apostille
- Degree Certificate apostille
- Diploma Certificate apostille
- PCC apostille
Degree Certificate apostille in other states
Getting a Lakshadweep 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.