Transfer Certificate Apostille for Children Moving to a School Abroad
When a family relocates, the new school abroad often asks for proof that the child has left the old one properly. That proof is the school's transfer certificate, and a transfer certificate apostille makes it acceptable outside India. The TC is issued and signed by the head of the school, not by a board, which shapes how it is attested.
By the INFINITYGRO documentation teamUpdated Facts checked against MEA and HCCH
Degree certificate apostille sample
Who signs a transfer certificate, and why does that matter? The principal or head of the school signs the TC, usually with the school seal. Because a school signature is not one the MEA holds on record, it has to be verified first. For a transfer certificate apostille, that means a Delhi notary and the SDM, or the education department of the school's state. The MEA then adds the apostille.
What a TC actually records
A transfer certificate is the school's formal release. It is issued on request when a student leaves, and many schools will not release it until fees and library dues are cleared.
The exact format depends on the school and the board it is affiliated to, but a TC typically records:
- The student's name, parents' names and date of birth from the admission register
- The class last studied and whether the student was promoted
- Date of admission and date of leaving
- Conduct, and sometimes subjects studied
- Admission number, signature of the principal and the school seal
A school abroad uses these details to place the child in the right grade.
Key facts
| Also called | TC, School Leaving Certificate, Leaving Certificate (LC) |
|---|---|
| Issued by | The school, signed by the principal or head teacher |
| Main use | Admission to a school abroad when a family relocates |
| Usually shows | Class last attended, date of leaving, date of birth, conduct |
| Delhi route | Notary, SDM (Delhi), then MEA |
| State route | Education department of the school's state, then MEA |
| MEA fee | Rs 50 per apostille; normal attestation free |
| INFINITYGRO Delhi route | Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 per document; courier extra |
TC or School Leaving Certificate: the same job
Schools in Maharashtra and Gujarat commonly issue a School Leaving Certificate or LC. Schools in most other states issue a Transfer Certificate. Some older documents say both. They serve the same purpose and go through the same apostille process.
Our old site had separate pages for TC and School Leaving Certificate. Both now lead here.
The TC is not the same as a migration certificate. A migration certificate comes from a board or university and lets you move to another board or university. A TC comes from the school.
Why schools abroad ask for it
International and public schools overseas want to know that the child left the previous school in good standing and which grade they finished. Ministries of education in some countries require a legalized leaving certificate before they recognise a student's previous study, especially when the child joins mid-year or between grades.
Gulf countries often ask for it for school enrolment of expatriate children. Families in Europe, the UK and Australia are asked for it less often, but some schools still do. Always check the admission checklist.
The TC also helps the receiving school check the date of birth. Grade placement abroad is usually by age, so a school will compare the TC with the passport. If the two differ, expect questions. Sort out any mismatch with the Indian school before the document is attested.
Transfer Certificate route by destination country
Each card shows whether the country takes an MEA Apostille or embassy legalization. Click a flag for that country.
UAEEmbassy legalization
QatarEmbassy legalization
KuwaitEmbassy legalization
Saudi ArabiaApostille
OmanApostille
BahrainApostille
United KingdomApostille
United StatesApostille
ItalyApostille
FranceApostille
ChinaEmbassy legalization
MalaysiaEmbassy legalization
No country matches. Call us: we handle most embassies in New Delhi.
Apostille MEA Apostille is the final stepEmbassy legalization MEA attestation, then the embassy in New DelhiGerman verification verified through the German Embassy
How a transfer certificate apostille is processed
- Check the TC. It should be the original, on school letterhead, signed and sealed, and the child's name should match the passport.
- Verification. On the Delhi route, a notary in Delhi signs and the SDM (Delhi) verifies the notary. On the state route, the education department of the school's state verifies the school's signature. Use the state route only when the receiving office asks for it.
- MEA. The MEA adds the apostille for Hague Convention countries, or a normal attestation where an embassy is next.
- Embassy, if needed. For non-Apostille countries, the embassy in New Delhi legalizes the document.
The Delhi route usually takes 2 to 3 working days with us.
Timing the TC around a relocation
The hardest part of a transfer certificate apostille is often the calendar, not the paperwork. Schools usually issue the TC only once the child has actually left, and many hold it until fees for the final term are paid. Families who fly out soon after the last school day can be left without the document.
A few habits help:
- Apply for the TC as soon as you give notice to the school, and ask when it will be ready.
- Ask the new school abroad whether it will accept a provisional admission while the attested TC is on its way.
- Leave the original with a relative in India, who can courier it to us after you travel.
- Send the passport copy and the destination to us in advance so we can start the same day the TC arrives.
If you have more than one child, send all the TCs in one parcel. They are separate documents, but they travel through the same steps together.
Families moving to the UAE, Qatar or Kuwait
These countries are not part of the Apostille Convention. The TC goes through MEA attestation and then the embassy. For the UAE, MOFA attestation follows in the UAE, and it is done online. Some UAE schools also ask for the previous year's report card or mark sheet, attested the same way.
Saudi Arabia, Oman and Bahrain now accept apostilles. China needs embassy legalization. Germany does not legalize Indian documents and may verify them through its embassy. See our embassy attestation service and UAE attestation fees.
What to send us
- The original TC or School Leaving Certificate
- The child's passport copy
- The country and the name of the new school, if known
- Any report cards the school abroad asked for
Delhi NCR families can drop documents at our New Ashok Nagar office. Others courier them to us, and we send them back by Blue Dart or another tracked courier. We do not pick up from homes. The Delhi route is Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 per document, covering notary, SDM, the Rs 50 MEA fee and service. Embassy fees and courier are extra. Get a written quote.
Things that hold up a TC
- Photocopies or unsigned TCs. We need the signed and sealed original.
- Date of birth or name errors. Ask the school to correct them before attestation. Fixing an apostilled document means starting again.
- Closed schools. If the school has shut down, the district education office may hold its records. Contact them for a certified copy.
- Language. A TC in a regional language may need a certified translation, especially for Arabic-speaking countries.
What the MEA stamps look like
Click any sample to enlarge. Personal details are masked.
Transfer Certificate apostille FAQs
Is a School Leaving Certificate treated the same as a TC?
Yes. Both are issued by the school when a student leaves, and both follow the same apostille process.
Can a TC from a school in another state be done in Delhi?
Yes. The Delhi route of notary, SDM and MEA works for a TC from any state.
Does a CBSE school TC need CBSE verification?
No. The TC is the school's document. CBSE board papers are separate. See our CBSE certificate page.
Is a transfer certificate apostille needed for university admission?
Rarely. Universities usually want board and degree documents. A TC is mainly asked for by schools.
Is the TC enough on its own for a school abroad?
Often not. Schools usually also want the last report card and the child's birth certificate. Ask the school for its full list so everything can be attested together.
Do I also need a bonafide certificate?
Some schools want proof the child is still enrolled before leaving. That is a bonafide certificate, apostilled separately.
Can the TC be returned to me after I move abroad?
We return documents by Blue Dart or another tracked courier. Most families have them sent to a relative in India, who forwards them. Tell us the delivery address before we start.
Need your Transfer Certificate legalized?
WhatsApp a photo of the document and the destination country. We reply with the route and a written quote.