UK Apostille for Indian Documents: When You Need It and How
A UK apostille on an Indian document is issued by India's Ministry of External Affairs, not by any British office. India and the United Kingdom both apply the Hague Apostille Convention, so MEA's apostille is the final step. INFINITYGRO prepares documents for UK use from clients across India.
By the INFINITYGRO documentation teamUpdated Facts checked against MEA and HCCH
Documents from India for United Kingdom
Do I need an apostille for documents going to the UK? Not always. Many UK visa applications accept Indian documents without one. A UK apostille is usually asked for by solicitors, registrars, Companies House filings, banks or courts. Where it is needed, the Indian authority verifies the paper and MEA attaches the apostille. No British High Commission legalization follows. English documents need no translation.
When the UK really asks for an apostille
People often get documents apostilled for a UK visa and later find the Home Office did not need it. UK visa rules focus on the document itself and any translation, not on legalization. The apostille becomes important in other situations:
- Giving notice of marriage or registering a foreign marriage
- Probate and inheritance, where Indian death or succession papers are used
- Company filings, bank accounts and contracts for Indian companies or directors
- Property purchases and court cases
- Professional registration with some UK regulators
Ask the UK solicitor, registrar or regulator whether they want one. If yes, we take it from there.
Solicitors handling a UK will or probate where the deceased had Indian assets, or the reverse, often need Indian death certificates, succession certificates or powers of attorney with an apostille. Registrars may need an Indian divorce decree or a single-status affidavit when someone gives notice of marriage in the UK. These are the files where a UK apostille matters most.
Key facts
| Route | Hague Apostille |
|---|---|
| Issued by | MEA, New Delhi (not the UK FCDO) |
| MEA fee | Rs 50 per document |
| British High Commission step | Not needed |
| Language | English; no translation for English papers |
| Common uses | Marriage, probate, company filings, property |
| Typical senders | Families, students, businesses |
MEA, not the FCDO
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office issues apostilles only on British documents. An Indian document must be apostilled in India by MEA. If someone asks you to send an Indian birth certificate to the FCDO, they are mistaken. The MEA apostille is fully valid in the UK.
UK apostille route through MEA
- Degrees and marksheets. Verified by the university or state education department. See our degree certificate apostille page.
- Birth, marriage, death and police records. Verified by the state Home or GAD department, or notary and SDM where allowed.
- Company papers. Notarised where needed, then authenticated by a recognised Chamber of Commerce.
- MEA apostille through MEA's authorised outsourced centre, at Rs 50 per document.
More on our MEA apostille in India page.
Court documents such as a divorce decree or succession certificate usually need a certified copy from the court, then the verification MEA accepts for that document. Affidavits are notarised first. Ask us before you get anything notarised, since the wrong format can mean starting again.
Indian companies dealing with the UK
Indian companies opening a UK subsidiary, appointing a UK agent or signing with a UK buyer may be asked for an apostilled certificate of incorporation, board resolution or power of attorney. Exporters sometimes need an apostilled certificate of origin or free sale certificate for a UK importer. Our commercial documents page explains the chamber step.
Families and marriage
Couples who married in India and later deal with UK registrars, courts or pension bodies may be asked for an apostilled marriage certificate. Use the registrar-issued certificate. Make sure the names match the passports. If they do not, an affidavit or corrected certificate may be needed before verification.
Indian documents in Hindi, Punjabi, Gujarati or another language need a certified English translation for UK use. INFINITYGRO can arrange translation. Ask the UK office whether it wants the translation apostilled as well.
What to send us
- Original document, unlaminated
- Passport copy
- The UK solicitor's or office's request, if available
- For companies, letterhead copies signed by the authorised signatory
Courier the originals to New Ashok Nagar, Delhi, or drop them off in Delhi NCR. We return them by Blue Dart or another tracked courier, with a written quote agreed first.
Mistakes on UK files
- Getting an apostille for a visa that did not need one.
- Sending Indian papers to the FCDO.
- Asking the British High Commission to legalize an Indian document.
- Using a religious marriage certificate where a registrar's certificate is required.
Document guides for United Kingdom
The same route applies to most documents; each guide covers what to send and the common mistakes.
What the stamps look like
Click any sample to enlarge. Personal details are masked.
United Kingdom FAQs
Does a UK visa need an apostille?
Usually not. Check the visa guidance and ask us if a specific office has asked for one.
Can the FCDO apostille my Indian certificate?
No. Only MEA in India can apostille an Indian document.
Is a UK apostille needed for a UK university?
Most universities accept documents without one. Some may ask. Follow their instructions.
Do English documents need translation for the UK?
No. Documents in Hindi or other languages need a certified English translation.
What is the MEA fee?
Rs 50 per document. We quote our service charges per document in writing.
Can a power of attorney for UK property be apostilled in India?
Yes. It is signed and notarised in India, verified as MEA requires, and then MEA adds the apostille.
Other Apostille countries
AlgeriaApostille
ArgentinaApostille
AustraliaApostille
AustriaApostille
BahrainApostille
BangladeshApostille
BelgiumApostille
BoliviaApostille
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
Sending documents to United Kingdom?
WhatsApp a photo of the document and tell us its use. We reply with the route and a written quote.