PG Degree Certificate in Bicholim, Goa

Tagline: A master's degree often opens the biggest doors abroad: a PhD seat, a senior job, a teaching post or a specialist licence. We make sure your PG degree arrives with the right stamps, the first time.

A PG degree certificate is the master's degree your university awards after a postgraduate programme. To use it abroad, it must be legalised. PG degree attestation is the route for non-Hague countries such as the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait, where the embassy and the foreign ministry also stamp it. A master degree certificate apostille is the route for Hague Convention countries such as the USA, the UK, Canada, Australia and Saudi Arabia.

Postgraduate degrees bring a few extra questions that bachelor's degrees do not. Should the bachelor's degree go with it? Is a PG diploma treated like a degree? Does a medical PG need council documents too? Is a notarized degree enough for a PhD application? This page answers each one, explains university attestation, the postgraduate degree apostille process and master degree attestation in India for every state, and shows how to plan PG degree attestation for higher studies and senior jobs abroad.

• MA, MSc, MCom, MBA, MCA, MTech, ME, LLM, MEd, MPharm, MD, MS, MDS and other master's degrees
• Master degree apostille for Hague countries; PG degree attestation for the Gulf and other non-Hague countries
• University attestation, state HRD (Norka Roots for Kerala) and MEA handled for you
• PG and UG degrees processed together when your destination needs both
• Doorstep pickup in Delhi NCR and tracked courier pickup across India

Key Facts About Legalising a PG Degree

What Is a PG Degree Certificate?

It is the certificate a university issues when you complete a master's programme. It states your name, the degree, the subject, the year and often the division or CGPA, and it carries the signature of the registrar or controller of examinations and the university's seal.

Which PG Degrees Can Be Legalised?

Any master's degree awarded by a university recognised in India can be legalised once the university or the state can verify it. Distance-education and open university master's degrees follow the same rule. MBA, LLM, MD/MS and MTech holders will find extra profession-specific detail on our subject pages.

PG Degree Certificate Attestation

PG degree attestation is the chain of verifications that makes an Indian master's degree valid in a country that is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention. It is needed for the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Malaysia, Egypt, Jordan, Sri Lanka, Nepal and many African and Asian countries.

In attestation, each authority confirms the signature or stamp of the one before it. Only after the last stage – the embassy in India and, in the Gulf, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) – will the employer, university or ministry abroad accept the degree.

PG Degree Attestation Process

Stage 1: University Attestation

The university that awarded the degree confirms it, by a stamp, a verification letter or an internal check. For deemed or central universities, the verification desk can be different, so tell us the exact awarding body.

Stage 2: State HRD or Higher Education Department

The HRD or Higher Education Department of the state where the university is located verifies the degree. Maharashtra degrees go through Mantralaya, and Kerala PG degrees get HRD attestation through Norka Roots. Degrees do not go to the SDM or the Home Department.

Stage 3: MEA Attestation

MEA attests the degree after state verification. The MEA stamp is what the embassy checks next.

Stage 4: Embassy Attestation

The embassy of the destination country in New Delhi attests the degree.

Stage 5: MOFA Attestation (Gulf Countries)

In the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs completes the chain. For the UAE, after MEA attestation one online application covers both the UAE Embassy in New Delhi and the UAE MOFA; a MOFA-approved provider collects the original, and the digitally attested document is emailed.

PG Degree Attestation for Jobs in the Gulf

Employers use your master's degree to justify senior roles, higher salary bands and specialist work permits. In the Gulf, an attested master's degree can affect your job title and, for some roles, your eligibility for family sponsorship. For teaching jobs at college level, a PG degree is often the minimum requirement, and education authorities may ask for both the bachelor's and master's degrees attested with transcripts.

UAE: after university attestation, state HRD and MEA attestation, one online application covers both the UAE Embassy in New Delhi and the UAE MOFA. Degree equivalency, where needed, is a separate process with the UAE education authorities.

Qatar: Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs requires degrees issued outside Qatar to be attested by its mission in the issuing country, so the degree goes through MEA and the Qatar Embassy in New Delhi before Qatar MOFA.

Kuwait: the Kuwait Embassy in New Delhi attests the degree after MEA, and the Kuwait Ministry of Foreign Affairs completes the chain.

Saudi Arabia, Oman and Bahrain: these three are Hague members, so a master degree certificate apostille is the usual route, not embassy attestation.

Other Non-Hague Countries

For Malaysia, Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Kenya and similar countries, PG degree attestation follows the same route up to MEA, and then the embassy or high commission of that country in India attests it. Some of these missions also ask for a translation into their own language.

PG Degree Certificate Apostille

A master degree apostille is a single certificate from MEA that makes your verified PG degree valid in every country where the Hague Apostille Convention applies with India. No embassy and no foreign ministry is needed after it.

India joined the Hague Apostille Convention of 5 October 1961 with effect from 14 July 2005, and MEA is the only authority in India that issues apostilles. MEA does not accept documents from individuals at its counter; originals are submitted through its outsourced service providers after state verification.

Postgraduate Degree Apostille Process

The postgraduate degree apostille process follows three stages:

1. University attestation: the university confirms the PG degree, where the state asks for it.
2. State HRD or Higher Education Department: verifies the degree.
3. MEA apostille: MEA fixes its apostille sticker with a unique number to the degree.

With Pro Attestation, we add a document check at the start (names, roll numbers, dates, seals and lamination) and a quality check at the end, with photos of every stamp before tracked return.

What a Master Degree Certificate Apostille Proves

A master degree certificate apostille is a square, computer-generated sticker fixed to the back of your PG degree. It confirms that the signature and seal of the Indian state officer who verified the degree are genuine. It does not judge the quality of your degree or its equivalence abroad; universities, employers and regulators abroad still decide how they treat your qualification. The unique number on every apostille lets them check it online on MEA's verification facility.

University Degree Apostille vs Degree Apostille

People search for a university degree apostille or simply a degree apostille when they mean the same thing: the MEA apostille on a degree issued by a university. For a master's degree, the route is exactly the postgraduate degree apostille process above. A bachelor's degree follows the same route, and a PhD adds its own university checks.

PG Degree Attestation for Higher Studies

PG degree attestation for higher studies is most often needed for PhD admissions, research positions and postdoctoral fellowships abroad. Many doctoral programmes ask for the master's degree, the bachelor's degree and the transcripts of both. Some accept uploaded copies at the application stage and want legalised originals at enrolment or for the student visa. In European countries, an apostilled master's degree is often followed by a certified or sworn translation. In North America, graduate schools usually want official transcripts sent directly by your university, and an apostille may be requested separately for some immigration or registration steps. Plan early: research admissions often have fixed start dates, and university attestation of an older PG degree can take time. If your programme offers a scholarship or funded position, check its document deadline too, because funding offices sometimes ask for legalised degrees before the university does.

Hague and Non-Hague Countries: Apostille or Attestation?

The destination country decides the route. If the Hague Apostille Convention applies between India and that country, your degree needs a master degree certificate apostille. If it does not, it needs PG degree attestation. The tables below were checked against the Hague Conference status table in November 2026.

Hague Countries: Master Degree Apostille

Non-Hague Countries: PG Degree Attestation

Special Cases You Should Know

• Germany: Germany objected to India's accession in 2005, and the objection still stands, so an Indian apostille has no legal effect for German authorities. German missions in India stopped legalising Indian documents in 2000 and use document verification instead, which only a German authority can request. Researchers and students going to Germany should follow the university's and the German mission's current instructions.
• China: a master's degree for China needs MEA attestation followed by legalisation at the Chinese Embassy or a Chinese Consulate in India, because India objected to China's accession.
• Vietnam: from 11 September 2026, the Vietnamese Embassy in New Delhi stopped consular legalisation of Indian public documents covered by the Convention, and directs them to the MEA apostille.
• Thailand: Thailand has joined, but the Convention takes effect only on 28 February 2027. Until then, Thailand still needs attestation.
• Canada and Saudi Arabia: both moved from embassy legalisation to the apostille (Canada in January 2024, Saudi Arabia in December 2022), so older advice that asks for embassy attestation is out of date.

Apostille or Attestation: Quick Comparison

Important: do not apostille a degree that is going to the UAE, Qatar or Kuwait, and do not send an apostilled degree to China or Germany. We confirm the route for your country before you pay.

University Attestation: The First Step for Many PG Degrees

University attestation means the university that awarded your degree confirms that it is genuine. Many state HRD offices will not stamp a PG degree until the university has verified it, either by a stamp on the degree, a verification letter or an internal check. University attestation is often the slowest part of the whole process, especially for older degrees, affiliated colleges or universities with heavy workloads.

The files that move fastest are those where the degree, marksheets and passport copy are sent together and the name matches exactly, so the university can confirm everything in one go.

Notarized Degree vs Apostille: What Is the Difference?

A notarized degree is a photocopy of your degree that a notary public has stamped and signed to confirm it matches the original. It is a "true copy" statement by a notary. It is not government legalisation, and Hague countries do not accept a notarized degree in place of an apostille.

Some universities abroad accept a notarized degree for an early application and ask for the apostilled original later. A practical approach is to get the original apostilled first, then make notarized copies of the apostilled degree for applications that need copies.

Master Degree Attestation in India: State-wise Route

Master degree attestation in India depends on the state that issued the degree, not where you live.

Offices and procedures change; we confirm the current route for your degree before starting. You do not need to travel to the state where you studied.

PG Degrees for Teaching and Academic Jobs

College and university teaching posts abroad usually require a master's degree at minimum, and many also want a PhD or a national eligibility test result. Education ministries in the Gulf often classify teachers by their highest qualification, so the attested master's degree can decide your grade and salary band. Universities in Hague countries may ask for an apostilled PG degree for the work permit, while their HR teams verify your teaching experience separately. Plan the master's degree, the bachelor's degree, the B.Ed. or M.Ed. where relevant, and your experience letters together, so that the whole academic file reaches MEA at the same time.

Degrees From Different Universities or States

Many postgraduates completed their bachelor's degree in one state and their master's in another. Each degree is verified by the state of the university that awarded it: a BSc from a Bihar university goes through Bihar's route, while an MSc from a Pune university goes through Maharashtra's. We plan both so that they reach MEA together and come back to you as one set, without you travelling to either state.

Distance and Open University Master's Degrees

Master's degrees from open universities and distance-education programmes of recognised universities can be legalised like regular degrees, because the university verifies them in the same way. The question comes after legalisation: some Gulf education ministries and some foreign employers do not grant equivalency for distance or online degrees, which can affect a work permit or a teaching grade. Check your destination's rule before paying for PG degree attestation for a distance qualification.

Should Your Bachelor's Degree Go With Your PG Degree?

Very often, yes. Many authorities abroad want to see your full education path, especially for PhD admissions, teaching posts, engineering roles and equivalency in the Gulf. If the bachelor's degree was issued by a different university or state, it follows its own route, but we run both in parallel and return them together.

Medical PG Degrees: MD, MS, MDS and DNB

Medical postgraduates usually face two separate checks abroad. The first is the apostille or PG degree attestation of the MD, MS or MDS degree, together with the MBBS or BDS. The second is the regulator's own check, which may include primary source verification directly with the university and the medical council, licensing exams and registration documents. DNB qualifications are awarded by a national board rather than a university, so their verification route can differ. Tell us about every medical document at the start, so we can plan a single file.

PG Diploma vs PG Degree

A postgraduate diploma, such as a PGDM from an autonomous institute or a one-year PG diploma from a university, is not a master's degree. It can still be apostilled or attested, but its verification route depends on who issued it, and some authorities abroad treat it differently from a degree. Check how the destination authority classifies your qualification before you apply.

Provisional, Duplicate and Old PG Degrees

• Provisional certificate: some destinations accept a provisional PG certificate for admission; many authorities want the final degree for visas and licensing.
• Duplicate degree: if your degree is lost or damaged, the university can issue a duplicate, which can be verified and apostilled like the original.
• Old degree: older PG degrees can be apostilled when the university can confirm its records. University attestation may take longer.
• Name changes: if your name changed after the degree, link the names with a legalised marriage certificate or a name change affidavit.

e-Sanad, NAD and DigiLocker

MEA's e-Sanad portal, launched on 24 May 2017, handles online apostille or attestation for documents held in connected digital depositories, such as the National Academic Depository and DigiLocker, when the university is connected. Many PG degrees still follow the manual route. We check whether your degree qualifies before choosing.

Documents Required for Master Degree Certificate Apostille

Photographs are not needed for legalisation.

How Long Does PG Degree Attestation Take?

These timelines are indicative only. University attestation and state verification usually take the longest, and public holidays, embassy holidays and queries from any authority can change them. We confirm the timeline for your degree before you send it.

What Makes Up the Total Cost

We do not publish fixed amounts, because the total depends on your case. It is made up of:

• University attestation charges, set by the awarding university
• State verification charges, which differ from state to state
• MEA charges for the apostille or attestation, per document
• Embassy and MOFA charges for attestation countries, which differ by country
• Courier and handling, depending on your city or country
• The number of documents, because the PG degree, bachelor's degree and marksheets are each processed separately

Our team shares the exact total after reviewing your degree, before any work begins.

Applicants Outside Delhi

We collect degrees from your doorstep in Delhi NCR and through tracked courier from every city in India. We handle the university and state HRD stages in the state where your university is located, and the MEA and embassy stages in New Delhi, then return your documents the same way. Postgraduates already abroad can courier their degree to our office or authorise a family member in India.

Four Typical Situations

An MSc Graduate Starting a PhD in the Netherlands

The MSc and BSc degrees from a Tamil Nadu university went through university checks and the state route, then the master degree certificate apostille and the bachelor's apostille together. No translation was needed, because both degrees are in English.

An MBA Graduate Joining a Bank in Qatar

The MBA from a Maharashtra university went through university attestation and Mantralaya, then MEA attestation, the Qatar Embassy and the Qatar MOFA stage. The bank's HR team used the attested degree for the work permit.

An MD Doctor Applying for Registration in the UK

The MD and MBBS degrees were apostilled after state verification for the employer, while the UK regulator ran its own source verification with the university. Both were planned together so neither delayed the other.

An MA Graduate Taking a Teaching Post in Oman

The MA in English and the BA from a Kerala university went through HRD attestation via Norka Roots and then the MEA apostille, because Oman is a Hague member. The school's ministry file also needed the B.Ed. and experience letters, so all four documents were planned in one batch and returned together.

Common Mistakes With PG Degrees

• Notarising first by default, when the state does not ask for it
• Going to the SDM or the Home Department, which do not verify degrees
• Apostille for the UAE, Qatar or Kuwait, where PG degree attestation is needed
• Embassy attestation for Saudi Arabia, Oman or Bahrain, which use the apostille
• Apostille for Germany or China, where it has no effect
• Relying on a notarized degree when legalisation is required
• Sending the PG degree without the bachelor's degree when the destination wants both
• Treating a PG diploma as a degree without checking the destination's rules
• Laminating the degree, which makes stamping impossible
• Name mismatch with the passport

Translation After the Apostille

Countries such as Spain, Italy, France and the Netherlands may want a sworn or certified translation of your degree and transcript. The usual order is to complete the master degree apostille first and then translate the whole document, including the apostille. Some authorities accept only their own sworn translators, so check before you order a translation in India.

Questions to Ask Before You Start

1. Do you need the master's degree only, or also the bachelor's degree and transcripts?
2. Do you need an apostille, embassy attestation, a notarized copy or direct verification from the university?
3. Will you accept a provisional certificate if the final degree is not ready?
4. Do you also need a credential evaluation or equivalency certificate?
5. Do you need a translation, and must the translator be sworn in your country?

Share the reply with us. We match the route and the document list to it, so that you legalise only the documents that will actually be checked.

Can One Apostille Be Used More Than Once?

An apostille has no expiry date, so your apostilled degree can be shown to more than one university or employer. Some offices keep the original or ask for a recent legalisation, and MEA does not apostille photocopies. If you are applying in two countries at once, plan with us which documents each country needs: an apostille works in every Hague country, but each non-Hague country needs its own embassy attestation.

After Your Degree Is Legalised

When your degree comes back, check that every stamp is present in the right order and that your name is correct. Make colour scans of the front and back, because universities and employers abroad usually ask for uploads first and see the original later. Keep the original flat and dry, and never laminate it after legalisation.

How to Check That Your Apostille Is Genuine

Check the unique apostille number on MEA's verification facility, confirm that the sticker is fixed firmly to your original degree, and check that the name and document details are correct. A genuine master degree apostille always comes after university and state verification. Any offer of an apostille without those stages is a warning sign. For attestation, check that every stage – state HRD, MEA, the embassy and, in the Gulf, MOFA – appears in that order.

Safe Handling of Your Original PG Degree

Every degree is logged with a written receipt at pickup, moved only through tracked couriers and stored securely between stages. We share photos of every stamp before dispatch, and documents go back only to you or the person you authorise.

Why Choose Pro Attestation for Your PG Degree?

• Right route first: master degree certificate apostille or PG degree attestation
• UG and PG planned together when your destination needs both
• Every state and university, including Norka Roots for Kerala and Mantralaya for Maharashtra
• Medical, law and research degrees handled with their extra documents
• Correct country lists, including recent changes such as Canada, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh and Vietnam
• Clear fees discussed before any work begins
• Free doorstep pickup in Delhi NCR and tracked courier pickup across India
• Serving clients since 2015

Frequently Asked Questions About the PG Degree Certificate

1. What is master degree certificate apostille?

It is the MEA apostille on an Indian postgraduate degree after university and state verification, accepted in Hague countries without an embassy stage.

2. What is PG degree attestation?

It is the legalisation of a PG degree for non-Hague countries: state verification, MEA attestation, embassy attestation and, in the Gulf, MOFA.

3. What is the postgraduate degree apostille process?

University attestation where required, state HRD or Higher Education Department verification, then the MEA apostille.

4. What is university attestation?

It is the university's confirmation that your degree is genuine, usually required before the state HRD stamps it.

5. Is a notarized degree the same as an apostille?

No. A notarized degree is a notary's true-copy statement. An apostille is MEA's legalisation of the original degree after state verification.

6. Do I need PG degree attestation for higher studies abroad?

Often yes, or an apostille in Hague countries. Many PhD programmes want legalised master's and bachelor's degrees at enrolment.

7. Should my bachelor's degree be apostilled with my master's degree?

Usually yes for PhD admissions, teaching jobs and Gulf equivalency. We process both together.

8. Can a PG diploma or PGDM be apostilled?

Yes, if the issuing body can be verified, but it is a diploma, not a degree, and some authorities treat it differently.

9. Is master degree attestation in India possible for degrees from other states?

Yes. The issuing state verifies the degree, and we manage that from Delhi wherever you live.

10. Does Germany accept a master degree apostille from India?

No. Germany objected to India's accession, so Indian apostilles have no legal effect there.

11. What route does a master's degree for China need?

MEA attestation followed by legalisation at the Chinese Embassy or Consulate, because India objected to China's accession.

12. How does PG degree attestation work for the UAE?

After MEA attestation, one online application covers the UAE Embassy in New Delhi and the UAE MOFA.

13. Do medical PG degrees need anything extra?

Often yes: the MBBS or BDS, council documents and the regulator's own source verification.

14. How long does a master degree apostille take?

It depends mainly on the university and state stages; MEA usually takes a few working days. See the indicative timeline table above.

15. How much does PG degree attestation cost?

It depends on the university, the state and the destination. Our team shares the exact total after reviewing your degree.

16. Can I send my PG degree from abroad?

Yes. Courier it to our New Delhi office or authorise a family member in India to hand it over.

Related Services

UG Degree | PhD Degree | Degree Certificate | HRD Attestation | MEA Apostille | Degree Attestation for UAE

Start Your PG Degree Legalisation Today

Send a photo of your master's degree, the university name and your destination. We will confirm apostille or attestation, plan the bachelor's degree if needed, discuss the fees with you and arrange pickup.

Contact Details

Office Address

Pro Attestation Services, Office No. S204, 2nd Floor, Balaji Building, Property No. 40-A, Corner Market, Malviya Nagar, New Delhi 110017

Phone and WhatsApp

+91 8700770603 | +91 8595563930

Sources: HCCH Apostille Convention status table; Ministry of External Affairs – Apostille; MEA e-Sanad portal; Norka Roots – Certificate Attestation; Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs – attestation of certificates issued abroad; UAE Embassy New Delhi – Attestation Information; Embassy of Vietnam in India – notice on the Apostille Convention (September 2026); German missions in India – verification of Indian documents.