MEA Apostille: Ministry of External Affairs Apostille Services

• Genuine MEA apostille sticker with a unique number, verifiable online
• HRD, Home Department, SDM and Chamber of Commerce verification handled for you
• MEA stage in about 3-4 working days after verification
• Educational, personal and commercial documents
• Free doorstep pickup, secure courier and stage-wise WhatsApp updates

What Is MEA Apostille?

MEA apostille is the certificate that the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) places on an Indian public document to confirm that the signature and seal of the Indian authority on it are genuine. It is issued under the Hague Apostille Convention of 1961, which India joined in 2005. Once a document carries the apostille, other member countries of the Convention accept it without any further legalization by their embassies.

The apostille is a square, computer-generated sticker fixed to the back of the original document or its certified copy. Each sticker carries a unique number, which allows the receiving authority abroad to check that it is genuine.

The apostille does not confirm what the document says. It does not prove that a degree is equal to a foreign degree, or that the facts in an affidavit are true. It only confirms that the Indian authority whose signature is on the document is real and authorised. This is why MEA only apostilles documents that have already been verified by the authority responsible for them.

Ministry of External Affairs Apostille: The Only Apostille

Under the Hague Convention, each member country names a competent authority to issue apostilles. In India, that authority is the Ministry of External Affairs. No state government, notary, university, embassy or private company can issue an apostille. Any agency that claims to "issue" an apostille itself is not telling the truth.

Consular, Passport and Visa Division

Apostille and attestation work at MEA is handled by its Consular, Passport and Visa (CPV) Division. MEA legalises documents on the basis of the signature of the designated signing authorities of the State Government, Union Territory or Chamber of Commerce. This is why every document must first be verified by one of these authorities.

Outsourced Collection Centres

Since July 2012, MEA has outsourced the collection and delivery of documents for attestation and apostille to authorised service companies. Applicants submit their documents at these companies' centres, and the companies deliver them to MEA and return them after the apostille. The apostille itself is still done only by MEA.

MEA Branch Secretariats

MEA also has Branch Secretariats in Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata and Guwahati, which handle attestation and apostille work for their regions.

Where Pro Attestation Fits In

Pro Attestation is a document legalization service provider. We prepare your document, complete the state or Chamber verification, submit it through the authorised MEA channel, track it, and deliver it back. This saves you trips to several offices and avoids rejections caused by missing or wrong verification.

Who Needs an MEA Apostille?

• Students applying to universities in member countries such as France, Italy, Spain, Poland, the USA and the UK
• Professionals applying for work permits, skilled migration or professional licences abroad
• Doctors, nurses, engineers and teachers registering with professional bodies abroad
• Families applying for spouse visas, family reunion, citizenship or school admission
• Businesses registering companies, opening bank accounts, signing contracts or bidding for tenders abroad
• NRIs dealing with property, inheritance or legal matters in their country of residence
• Foreign nationals in India who need Indian documents for use in their home country

Key Facts About the MEA Apostille

MEA Apostille vs MEA Attestation

MEA provides two different services for Indian documents going abroad. Which one you need depends on the destination country.

Tip: If your document is going to the UAE, an apostille will be refused. You need MEA attestation, UAE embassy attestation and UAE MOFA attestation instead.

MEA Apostille and the Hague Apostille Convention

The apostille exists because of the hague apostille system created by the Convention of 5 October 1961. The Convention replaced the old chain of embassy legalization with a single certificate from the country that issued the document. About 130 states are members in 2026, including the USA, the UK, Canada, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Australia, Japan, South Korea and China.

India's membership came into force on 14 July 2005. When India joined, Belgium, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands and Spain objected. All except Germany later withdrew their objections. As a result, Germany does not accept the apostille; German authorities use their own verification process for Indian documents. We confirm the status of your destination country before every order.

What the MEA Apostille Sticker Contains

Every MEA apostille follows the standard Hague format and shows:

• The heading "Apostille (Convention de La Haye du 5 octobre 1961)"
• Country: India
• The name of the person who signed the document being apostilled
• The capacity in which that person signed, such as HRD officer, SDM or Chamber official
• The seal or stamp on the document
• The place and date of the apostille
• The issuing authority: Ministry of External Affairs
• The unique apostille number
• The seal and signature of the MEA officer

Always take a clear photo of the sticker before you send the document abroad. The apostille number and date are what you need to verify it online.

Verification Before the MEA Apostille

MEA does not verify documents directly from universities, municipalities or companies. It apostilles a document only after the designated authority of the state or a Chamber of Commerce has verified it.

HRD Verification for Educational Documents

The state Human Resource Development or Education Department checks your degree, marksheet or diploma against university or board records and signs it. MEA then apostilles the HRD signature. HRD Attestation Services

Home Department and GAD for Personal Documents

Birth, marriage and death certificates, affidavits and similar documents are verified by the state Home Department or General Administration Department, depending on the state.

SDM Apostille: What Is It?

In some states, especially Delhi, personal documents are verified by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) before the apostille. People often call this "SDM apostille", but the SDM does not issue an apostille. The SDM only verifies the document, and MEA issues the apostille.

Chamber of Commerce for Commercial Documents

Company documents such as Certificates of Incorporation, board resolutions, powers of attorney and invoices are verified by a recognised Chamber of Commerce before the apostille. Commercial Document Apostille

Role of the Notary

A notary does not replace state verification. Notarisation is a first step for certain documents, such as affidavits, powers of attorney and certified copies, before they go to the state or Chamber.

Documents Accepted for MEA Apostille

Educational Documents

Degree certificates, provisional certificates, transcripts, 10th and 12th marksheets, diplomas, migration certificates, transfer certificates, ITI certificates and professional council registrations.

Personal Documents

Birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates, divorce decrees, police clearance certificates (PCC), single status certificates, affidavits, powers of attorney for personal matters, name change documents and medical certificates.

Commercial Documents

Certificates of Incorporation, MOA and AOA, board resolutions, company powers of attorney, invoices, certificates of origin, GST certificates, IEC, agreements and financial statements.

MEA Apostille for Educational Documents

Educational documents are the most common documents we take for the apostille. Each one follows the HRD route of the state where it was issued.

Degree and Provisional Certificates

Bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees from state, central, deemed and private universities can receive the apostille after university and HRD verification. Provisional certificates can also be apostilled if they carry the university seal and an authorised signature. Degree Certificate Apostille

10th and 12th Marksheets

School marksheets and pass certificates from CBSE, CISCE, NIOS and state boards are apostilled for bachelor's admissions, nursing jobs and immigration. CBSE and other national boards follow their own designated verification route before MEA, while state board documents are verified by the state. Transfer Leaving Certificate Apostille Attestation

Transcripts and Diplomas

University transcripts, consolidated marksheets, polytechnic diplomas and nursing diplomas are verified by the issuing institution or board and the state HRD before the apostille.

Kerala Certificates

Educational documents issued in Kerala go through Norka Roots and the Kerala Home Department before HRD. Missing this step is one of the most common reasons for delay.

MEA Apostille for Personal Documents

Personal documents are verified by the state Home Department, General Administration Department or SDM before the apostille. The exact office depends on the state that issued the document.

Birth and Death Certificates

Certificates issued by municipal corporations and registrars are apostilled for passports, citizenship, school admission, inheritance and family visas abroad. A clear, legible certificate with the registrar's seal is essential. Birth Certificate Apostille

Marriage Certificates

Marriage certificates registered under the Hindu Marriage Act, the Special Marriage Act or a state registration law are apostilled for spouse visas, family reunion and marriage registration abroad. Marriage Certificate Apostille

Police Clearance Certificate (PCC)

A PCC from the Passport Seva Kendra or state police is apostilled for immigration and long-term visas. Many countries accept a PCC only if it was issued recently, so we advise you to apply for it close to your application date.

Affidavits, Powers of Attorney and Single Status Certificates

Affidavits and personal powers of attorney are made on stamp paper, notarised and then verified by the state before the apostille. Single status certificates are often needed for marriage abroad.

MEA Apostille for Commercial Documents

Commercial documents follow a different route. They are notarised where needed and then verified by a recognised Chamber of Commerce before the apostille.

Certificate of Incorporation and Company Documents

The Certificate of Incorporation, MOA and AOA are apostilled for company registration, bank accounts and contracts abroad. Certified true copies must carry the signature of a director or company secretary and the company seal. Certificate of Incorporation Apostille

Board Resolutions and Powers of Attorney

Board resolutions authorising a person to act abroad, and company powers of attorney for foreign representatives, are among the most common commercial apostilles. Power of Attorney Apostille

Export and Trade Documents

Invoices, certificates of origin, IEC, GST certificates and product certificates are apostilled for buyers, regulators and tender authorities in member countries.

Documents MEA Will Not Apostille

• Documents without verification by the state, HRD, SDM or Chamber of Commerce
• Laminated or badly damaged documents
• Plain photocopies without proper certification
• Documents issued by foreign embassies or consulates in India
• Documents with signatures or seals that cannot be verified
• Documents for countries that are not members of the Convention

Documents Required for MEA Apostille

• The original document, or a certified true copy where allowed
• A clear passport copy of the document holder (first and last page)
• A government ID if the verifying state asks for it
• An authorisation letter if someone else hands over your documents
• For commercial documents: an authorisation letter on company letterhead and the signatory's ID
• The destination country and the purpose of the apostille

We send you an exact checklist on WhatsApp before pickup, so nothing is missed.

MEA Apostille Process: Step by Step

1. 11 Free consultation: Share your document and destination country. We check that the country is a Hague member, that the Convention applies with India, and that an apostille is right for your purpose. 2 Doorstep pickup: Our executive collects your documents with a written receipt. Outside Delhi NCR, we arrange a secure courier pickup. 3 Document review: We check names, dates, seals and signatures against your passport, so the document is not rejected later. 4 Notary attestation: Affidavits, powers of attorney and certified copies are notarised where needed. 5 State or Chamber verification: HRD for educational documents, Home Department, GAD or SDM for personal documents, and Chamber of Commerce for commercial documents. 6 Submission for MEA apostille: The verified document is submitted through MEA's authorised channel. 7 MEA apostille: The Ministry of External Affairs affixes the apostille sticker with a unique number. 8 Quality check and delivery: We check the sticker, send you photos and the apostille number, and deliver the document to you in India or abroad.

You receive a WhatsApp update at every stage.

Can Individuals Submit Documents Directly to MEA?

Individuals can submit their own documents at MEA's authorised collection centres, as long as the documents are already verified by the correct state authority or Chamber of Commerce. The challenge is usually the verification before MEA: each state has its own offices, rules and timings, and a missing stamp means the document is returned.

Using Pro Attestation means you do not need to visit the HRD office, SDM office, Home Department, Chamber of Commerce or MEA centre yourself. We know the requirements of each office, prepare your documents correctly and follow up until the apostille is done.

MEA Apostille Fee and Total Cost

MEA's own fee is Rs 50 per apostille sticker. The total cost you pay for an MEA apostille includes several parts:

The state verification stage usually decides most of the time and cost. We share an itemised quote before starting, with government fees and service charges shown separately.

How Long Does an MEA Apostille Take?

Timelines are indicative and depend on the document, the state, MEA workload and public holidays. MEA itself advises applicants to apply well in advance.

E-Sanad: MEA's Online Apostille Service

E-Sanad is MEA's online service for the verification, attestation and apostille of documents. Through e-Sanad, documents from issuing authorities that are registered on the portal, mainly boards and universities, can be verified online and apostilled without the full physical route. Foreign authorities can also check e-Sanad apostilles digitally.

Many issuing authorities are not yet on e-Sanad, so most documents still follow the physical route: state or Chamber verification, then the apostille sticker. Our team checks whether your issuing authority is registered and uses the fastest route that the destination accepts.

After the MEA Apostille: Translation and Next Steps

The apostille makes your document legally acceptable, but the receiving authority may still have its own requirements.

• Translation: many countries, such as France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and China, ask for a certified or sworn translation into their language. The translation is usually done after the apostille, so that the apostille is also translated.
• Credential evaluation: universities and immigration programmes may also ask for evaluation of your degree, which is a separate process from the apostille.
• Recent documents: some offices accept only recently issued documents, especially PCC, single status certificates and civil records.
• Registration abroad: marriage, company and property documents may need to be registered with a local authority after you arrive.

Our team checks these requirements with you before we start, so you know exactly what to do after the apostille.

MEA Apostille for NRIs and Foreign Nationals

NRIs living abroad often need Indian documents apostilled for jobs, property, inheritance, children's schooling or visa changes. You do not need to travel to India. You can courier your documents to our New Delhi office, or authorise a parent, relative or friend in India to hand them over with an authorisation letter and your passport copy. We complete the verification and the apostille, and send the documents back to your address abroad.

Foreign nationals who studied, married or worked in India can also get their Indian documents apostilled for use in their home country, if that country is a Hague member and the Convention applies with India.

How the MEA Apostille System Works Today

The apostille system has become more organised over the years. Since July 2012, document collection and delivery has been handled through MEA's authorised outsourcing companies, while the apostille itself remains with MEA. MEA's e-Sanad portal now allows online verification and apostille for documents from registered issuing authorities, and every apostille can be checked online with its unique number. These changes make the apostille more secure and easier to verify for authorities abroad. For applicants, this means fewer forged documents in circulation, faster checks by foreign universities and employers, and more trust in Indian documents worldwide.

How to Verify an MEA Apostille

1. 11 Find the apostille number and date of issue on the sticker. 2 Open MEA's online apostille verification service. 3 Enter the number and date to confirm that the apostille is genuine.

Foreign universities, employers and governments use the same method. We share your apostille number and photos before dispatch, so you can verify it yourself.

Countries That Accept the MEA Apostille

The apostille is accepted in Hague Convention member countries where the Convention applies with India, including:

• Europe: France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, Portugal, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Greece, Czech Republic, Hungary and the United Kingdom
• Americas: the USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Colombia
• Asia-Pacific: China, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia and the Philippines
• Middle East: Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain and Israel
• Africa: South Africa, Mauritius, Morocco and others

Where the MEA Apostille Is Not Accepted

• Germany, which objected to India's accession to the Convention
• Non-member countries such as the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Egypt, Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia, which need MEA attestation followed by embassy attestation "embassy attestation"

MEA Apostille: Quick Notes for Popular Countries

United States

US universities, employers, courts and immigration authorities accept the apostille. Professional licensing boards may also ask for credential evaluation or documents sent directly by the university.

United Kingdom

UK employers, universities, professional bodies and the Home Office accept the apostille on Indian documents for study, work, family and business.

Canada

Since January 2024, Canada accepts the apostille instead of consulate legalization. This has made the process faster for Canadian immigration, study permits and business registration.

France, Italy and Spain

Universities and civil registries accept the apostille and usually need a sworn translation into their language. Civil documents may need to be recently issued.

Australia and New Zealand

Immigration, professional registration and legal processes accept the apostille. Professional bodies may also verify qualifications directly with the institution.

China, Japan and South Korea

China accepts the apostille since November 2023. Japanese and South Korean employers and immigration offices commonly ask for apostilled degrees, often with a translation.

Saudi Arabia, Oman and Bahrain

These Gulf countries are Hague members, so the MEA apostille is the standard route. Some employers or ministries may still state their own requirements, so we confirm before processing.

Doing It Yourself vs Using Pro Attestation

MEA Apostille by Purpose

Study Abroad

Universities in France, Italy, Spain, Poland, the Netherlands, the USA and other member countries often ask for an MEA apostille on degrees, transcripts and school marksheets.

Jobs, Work Permits and Migration

Employers and immigration authorities in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the UK and Europe may need apostilled degrees, experience letters, PCC and birth certificates.

Marriage and Family

Spouse visas, marriage registration and family reunion abroad usually need an apostilled marriage certificate, birth certificates and sometimes a single status certificate.

Business and Investment

Companies setting up abroad need apostilled Certificates of Incorporation, board resolutions, powers of attorney and other company documents.

Property, Courts and Legal Matters

Affidavits, powers of attorney and court documents are apostilled for property, inheritance and legal cases abroad.

MEA Apostille for Children's and Family Documents

Families moving abroad together usually need a full set of documents apostilled at the same time: parents' marriage certificate, children's birth certificates, school transfer certificates and report cards, and sometimes parents' degrees and PCC. Apostilling all of them in one batch saves time and courier cost, and makes sure every document reaches the destination together. We prepare a family checklist based on the visa or school requirements, collect the documents in one pickup, and handle the different verification routes for educational and personal documents in parallel.

Common Reasons Documents Are Returned Before or at MEA

• Missing state verification: MEA cannot apostille a document that the HRD, Home Department, SDM or Chamber has not verified
• Wrong verifying authority for the state or document type
• Name mismatch between the passport and the document
• Laminated or damaged documents
• Unclear or missing seals and signatures on the original
• Wrong route: applying for an apostille for the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait or Germany
• Expired documents for authorities that want recent copies, such as a PCC

Our document review stage catches these issues before submission.

Benefits of the MEA Apostille

• One sticker, many countries: valid in every member country where the Convention applies with India.
• No embassy visits for member countries.
• Low government fee: MEA charges Rs 50 per apostille sticker.
• Online verification with a unique number.
• No expiry: the apostille itself does not expire.
• Standard format understood by officials worldwide.

MEA Apostille Checklist Before You Apply

• Confirm that your destination is a Hague member and accepts Indian apostilles.
• Check what the receiving authority wants: apostille only, or apostille plus translation.
• Make sure your name matches on the passport and every document.
• Do not laminate or alter original documents.
• Apply early, because state verification can take time.
• Apostille all required documents in one batch to save time and cost.
• Keep photos of every document and apostille sticker.

MEA Apostille Tips From Our Experience

• Order matters: never send a document to MEA before the state or Chamber verification is complete.
• One name everywhere: if your name changed after marriage, apostille your marriage certificate too.
• Ask for extra copies: where certified copies are accepted, apostille one extra set for future use.
• Check the purpose: a document for a court abroad may need a different set than one for a visa.

Safe Handling of Your Original Documents

Every document is logged with a written receipt at pickup, moved only through tracked couriers, and stored securely at our New Delhi office between stages. You get photos of the apostille before dispatch, and documents are returned only to you or the person you authorise.

Apostille Services in India: Delhi, Gurgaon and Pan-India

Pro Attestation provides apostille services in India from our office in Malviya Nagar, New Delhi, close to the MEA facilities that handle apostille work. We offer free doorstep pickup across Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida, Ghaziabad and Faridabad, and secure courier pickup from Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, Chandigarh, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram and every other city. NRIs abroad can courier documents to our office or authorise a family member in India, and we deliver apostilled documents worldwide.

Why Choose Pro Attestation for MEA Apostille?

• Genuine MEA apostille only: every sticker is verifiable online.
• Correct verification route: HRD, Home Department, GAD, SDM, Norka Roots or Chamber of Commerce, as your document needs.
• Honest advice: we tell you when an apostille will not work, such as for the UAE or Germany.
• All document types: educational, personal and commercial.
• Free doorstep pickup and stage-wise WhatsApp updates.
• Transparent pricing: government fees and service charges shown separately.
• Serving clients since 2015 from our New Delhi office.