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Guide On APOSTILLE
What is MEA Apostille? The Hague Convention
We offers a simple and hassle-free way to get your documents apostilled by the MEA. We’re here to guide you through every step, making sure your papers are ready for use wherever you need them.
Apostille is a form of authentication issued for documents to be recognized in foreign countries that are part of the Hague Convention of 1961. It serves as an official certification that verifies the authenticity of signatures, seals, or stamps on a document, ensuring its legal validity abroad.
Think of it as an internationally recognized stamp of approval—once a document receives an Apostille, it is accepted in all Hague Convention member countries without needing further legalization from embassies or consulates. This simplifies the process of using documents internationally for purposes such as study, work, business, immigration, or legal matters.
In India, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) authenticate your documents so they are recognized internationally within Hague Convention (120+ Countries, refer to the list of countires below). India became a member of the Hague Convention on August 14, 2005, and as a result, introduced the concept of apostille attestation to facilitate the hassle-free use of Indian documents abroad.
APOSTILLE PROCESS IN INDIA:
Let's break down the Apostille process into three main steps, starting from the regional level and ending with the Apostille from the Ministry of External Affairs.
1) Notary Public:
The first step in the Apostille process is notarization. A Notary Public verifies the authenticity of the document and certifies it with an official stamp and signature. This step ensures that the document is genuine and ready for further attestation.
2)State Level Attestation, SDM Delhi Attestation or CoC:
A) Personal Documents: (State Level/SDM Delhi Attestation)
After notarization, documents move to the state level for further verification. Each state in India has its own process and designated departments for attestation, adding an extra layer of authentication.
However, it is important to note that Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Delhi attestation fulfills the state-level attestation requirements. As a result, SDM Delhi attestation is accepted by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) for further processing.
P.S. State-level attestation is a hassle and time-consuming process, and it is mandatory only for a few international countries. Most countries accept SDM Delhi as pre-authentication.
B) Commercial Documents: (CoC Attestation)
In case of Commercial documents, the Chamber of Commerce attests commercial documents such as invoices, certificates of origin, and other business-related papers to validate their authenticity for international trade and business transactions.
3) MEA (Ministry of External Affairs) Apostille:
Once the document has received state-level attestation, SDM Delhi attestation, or CoC attestation, it moves to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) for the final step. MEA verifies and authenticates the document with an Apostille sticker, confirming its authenticity at the national level and making it legally valid for use in countries that are part of the Hague Convention.
This marks the completion of the Apostille process, ensuring the document's acceptance in member nations without requiring further embassy attestation.
TYPES OF DOCUMENTS APOSTILLED - ATTESTED
1. Personal Documents:
Passport | Birth Certificate | Marriage Certificate | Death Certificate | Power of Attorney | Divorce Papers (Decree) | No Objection Certificate (NOC) | Affidavit | Single Status Certificate (bachelorhood certificate) | ID Cards | Driving License.
2. Educational Documents:
Degree Certificates | Academic Transcripts | School Leaving Certificates | Mark Sheets | Bonafide Certificates | Diploma Certificates | Accreditation Letters.
3. Commercial Documents:
Trade License | Memorandum of Association (MOA) | Certificate of Incorporation | Commercial Invoices | Agreements and Contracts | Power of Attorney for Business | Board Resolution.
Member countries - THE HAGUE CONVENTION
1. Albania -------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Andorra-------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. Antigua and Barbuda ------------------------------------------------------
4. Argentina ----------------------------------------------------------------------
5. Armenia ------------------------------------------------------------------------
6. Australia -----------------------------------------------------------------------
7. Austria --------------------------------------------------------------------------
8. Azerbaijan ---------------------------------------------------------------------
9. Bahamas ----------------------------------------------------------------------
10. Bahrain -----------------------------------------------------------------------
11. Barbados --------------------------------------------------------------------
12. Belarus -----------------------------------------------------------------------
13. Belgium ----------------------------------------------------------------------
14. Belize -------------------------------------------------------------------------
15. Bolivia ------------------------------------------------------------------------
16. Bosnia and Herzegovina ------------------------------------------------
17. Botswana -------------------------------------------------------------------
18. Brazil -------------------------------------------------------------------------
19. Brunei Darussalam -------------------------------------------------------
20. Bulgaria ---------------------------------------------------------------------
21. Burundi ----------------------------------------------------------------------
22. Cape Verde ------------------------------------------------------------------
23. Chile --------------------------------------------------------------------------
24. China (including Hong Kong & Macao Special Administrative Regions)
25. Colombia --------------------------------------------------------------------
26. Cook Islands ---------------------------------------------------------------
27. Costa Rica ------------------------------------------------------------------
28. Croatia ----------------------------------------------------------------------
29. Cyprus -----------------------------------------------------------------------
30. Czech Republic ------------------------------------------------------------
31. Denmark --------------------------------------------------------------------
32. Dominica --------------------------------------------------------------------
33. Dominican Republic ------------------------------------------------------
34. Ecuador ----------------------------------------------------------------------
35. El Salvador ------------------------------------------------------------------
36. Estonia -----------------------------------------------------------------------
37. Fiji -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
38. Finland -----------------------------------------------------------------------
39. France ------------------------------------------------------------------------
40. Georgia ----------------------------------------------------------------------
41. Germany ---------------------------------------------------------------------
42. Greece ------------------------------------------------------------------------
43. Grenada ----------------------------------------------------------------------
44. Guatemala ------------------------------------------------------------------
45. Guyana -----------------------------------------------------------------------
46. Honduras --------------------------------------------------------------------
47. Hungary ----------------------------------------------------------------------
48. Iceland -----------------------------------------------------------------------
49. India ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
50. Indonesia --------------------------------------------------------------------
51. Ireland -----------------------------------------------------------------------
52. Israel -------------------------------------------------------------------------
53. Italy ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
54. Japan ------------------------------------------------------------------------
55. Jamaica ---------------------------------------------------------------------
56. Kazakhstan ----------------------------------------------------------------
57. Korea, Republic of -------------------------------------------------------
58. Kosovo -----------------------------------------------------------------------
59. Kyrgyzstan ------------------------------------------------------------------
60. Latvia ------------------------------------------------------------------------
61. Lesotho ----------------------------------------------------------------------
62. Liberia -----------------------------------------------------------------------
63. Liechtenstein --------------------------------------------------------------
64. Lithuania -------------------------------------------------------------------
65. Luxembourg ---------------------------------------------------------------
66. Malawi ----------------------------------------------------------------------
67. Malta ------------------------------------------------------------------------
68. Marshall Islands ---------------------------------------------------------
69. Mauritius ------------------------------------------------------------------
70. Mexico ---------------------------------------------------------------------
71. Moldova, Republic of -------------------------------------------------
72. Monaco -------------------------------------------------------------------
73. Mongolia -----------------------------------------------------------------
74. Montenegro -------------------------------------------------------------
75. Morocco ------------------------------------------------------------------
76. Namibia -----------------------------------------------------------------
77. Netherlands ------------------------------------------------------------
78. New Zealand -----------------------------------------------------------
79. Nicaragua --------------------------------------------------------------
80. Niue ----------------------------------------------------------------------
81. North Macedonia, Republic of -----------------------------------
82. Norway -----------------------------------------------------------------
83. Oman -------------------------------------------------------------------
84. Pakistan ---------------------------------------------------------------
85. Palau -------------------------------------------------------------------
86. Panama ---------------------------------------------------------------
87. Paraguay -------------------------------------------------------------
88. Peru --------------------------------------------------------------------
89. Philippines -----------------------------------------------------------
90. Poland -----------------------------------------------------------------
91. Portugal ---------------------------------------------------------------
92. Romania --------------------------------------------------------------
93. Russian Federation ------------------------------------------------
94. Saint Kitts and Nevis ----------------------------------------------
95. Saint Lucia -----------------------------------------------------------
96. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines -----------------------------
97. Samoa -----------------------------------------------------------------
98. San Marino -----------------------------------------------------------
99. Sao Tome and Principe -------------------------------------------
100. Saudi Arabia -------------------------------------------------------
101. Senegal -------------------------------------------------------------
102. Serbia ---------------------------------------------------------------
103. Seychelles ----------------------------------------------------------
104. Singapore ----------------------------------------------------------
105. Slovakia ------------------------------------------------------------
106. Slovenia ------------------------------------------------------------
107. South Africa -------------------------------------------------------
108. Spain ---------------------------------------------------------------
109. Suriname ----------------------------------------------------------
110. Swaziland ---------------------------------------------------------
111. Sweden ------------------------------------------------------------
112. Switzerland ------------------------------------------------------
113. Tajikistan ---------------------------------------------------------
114. Tonga --------------------------------------------------------------
115. Trinidad and Tobago ------------------------------------------
116. Tunisia -------------------------------------------------------------
117. Turkey --------------------------------------------------------------
118. Ukraine ------------------------------------------------------------
119. United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
120. Uruguay ------------------------------------------------------------
121. Uzbekistan --------------------------------------------------------
122. Vanuatu ------------------------------------------------------------
123. Venezuela ----------------------------------------------------------