MEA Apostille and Document Attestation for Use Abroad
An apostille makes an Indian public document valid in another Hague Convention country. The MEA issues it for ₹50 per document. We confirm the route, prepare the papers and coordinate every step.
What it is
An apostille is a certificate attached to a public document so that another country accepts it as genuine. It confirms who signed or sealed the document and in what capacity. It does not certify that the contents are true.
It comes from the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents, dated 5 October 1961. India joined on 14 July 2005. The Ministry of External Affairs issues Indian apostilles. The Convention applies only between two member countries, so the first thing we check is whether your destination is one.
Who it applies to
Students heading abroad
Picture a Faridabad student whose Canadian university asks for an apostilled degree certificate. Send us the university’s list and we map the exact chain, document by document.
Families and NRIs
Marriage and birth certificates for a spouse visa, a child’s school admission or a property transaction abroad. A legal heir certificate for an inheritance abroad may also need it.
Businesses expanding overseas
Board resolutions, incorporation certificates and powers of attorney for a foreign subsidiary, bank account or tender. If you are still forming the company, see our private limited company registration service.
Why it matters
Avoids a rejected application
A visa office or a foreign registry can return a document attested in the wrong order. In practice, one wrong step can cost weeks.
One certificate, not many
Within the Convention, one apostille replaces the old chain of embassy legalisations. That cuts cost and time.
Keeps the sequence right
Education, personal and commercial papers each follow a different route. We confirm yours before any step is paid for.
Which route fits your document
| Document | Usual route in India | Final step |
|---|---|---|
| Educational (degree, marksheet) | Verification by the university or board, then state education department | MEA apostille |
| Personal (birth, marriage, death) | Notary or issuing authority, then SDM or state Home Department | MEA apostille |
| Commercial (POA, board resolution) | Notarisation, then a state or industry body where required | MEA apostille |
| Destination not in the Convention | State attestation and MEA attestation | Embassy legalisation |
This is the usual pattern, not a rule for every document. State practice differs, and some documents have shorter routes through eSanad. We check the current requirement for your state before we start.
Documents required
For every case
- Original document to be apostilled
- Passport or Aadhaar copy of the applicant
- Name of the destination country and the purpose
For personal documents
- Marriage, birth or death certificate issued by the registrar
- Affidavit, where the destination asks for one
- Spouse or parent details, where relevant
For educational and business documents
- Degree certificate, marksheet or provisional certificate
- Certified copies of incorporation papers, if commercial
- Board resolution or power of attorney, drafted and signed
How it works
Confirm the destination and the document
Tell us the country and the paper. We check whether the Convention applies and which route is right for that document.
Prepare and notarise
We prepare the affidavit or power of attorney where needed. A notary notarises it. Educational documents go for verification at the issuer.
Get state-level attestation
Where the route needs it, the document goes to the state authority for attestation before the MEA.
Submit for apostille and deliver
We submit for MEA apostille, track the application and send you the apostilled original. For non-Hague countries we also handle embassy legalisation.
Timelines
State-level steps
Time varies by state, document type and the office’s workload. We tell you the current wait for your route before you commit.
MEA apostille
Time depends on the route and the centre. We track the application and update you.
Embassy legalisation
Needed only for non-Hague countries, and each embassy has its own schedule. Check this early.
What happens if you get it wrong
The document is rejected
A foreign authority can refuse a document attested in the wrong sequence. You then restart, and pay again.
A deadline is missed
A university admission, visa appointment or company registration can slip while the paperwork is fixed.
A change of name does not match
Name differences between passport and certificate cause delays. We flag them before you apply.
Frequently asked questions
What is an apostille?
An apostille is a single certificate, issued under the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961, that makes a public document acceptable in another member country without further embassy legalisation. India has been a party since 14 July 2005. In India, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issues it, after the document has passed through the right earlier attestation steps.
How much does an MEA apostille cost?
The MEA charges ₹50 per document for an apostille, while normal attestation is free, according to the MEA’s attestation page. Outsourced handling adds ₹16 to ₹22 per document, depending on whether it is a commercial, educational or personal document. Notary, state-level attestation and courier costs come on top, and we list them in your quote.
Do all countries accept an apostille?
No. An apostille works only when the country where you will use the document is also a party to the Convention. The Hague Conference status table lists the current members. Canada joined on 11 January 2024 and China on 7 November 2023, for example. For other countries we confirm the route before you spend money.
What if the destination country is not in the Hague Convention?
Then the document goes through embassy legalisation. The usual chain is state-level attestation, MEA attestation, and then attestation by the destination country’s embassy or consulate in India. The rules differ from one embassy to another, so we check the current requirement before we start and tell you the steps in writing.
Which documents can be apostilled?
The MEA attests educational, commercial and personal documents. That covers degree certificates and marksheets, birth, marriage and death certificates, powers of attorney, affidavits, board resolutions and company documents. The document must be genuine, readable and issued or notarised by an authority the MEA can verify. We check each paper before submission.
What is eSanad?
eSanad is the MEA’s online platform for attestation and apostille. You register, upload documents, pay the fee and receive the attested documents by speed post, at ₹40 per document for delivery. Its page says documents are checked against digital repositories of the issuing authorities. We can help you decide whether this route suits your document.
Does a notarised document need other attestation first?
Often, yes. A notarised document, such as an affidavit or power of attorney, usually passes through the notary and then a state authority before the MEA apostille. Educational documents are usually verified by the issuing university or board and the state education department. The exact order depends on the document, so we confirm it first.
Can Taxhint apostille a document for me?
We prepare the documents, arrange the notary, submit applications on the MEA platform or through its outsourced centres, track them and send you the apostilled originals. The apostille itself is issued by the MEA, and notarisation is done by a notary. We coordinate the whole chain so you only handle delivery.
What it costs
Our fee plus the government fee that applies to your case, quoted before you commit. Tell us the situation and we will price it exactly.
The MEA charges ₹50 per document for an apostille, and normal attestation is free. Outsourced handling is ₹16 (commercial), ₹18 (educational) or ₹22 (personal) per document, and speed post delivery through eSanad is ₹40 per document. Notary and state-level charges depend on the document.
Ready to begin?
Send us the document and the destination country. We will tell you the exact route, the cost and how long to plan for.