Get your documents apostilled by the MEA for use in Hague Convention countries — degrees, birth, marriage certificates.
Jurisdiction
All of India (MEA Apostille Cell, New Delhi; also through MEA-authorised agencies and state Home Departments for state-issued documents)
Who applies
Indian citizens or entities who need to use Indian-issued documents in countries that are signatories to the Hague Apostille Convention of 1961 — for purposes such as education, employment, marriage, immigration, business, or legal proceedings abroad
Typical time
1–3 working days at MEA New Delhi (physical submission); 5–7 working days through authorised agencies (including courier); state document apostille varies
Fee
₹50 per document (MEA); state authentication (HRD) fee varies by state (₹50–₹300 per document); private agent/courier charges additional ₹300–₹1,500 per document
| # | Document | Type needed | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Original document to be apostilled | Original | The primary document — birth/death/marriage certificate, educational degree, Power of Attorney, commercial document, etc.; must be original issued by a competent Indian authority |
| 2 | Notarised copy of document (for personal documents) | Notarised Copy | For educational and personal documents, a notarised copy is first attested by the state HRD (for educational) or state Home Department (for personal documents) before MEA apostille; bring the notarised copy to the HRD/Home Department |
| 3 | State Home Department or HRD attestation stamp on document | Original | Mandatory pre-requisite: state Home Department attestation (for personal documents) or Human Resource Department (HRD) attestation (for educational documents) must appear on the document before MEA will apostille it |
| 4 | Applicant's ID proof (Aadhaar / Passport) | Self-attested Copy | Submitted along with the application to establish identity of the person submitting documents for apostille; required for online appointment booking on eSanad |
| 5 | eSanad application printout or transaction ID | Download / Print | Printout of the eSanad online application or the transaction reference number; required at the MEA submission counter |
| 6 | Cover letter (for institutional / commercial document apostille)(optional)Required for commercial/company documents; not needed for personal documents | Original | Letter from the company or institution requesting apostille for commercial documents such as certificates of incorporation, power of attorney, or board resolutions |
Original documents: Carry originals only for in-person visits — do not hand them over permanently unless explicitly required.
For personal documents (birth/death/marriage certificate, affidavits, Power of Attorney) — get the document notarised by a government-registered Notary Public in your city. The notary stamp and signature appear on the document. For original certificates directly issued by government offices with official seals, notarisation may not be required — confirm with the state Home Department.
Submit the notarised document (or original) to the state authority for authentication: the state Home Department for personal documents, or the state HRD / Education Department for educational certificates. In many states this is done at the Divisional Commissioner's office or state Secretariat. Some states have online booking (e.g., Maharashtra, Delhi). The stamp and signature of the state official is affixed — this is the key step enabling MEA apostille.
Visit esanad.sansad.gov.in (or the MEA eSanad link on mea.gov.in) and register. Fill the apostille application form, upload a scan of the state-authenticated document, select the document type, and book an appointment at the MEA Apostille Cell in New Delhi (or at MEA branch offices in Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Guwahati).
Pay ₹50 per document as the MEA fee through the eSanad portal using net banking, UPI, or debit/credit card. Download and print the payment receipt.
Visit the MEA Apostille Cell (in-person) on the appointed date with the state-authenticated original document, eSanad printout, and payment receipt. If using an MEA-authorised courier/agency service, dispatch documents with the printout. The submission counter accepts documents, checks the state authentication stamp, and queues them for apostille sticker affixation.
After processing (1–3 working days for walk-in; 5–7 days via courier agency), the document is returned with the MEA apostille sticker affixed on the reverse. The sticker contains a unique identification number, issuing authority, date, and MEA seal. Collect in person or receive by courier if submitted via agency.
State Home Department / Divisional Commissioner's Office
Step 2 — state-level authentication before MEA apostille
Authenticates personal documents (birth, death, marriage certificates, affidavits) by affixing official stamp and signature, making them eligible for MEA apostille.
State Human Resource Development Department or Education Secretariat
Step 2 — state-level authentication for educational documents
Authenticates educational certificates (degree, diploma, marksheets) from state-recognised universities and boards for MEA apostille.
Consular, Passport and Visa (CPV) Division, Ministry of External Affairs
Final apostille affixation
Verifies state authentication stamp, affixes the Hague Convention apostille sticker on the document, and records the transaction on the MEA apostille registry.
Online application for MEA apostille, document upload, appointment booking, fee payment, and apostille status tracking.
Official MEA guidance on apostille process, list of Hague Convention countries, authorised agencies, and branch office locations.
Verify whether the destination country is a Hague Apostille Convention signatory before deciding between apostille and Embassy attestation.
For countries not part of the Hague Apostille Convention (such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and others in the Gulf), apostille is not valid. Embassy/Consulate attestation in a two-step process (MEA legalisation + Embassy attestation) is required instead.
MEA will not apostille any document that does not carry the state Home Department or HRD authentication stamp. Many applicants submit directly to MEA without this step and face rejection. Always complete state authentication first.
For educational certificates from private or deemed universities, some state HRDs require a verification letter from the issuing university before authenticating. Collect this letter proactively from your university.
The MEA apostille sticker must be verifiable by foreign authorities. Laminating the document or photocopy-binding may damage the sticker or raise doubts about authenticity. Keep the apostilled document flat in a protective sleeve.
Each individual document (one birth certificate, one degree certificate) requires its own eSanad application and ₹50 fee. Bundling multiple documents in one application results in rejection.
MEA apostille centers are overwhelmed with student visa season applications between December and February. Plan 3–4 weeks in advance if apostille is needed during this period.