The Hague Convention of 1961 abolished the requirement for diplomatic and consular legalization of public documents between member countries. Apostille services in India ensure that your documents are authenticated for legal use in Hague Convention member countries like the USA, Germany, and France. This simplifies the process of validating documents for education, employment, or immigration purposes.

An apostille is a certificate issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) that authenticates documents for use in Hague Convention countries.

• Apostille: Applicable for member nations; includes a unique identification number.
• Attestation: Required for non-Hague countries like Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Qatar, involving embassy validation.
  Both processes confirm the authenticity of your documents but differ based on the destination country’s legal requirements.

Apostille and attestation ensure that your documents are legally valid in the target country. Employers, universities, and immigration authorities require this validation to confirm the authenticity of your credentials and comply with their laws. It is also mandatory for visa processing and international business agreements.

The process involves multiple steps, including:

1. Notary Attestation: Initial validation by a government-authorized notary.
2. State Authentication: HRD or SDM (Sub-Divisional Magistrate) attestation based on the document type.
   • HRD for educational documents (state-specific).
   • SDM for personal and commercial documents.
3. MEA Apostille or Attestation: Final authentication by the Ministry of External Affairs.
4. Embassy Attestation (for non-Hague countries): Validation by the respective embassy, such as the Qatar Embassy Attestation in India or the UAE Embassy Attestation in Delhi.

We handle apostille and attestation for a variety of documents:

• Educational Documents: Degree certificates, transcripts, and diplomas.
• Personal Documents: Birth certificates, marriage certificates, police clearance certificates (PCC apostille).
• Commercial Documents: Power of attorney, invoices, and incorporation certificates.

Visa stamping is a crucial step for legal entry into another country. Apostille or attestation validates the authenticity of supporting documents like marriage certificates, degree certificates, or PCCs required for visa approval. For instance, the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia mandates degree attestation and PCC attestation for work visas.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is the central authority responsible for issuing apostilles in India. After notary and state-level authentication, the MEA adds the apostille sticker or stamp, ensuring your document’s international acceptance.

SDM attestation is a step in the attestation process where the Sub-Divisional Magistrate authenticates personal and commercial documents. It is an alternative to state HRD attestation for documents like marriage certificates or power of attorney.

PCC attestation validates your Police Clearance Certificate for use in foreign countries. It is often required for employment visas, residency applications, or immigration purposes. For example:

• PCC Apostille for Hague countries like the UK.
• PCC attestation for non-Hague countries like UAE or Qatar.

The timeline depends on the document type and destination country:

• Apostille: Typically 3-5 business days.
• Attestation: May take 7-15 business days due to embassy involvement, especially for countries like Saudi Arabia or Kuwait.

Yes, we are authorized and approved by the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Delhi, to provide visa stamping services for employment, family reunification, and business travel.

Yes, we provide HRD attestation services for all states, including:

• Delhi, Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Punjab, Rajasthan, West Bengal, and more.
  This ensures that educational documents are authenticated by the issuing state’s HRD department before MEA processing.

• MEA Licensed Since 1999: Trusted for over 30 years.
• Government-Approved: Authorized by the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia.
• Secure Handling: Ensuring the safety of your original documents.

All-In-One Service: Covering apostille in Delhi, attestation services in India, PCC apostille, and embassy attestation.

The cost varies depending on the document type and destination country. For example:

• MEA Apostille Fee: Standard government rates.
• UAE Embassy Attestation Fee: Additional charges apply.
  Contact us for detailed pricing for services like degree certificate attestation for UAE price.

Accordion Content

PCC attestation or apostille is required for:

• Employment in countries like UAE or Qatar.
• Immigration processes.
• Business or long-term stays in non-Hague and Hague countries.

Document legalisation refers to the process of authenticating a document so that it is valid for official use in a foreign country.

• Attestation involves verifying a document’s authenticity by state, MEA, and embassy authorities.

Apostille is a simplified form of legalisation for Hague Convention countries.
Legalisation is a broader term that encompasses both attestation and apostille.

Several authorities are involved in the process:

1. State Departments: For HRD, Home Department, or SDM authentication.
2. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA): Provides apostille or final attestation.
3. Notary Public: Ensures initial verification.
4. Embassies: For attestation of documents for non-Hague countries like Saudi Arabia or UAE.

Countries use apostille or attestation to ensure that foreign-issued documents are legitimate and comply with their legal standards. It protects against fraud and simplifies the validation process for purposes like:

• Employment.
• Higher education.
• Immigration.
• Business transactions.

Notaries act as the first line of authentication, verifying the genuineness of signatures and the content of documents. Without notary attestation, subsequent steps like MEA attestation or apostille cannot proceed.

HRD attestation is the process of verifying educational documents by the Human Resource Department of the state where the educational institution is located. It is state-specific because each state’s HRD verifies documents issued by its institutions.
We cover HRD attestation for all states, including:

• Delhi, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Punjab, Rajasthan, and more.

Improperly attested or apostilled documents can lead to:

• Visa application rejection.
• Delay or denial of employment or admission in foreign institutions.
• Non-compliance with immigration laws, which can result in fines or deportation.

The MEA verifies documents against the records from state authorities and institutions. Once verified, the MEA applies:

• Apostille Stamp: For Hague Convention countries.
• Attestation Seal: For non-Hague countries.

Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) attestation is mandatory for immigration to ensure that the applicant has no criminal history. Countries like UAE, Canada, and Qatar require PCC attestation or apostille for work permits and long-term visas.

SDM (Sub-Divisional Magistrate) attestation is an alternative to state HRD authentication, commonly used for personal documents like birth and marriage certificates or when HRD is not feasible due to delays.

For non-Hague countries like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Qatar, the process includes:

1. State Authentication: HRD or Home Department.
2. MEA Attestation: Central government validation.

Embassy Attestation: Final validation by the destination country’s embassy, such as the Qatar Embassy Attestation in Delhi.

Visa stamping formalizes your legal entry into a foreign country. Attestation ensures the authenticity of supporting documents, such as educational qualifications and marriage certificates, which are required for visa approval.

Both processes involve stringent verification by authorized agencies, ensuring that the document is genuine and tamper-proof. Apostille includes a unique identification number that can be tracked online for added security.

Documents are divided into three main categories:

• Educational: Degree certificates, transcripts.
• Personal: Birth certificates, marriage certificates, PCCs.

Commercial: Power of attorney, incorporation documents.

Employers and universities require these processes to confirm the validity of:

• Educational qualifications for employment or admission.
• Personal documents like marriage certificates for family visas.
• PCCs for ensuring a clean criminal record.

• MEA Licensed Since 1999: Trusted by thousands.
• End-to-End Service: From notary to embassy attestation.
• Secure Document Handling: Ensuring the safety of originals.

Transparency: Real-time updates and tracking.

Yes, we offer tailored services for businesses, including:

• Attestation of incorporation documents.
• Power of attorney validation.
• Export-import certification legalisation.

Countries that are not part of the Hague Convention, such as Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Iraq, Ethiopia, and others, require embassy attestation.

Apostille for commercial documents, such as power of attorney or invoices, ensures compliance with international trade laws and business agreements.

• UAE: Online application followed by PCC attestation or apostille.
• Canada: Indian PCC issuance and subsequent apostille for Hague countries.

India: PCCs for international use are issued by regional passport offices.