Apostille Certificate from MEA
Getting Apostille certificate from MEA is a bit of confusion, because of the complexity it has. Make it easy by knowing basics of apostille certificate.
Basics of Document Authentication are as follows.
What is apostille Certificate ?
Apostille is a way to legalize any document issued in a country to be used in another country.. Purpose of getting apostille are dependent VISA, PR(permanent resident visa), or for student visa.
All the certificates such as marriage certificate, birth certificate, PCC(Police clearance certificate) or company document belongs to Indian government or indian government registered organization.
To use Indian document in another country you need apostille. Apostille simply conveys the other country that it’s a authenticated certificate. It is issued from a registered organization in India. If you have apostille to your document it will be legal in 113 hague countries.
How to get Document apostille from Ministry of external affairs ?
Getting apostille certificate comes down to 2 paths
- State Authentication then MEA apostille
- SDM authentication then MEA apostille
State attestation then MEA apostille
India has 29 States and 7 union territories(Including J&K).
All the documents issued belongs to anyone of the state or state registered organization.
Before getting MEA apostille to certificate, MEA insists to get state authentication first, this is to remove all the fraudulent document.
State authentication is nothing but a seal from secretariat for personal documents, or seal from chamber of commerce for commercial documents.
Once the document is submitted to secretariat office, it will be sent to concerned department for clarification, once the department clarifies that the submitted document is issued by them, then secretariat will put a seal, this seal from state government confirms MEA that the document is authentic.
After the state government, this document goes to MEA for Apostille.
Since 2012 the number of document has increased exponentially. It was hard for MEA to keep track of all these documents. From 2012 this job is outsourced to us. We will collect and distribute certificate for apostille from citizens.
Total time to complete the whole process is 30 working days.
Yeahh I can understand your feelings. That’s too many working days but don’t lose hope there is a way, read on..
SDM authentication then MEA apostille
SDM attestation is similar to state authentication. In this method Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) will authenticate your document.Once SDM authentication is done the document is ready for MEA apostille.
It’s faster process, time taken here varies from 3 working days to 14 working days, depending on the package you choose.
Which procedure to choose while getting apostille?
Choosing a suitable procedure will save you time and money.
If your destination country is in Hague nation list and your certificates are issued in Indian state except Punjab, Haryana and Goa then SDM authentication is good for you. It takes less time and less money compared to state authentication.
However there is an exception, if your travelling destination is Italy and Austria, SDM is not applicable, even though Italy and Austria are hague nation.
When to choose State authentication then Mea apostille certificate?
In Simple words, wherever SDM authentication is not applicable, there you need to choose State Authentication.
Destination you are travelling to is not in Hague nation or your documents belong to Punjab, Haryana and Goa then this authentication is required.
Validity of apostille certificate.
Validity of Apostille certificate differs from country to country,however the apostille certificate issued from MEA india is valid for 6 months.
Documents needed to get apostille certificate.
Only MEA has the authority to apostille certificate in India. MEA will only put apostille on original document.
So we need your original Document.
For name verification we need your Passport photocopy first and last information pages.
Apostille is country specific clarify all your doubts by registering here or call us at – 7406384899
Following are the details an Apostille contains:
- Name of country from which the document was issued.
- Name of the Person to whom document is issued.
- Name of person signing the document.
- Designation of the singed person.
- Place and date of of certification
- Number of Document.
- Seal or stamp of authority issuing.
- Signature of authority issuing.