Apostille Service in Mumbai
Explain the apostille in simple words.
Apostille in simple words means getting a stamp on the certificate from the authorities so it can be used in some other country. The word apostille is a French term that simply means certification. The document might be needed for a study visa, permanent resident, work permit, or for any other legal purpose.
When the authorities approve the provided information and place a stamp and signature then it is considered as genuine and authentic. So, apostille legalizes a document and allows another country to know that the information given in the certificate is accurate and all the details are 100 percent true and accurate.
Start Apostille process for your documents by registering below
Apostille Application
Step 1 - Provide applicant details
What are the documents that are a must to have before looking for apostille service in Mumbai?
There are a few documents that are essential for a person to have before there is a need to hire an apostille service in Mumbai. Let’s have a look at the documents:
- Major Document
- The original certificate needs an apostille stamp such as a birth certificate, marriage certificate, death certificate, police clearance certificate, etc.
- Supporting Document
- A photocopy of the passport, both front and back side is required
- Aadhar card photocopy
Note: Make sure that the photocopy is clear and all the details can be easily read.
Does an individual has to hire a professional apostille service in Mumbai for attestation of documents and what are the charges for the apostille of documents?
Earlier there was no such rule or need to hire an apostille service in Mumbai. But in 2012, the authorities made it mandatory for a person to get the attestation service from the apostille service provider. This was done as there used to be a huge rush of people for the attestation. So, now a person has to look for an apostille service provider to get the document attestation done.
There are several charges that are attached to get the document attested. Firstly, there is some amount that is paid at each level of authority for the attestation of documents. Further, the person needs to pay a fee to the service provider. Moreover, if a person takes any extra service such as the home collection of documents or any other, then the charges are added up. Lastly, the amount also varies with the state and the number of documents. So, register here to know about the exact charges.
Are all documents needed for attestation from the Ministry of External Affairs? What are the exact steps that are performed for the apostille of documents?
Yes, a person should have all the documents that are mentioned above for attestation from the Ministry of External Affairs. As the MEA will analyze each and every detail that is provided in the document cautiously and then only the authority will attest the document with the stamp. First you need to Register for Apostille from the apostille procedure that is to be followed for the apostille of documents:
- Notary Attestation: This is the first step of the attestation. Here all the certificates are
presented to the notary. The notary will examine the information and then sign the document.
- State/SDM attestation: This is the second and an important step of attestation. Here a person can
get the attestation from either the state or SDM. Both the authorities follow the same procedure of attestation. All the details are carefully checked and then with the signature and stamp the document is attested.
However, there is a big difference in both the authorities that is the time frame. The time that is taken by the SDM for attestation is much less than the state attestation.
The state attestation takes three to four weeks for attestation. Whereas, the SDM attestation gets completed in just three to four days. So, it is better to get the SDM attestation if considered within the time frame. But if the country has specified to get the state attestation then make sure to choose state attestation irrespective of
the time.
- Ministry of External Affairs: This is an extremely important step for the attestation of documents. The
MEA will check all the details that are provided in the documents. When all the information is provided correctly and accurately, then the MEA will place an apostille stamp on the backside of the document. This stamp has a unique number that let the foreign country check information online and makes the complete procedure easy and fast.
- Embassy Attestation: This is the final step of the attestation for all the nations that are not a member of the Hague Convention. Here, the embassy fees along with the documents are submitted. All the
information is verified and then the document is stamped by the Embassy. With this, the document is ready to use in a foreign country.
Does an apostille document valid for two years?
Any document that is attested by the mentioned authorities is valid for a period of six months. However, there are some countries that accept a document that is a year old. But to know exactly about the validity of the document, the service provider will check the document and also see the country where the documents are to be provided. Contact a genuine apostille service provider to know more about the validity of the document.
How to make sure that the hired apostille service in Mumbai is genuine and what points to consider while selecting apostille service?
There are a few points that are a must to consider while selecting an apostille service provider. Read carefully and make sure that you consider all of them before finalizing an apostille service provider:
- The service provider should know all the details that are needed to get the apostille stamp. The person should have expertise so that there is no error.
- Check the previous work of the apostille service provider and make sure that the apostille service provider can keep all the documents safely. As all the certificates are original and if any are misplaced it will delay the entire process.