S2NRI

Apostille is an attestation, which turns a normal document into legal. It becomes acceptable across 92 member countries of the Hague Convention. Its square-sized stamp & sticker is internationally recognised.

The applicant gets apostille attestation in Mumbai, which proves that your document is verified, legalized and validated from Maharashtra, Mumbai.

However, you can get your single status certificate, transcript or any other document attested by the Ministry of External Affairs in India. It authorizes four agencies to outsource this service to people because it does not accept any document for verification directly.

The authorised outsourcing agents collect it from applicants and get the job done, which proves that your certificate or paper is true, legal and valid.

When do you need apostille service?

To go outside of India for any reasons, you need to have a passport and immigration documents. The purpose can be employment, education, business or anything. At that point of time, you have to visit embassy. There, the consul will ask you to submit educational, personal or commercial documents-whatever relates to the motive of your visit. 
Then, the competent officer verifies your documents while cross-checking with the originals. This process is called apostille attestation. Once it is done, it lasts for lifetime

You can get this type of attestation in two ways:

• State Authentication / Attestation

Also known as HRD attestation, this service is for attesting educational and personal documents. Before that, you need to notarize your documents and then, get them verified from respective universities, Secretariat offices, DC offices and Regional Authentication Center (RAC). Then only, you can have an apostille stamp on them. This facility is for those who live in Mumbai or nearby this city.

If you’re visiting to any of the non-member countries of the Hague Convention, get MEA attestation, rather than apostilling.

• Sub Divisional Magistrate ( SDM ) Attestation

This is an authentication done by Sub Divisional Magistrate ( SDM ). You can quickly get through this verification, as it involves authentication by the SDM only.

For quick service, it is the best to opt in.

Documents to enclose with

• Original or true copy of certificates
• Valid visa photocopy
• Original visaapproval notice, if any
• Original passport and photocopiesof first & last two pages

Steps involved in apostille

• Contact outsourcing agent nearby your location.
• Send the documents for apostilling.
• Pay for this service online via cashier cheque or debit card.
• Get the tracking details.
• Check updates of the application status on your email id.
• Receive the documents upon being attested.

How do you know that your docs are apostilled?
Ensure that your document carries a square stamp & sticker. It also reads these details:

• Name of country from which the document was issued
• Name of the beneficiary or whose documents they are
• Name of person who is signing the document
• Designation of the competent authority
• Place & date of certification
• Number of certificate
• Seal or stamp of the issuing authority
• Signature of issuing authority

The state department does not accept any direct application for apostilling. There are four agents that are authorised to collect and forward your documents to the Ministry of External Affairs Counter at CPV Division, Patiala House, New Delhi for attestation.

Do check if you have enclosed the original document/true copy with a photocopy of the document and the passport.

Fee or Payment

• The MEA charges a fee of Rs 50 for Apostille of document via debit card or cashier cheque.
• The fee asked by the outsourced agencies per document for its collection and delivery is Rs. 90/- (Service Fee) and Rs 3 per page (Scanning Fee).
• The fee of the notary and apostille by SDM may differ per state. You can collect information about it beforehand.

The fee may vary. You can confirm by contacting the authentic services provider.