Legalize Diploma Certificates in india- Diploma Apostille Attestation
Legalizing your diploma certificate with an apostille attestation from the MEA is necessary if you are planning to travel to any Hague nation. The apostille stamp received on your diploma certificate from the Ministry of External affairs legalize diploma certificate for use in any Hague Convention Apostille Country.
If you are travelling to any country outside the countries listed in Hague Convention then you must obtain legalization through Embassy attestation, Just the apostille wont be enough.
What is the Hague Convention Apostille?
Hague Convention Apostille is an international conference held in Hague on 5 October 1961 which abolished the requirement for the legalization of foreign public documents. Until the convention came into existence, legalization of foreign documents involved embassy attestation which was time consuming. With the introduction of apostille, an apostille certification on your documents from the competent authority is the only requirement to legalize a document in foreign country.
4 Simple steps to get MEA Apostille on your Documents
- Register on Apostille Portal
- Collect all Documents you want to Apostille
- Submit the Original / Photocopies of documents
- Receive Documents with Apostille Directly to your home
MEA Apostille on Diploma Certificate
In India the Ministry of external affairs is authorized to provide an Apostille Stamp on your documents. As an Indian citizen traveling to foreign countries which are part of Hague convention, you need to get an apostille on your diploma certificate.
Your job provider from a Hague country recognizes your diploma certificate as valid and authentic with the MEA apostille stamp. Thus, as a diploma holder planning for a job abroad or to study further, you should prepare your diploma certificate apostille ready on hand.
How to Legalize Your Diploma certificate with an Apostille
You can legalize your diploma certificate in India with an apostille stamp from the MEA. Since the burden of collecting and dispatching the apostilled documents caused a burden on MEA, it has outsourced the apostille services to agencies. Thus, you need to apply for your diploma certificate apostille through a trustworthy apostille service provider.
Fill the Diploma Certificate Apostille Application Form to learn more about your diploma certificate legalization process.
Diploma Certificate Apostille: Step by Step Process
There are two methods available in India to receive an apostilled copy of your diploma. They are:
State Attestation Method to Get a Diploma Certificate Apostille
In some scenarios, your employer or the university you are applying to may specifically mention getting a state level attestation for your diploma certificate. In such cases you have to follow the state attestation method. Given below are the steps involved in receiving a diploma certificate apostille:
- Notarization
Notarization is the first step in legalizing diploma certificates. In this step, a public notary notarizes the diploma certificate after verifying its credentials.
- State level Attestation
In this step, state level authority attest the diploma certificate after verification. Human resource department of the state from where the document issued attest the certificate in this step.
- MEA Verification
The Ministry of External Affairs verifies your diploma certificate in this step.
- MEA Apostille
In this final step, MEA affixes an apostille stamp on your diploma certificate which will legalize your diploma certificate in any Hague apostille country.
The state attestation method to authenticate diploma certificates usually takes around 30 days to finish the process and get an apostille stamp.
SDM Attestation Method to Legalize your Diploma Certificate
If your employer or the university you are joining has not specified how to get an apostille, you can follow the SDM method which is faster. Given below are the steps involved in the SDM attestation method.
- Notary Attestation
The first step involves the verification and attestation of your diploma certificate by a public notary.
- SDM Attestation
In this step, the Sub divisional Magistrate verifies and attests the diploma certificate.
- MEA Verification
Once the SDM attests the certificate it reaches the ministry of external affairs. The ministry also conducts a verification of your document.
- MEA Apostille
The final stage is the pasting of the apostille stamp/certificate on the diploma certificate. Apostille thus legalizes and authenticates your diploma certificate in any Hague apostille country.
SDM attestation usually takes around six to seven days to legalize your diploma certificate.
Documents Required for Apostille of Diploma
Following are the documents required to legalize your diploma certificate:
- Original Diploma Certificate
- A Valid Government issued ID proof
- Academic Transcript (Optional)
- Passport Photocopy
How Long Does it Take to Legalize Your Diploma Certificate?
The following factors may affect the time required to get your diploma apostille:
- The state from where your diploma certificate issued
- The method of attestation (State/SDM)
- Requirement other supporting document apostille such as transcript
The time taken to obtain an apostille for diploma may range from 6 days to 30 days.
Legalization and Apostille
Legalization and apostille are important concepts when it comes to cross border validation of documents for the purposes of education, employment and immigration.
Apostille certification is the process followed in Hague countries to authenticate personal, educational, medical and commercial documents to use in a foreign country.
On the other hand, legalization is used as a broader term and usually denotes the authentication process of non Hague nations.
Legalization of Documents for Non Hague Countries- Steps
To legalize Indian issued diploma certificates or any other documents for use in a non Hague country, there is one more step after the MEA attestation.
Given below are the steps involved in the legalization of documents for non Hague Countries:
- Notary attestation
- State/SDM attestation
- MEA Verification
- MEA Attestation
- Embassy Attestation
You can apply for Embassy attestation here
List of Diploma Certificates that Require Legalization
- Diploma in Engineering (Polytechnic Diplomas)
- Diploma in Nursing (GNM, PN)
- Diploma in Pharmacy
- Diploma in Computer Applications (DCA)
- Diploma in Business Administration
- Diploma in Management ( PGDM, PGDBM)
- Diploma in Fashion Designing
- Diploma in Hotel Management
- Diploma in Teacher Education (D.Ed, TTC)
- Diploma in Medical Lab Technology (DMLT)
- Diploma in Multimedia or Animation
- Diploma in Foreign Languages
- Industrial Training Institute (ITI) Diplomas
- Paramedical Diplomas
- Diploma in Aviation
- Diploma in Film Making or Media Studies
You can legalize your diploma certificate for a Hague country with an MEA apostille. But to use it for a non Hague country you need to get an embassy attestation.
Confused about the process and paper works involved? We are here to help you. Fill the apostille application form for a hassle free legalization process.
Register for Online MEA Apostille
Provide applicant details
Frequently asked questions
The validity of the diploma certificate apostille is six months. However, some companies/universities may accept an apostille older than six months.
You should authenticate your diploma certificate with an apostille certificate from the ministry of external affairs to legalize its use in a foreign country. If your destination is not a Hague country, you need to get an embassy attestation from that country to authenticate your diploma certificate.
To legalize your nursing certificate for a Hague apostille country, you need to obtain an apostille from the Ministry of external affairs. Follow the below given instructions to get an apostille for your nursing diploma certificate:
- Register on Apostille Portal
- Send your original diploma certificate, ID Card copy and passport Photocopy.
- Receive your nursing diploma certificate with apostille at your time.
If your destination is a non Hague country, you need to follow one more step and get the embassy attestation.
If you want to legalize your engineering diploma certificate in a Hague apostille country, you need to obtain an apostille stamp from the MEA on your certificate. However, if your destination is a non Hague country, you need to obtain embassy attestation to legalize it.