Secure Apostille Services Helpline

Birth Certificate Apostille in Chennai

Apostille your birth certificate in Chennai whether it is issued in Chennai or anywhere else in India; digital or hard copy.


If you are living in Chennai and planning to travel abroad for work, education, or business purposes, obtaining a Birth Certificate Apostille in Chennai is a crucial requirement. A birth certificate issued in Chennai or anywhere in India is not considered legally valid in Hague Convention countries unless it is apostilled.

This article provides a complete and easy-to-understand guide on how to get a birth certificate apostille in Chennai, the importance of apostille, and the steps involved in the process, helping you prepare your documents smoothly for international use.

4 Simple steps to get MEA Apostille on your Documents 

  1. Register on Apostille Portal 
  2. Collect all  Documents you want to Apostille 
  3. Submit the Original / Photocopies of documents
  4. Receive Documents with Apostille Directly to your home

What is Apostille?

An apostille is an official certification affixed to the back of an original document, making it legally valid for use in a Hague Apostille country. These countries are members of the Hague Apostille Convention, which was established on 5 October 1961 to simplify the process of document legalization between member nations.

India became a signatory to the Hague Apostille Convention in 2005. Since then, any Indian citizen traveling to a Hague Apostille country for employment, education, business, or personal purposes must ensure their documents are apostilled. Only apostilled documents are recognized as legally valid in these countries.

In India, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is the only authorized body responsible for issuing apostille certifications on documents.

How to Get A Birth Certificate in Chennai?

Birth certificate is an important identity document and proof of age document in India. You need a birth certificate for everything from joining schools to applying for a passport. 

In India, the state Department of Health & Family Welfare is responsible for registering birth and issuing birth certificates. The local municipal bodies and panchayats will do this on behalf of the state department. 

For a child born in a hospital, the hospital authorities will report the birth to the local bodies. By submitting the birth declaration form given by the hospital to the local authority, parents can get the birth certificate of the child. 

You can get a duplicate birth certificate by visiting the local body where your birth was registered. 

If you were born in Chennai, you can visit the respective local body’s sites and apply. 

Apply for Birth Certificate in Chennai

If you were born in other parts of India, you can visit the website of the respective local body and apply for a birth certificate. 

Why Do You Need an Apostille for a Birth Certificate in Chennai?

You can get a birth certificate apostille in Chennai for birth certificates issued in Chennai as well as anywhere else in India. An apostille for birth certificate in Chennai is required for the following reasons: 

  • Student visa applications
  • Work permits in Hague country
  • Family reunification visas
  • Marriage registration abroad
  • Obtaining residency or citizenship

Birth Certificate Apostille Process in Chennai

Though MEA India is located in Delhi, residents of Chennai can easily get their birth certificate apostille with the help of Secure Apostille Services. 

In India, there are two methods of authentication one can choose to obtain an apostille. They are: 

  1. State Attestation Method
  2. SDM Attestation Method

An apostille obtained on your birth certificate after SDM attestation and SDM attestation are equally valid. However, some countries may ask specifically for the state attestation. Except in such cases, it is always better to follow SDM attestation. Because it is a cheaper and faster authentication method for obtaining an apostille. 

Steps in Getting a Birth Certificate Apostille in Chennai

Given below are the steps SAS follows to get an apostille on birth certificate: 

  1. Notarization

Firstly, your birth certificate is submitted to a public notary who can verify the authenticity of it. The notary attest the birth certificate after verification.

        2. SDM/State Attestation

This is the step where there is a major difference in the authentication method. 

If you want to follow the SDM method, we will submit your birth certificate to a sub divisional magistrate. The SDM will conduct a verification and attest your documents with a sign and seal. 

If you are following the State attestation method, you can submit your documents to the state home department. The department will verify your birth certificate details with the authority of the local body from where your birth certificate was issued. After confirming details with the local authorities, the state home department will attest your birth certificate. 

       3. MEA Apostille

Finally, SAS will submit your birth certificate to the MEA in Delhi. The ministry will make a final round of verification from their end. After verification, they will stamp the apostille certificate on the backside of the birth certificate. 

Documents Required to Apply for a Birth Certificate Apostille in Chennai

In order to get an apostille on your birth certificate, you need to submit following documents to Secure Apostille Services: 

  • Original birth certificate. If it is an online document,  a soft copy is enough. We will take a printout and process it for apostille. Similarly, if your birth certificate is handwritten you need to apply for re issuance of the birth certificate
  • A photocopy of the passport front and back page is required as supporting documents.
  • You need to fill an online document submission form as a proof of document submission to SAS.

Apostille for Digital Birth Certificates

Nowadays, most of the local bodies from various states in India are issuing digital birth certificates. These digital birth certificates can be apostilled only if it is verifiable with a QR code or official digital signature. Confirm the acceptability of your digital birth certificate for apostille with Secure Apostille Services. 

Time Required for Birth Certificate Apostille in Chennai

The time required for a birth certificate varies depending on various factors. 

  • If you are using a normal service, you will get an apostille birth certificate within 7 to 8 working days. 
  • If you are choosing a basic service, it may take up to 14 days. 
  • If you are choosing premium services, you will get a birth certificate apostille in Chennai within 3 to 4 working days. 
  • If you want to get an attestation from the state home department, the time will be more. It will depend on the state where the birth certificate was issued.

Whether you are travelling to a Hague country for study, work or planning to settle as a permanent resident, a birth certificate is an important personal document that needs to be submitted. A birth certificate issued in India by itself is not valid in another country. In order to accept your birth certificate as a valid legal document in another Hague country, you need to get an apostille stamp on the backside of it. Get the help of an apostille service provider in Chennai such as Secure Apostille Services to get your birth certificate apostille in Chennai faster and secure. 

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Frequently asked questions

  • The cost of getting an apostille for the birth certificate in Chennai may vary depending on:
  • The type of authentication method you want to choose
  • The service you choose (normal, basic, or premium)
  • The state of issuance of birth certificate, if following state attestation method

No. If you are submitting your birth certificate in a Hague country, you need to get an apostille on it. However, if you are submitting your birth certificate in a non Hague country, you need an embassy or consulate attestation.

SAS follows below given steps to get UAE embassy attestation for birth certificates in Chennai: 

  1. Notarization
  2. SDM/State Attestation
  3. MEA Attestation
  4. UAE Embassy Attestation(from UAE embassy located in India)

No. MEA India issues an apostille on documents in English only. Thus, you need to translate your birth certificate from Tamil to English before submitting it for apostille.Â