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Everything You Need to Know About MEA Apostille Attestation

The Ministry of External Affairs or MEA is the sole authority who can provide apostille stamping on a public document in India. As an Indian citizen travelling abroad for study, job or business purpose, you need the MEA apostille to authenticate your documents. 

This article will explain everything you need to know about the Ministry of External Affairs apostille attestation process. 

What is MEA Apostille?

MEA Apostille is a certification the Ministry of External Affairs provides for a public document which can be used as a legal document in any Hague Apostille Convention Country. 

MEA is required for individuals planning to move abroad for various purposes such as study, business or work. 

The apostille attestation by the ministry of external affairs involves the process of checking the authenticity of documents with an established process.

MEA Apostille Stamp

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
Apply for MEA Apostille

Hague Apostille Convention Countries

The Hague Apostille Convention of 1961 october 5 abolished the need for the long and time consuming legalization process and replaced it with apostille attestation. The apostille attestation process needs a single certificate authenticating the document from a competent authority from the country of origin. 

At present there are around 92 contracting countries where apostille certification is accepted as a means of legalizing the documents from foreign countries. 

Here is a list of Hague Apostille Convention Countries

When is MEA Apostille Needed

The MEA apostille is a certificate which stamps on the document to prove the authenticity of the document for use abroad. Following are the situations when the MEA apostille is needed for an individual in India:

  • Work Abroad
  • Study Abroad
  • Immigration
  • To apply for PR status in a foreign country.
  • Marrying from Abroad
  • Business Expansion
  • Adoption from abroad
  • Medical Treatment Abroad

Documents required for degree certificate apostille?

Depending on the purpose of your visit abroad and the destination country you may require different documents with an MEA Apostille. Given below are the list of documents that usually require the Ministry of External Affairs apostille attestation.

Work Visa Abroad Documents

Dependent Visa Documents 

Student Visa Documents

Expansion of Business in Foreign Countries

How to Get the MEA Apostille Attestation in India?

In India the Ministry of External Affairs is the only authority with the power to provide the MEA stamp on the documents. There are two different types of process to obtain an apostille in India.

State Attestation Method the MEA Apostille

Documents such as Education documents and personal documents such as Birth, Marriage and death certificates  are issued by the state government authorities.Therefore, it should go through the state attestation method whereby the designated authority of the state attest the documents. 

In this method, the secretary of the district from where the document was issued verifies the validity of the document. In this method of document verification, it goes through various government departments. Therefore, it takes around 30 days to complete the process and receive the MEA apostille attestation.

SDM Attestation Method for the MEA Apostille

In this method of MEA attestation, at first a public notary notarizes the document. Thereafter, the sub divisional magistrate verifies the document for its validity and originality. In the end, the Ministry of external affairs makes a final verification of the document and provides the apostille attestation stamp on the document. Since, this is a court procedure without the involvement of multiple government departments, it will take only two to three working days.

HRD Attestation Procedure for Educational Certificates.

The MEA Apostille Attestation Validity

The validity of the apostille stamp by the Ministry of External Affairs is for six months. However, some countries may accept an apostille older than six months from the date of issuing.

The Ministry of External Affairs(MEA) Apostille Fees

The fees for the apostille services vary according to the number of documents and types of documents. You can contact an Apostille Service near you to learn more about the pricing, and process. 



Attestation and Apostille

Attestation and apostille are ways to verify the authenticity of documents. A document issued in a country requires an extra layer of verification process to check the validity, authenticity and origin of it. 

Apostille is a process followed as an authentication method among Hague Apostille Convention countries. Since India has been a member of Hague apostille convection since 2005, Indians traveling to other Hague nations need to legalize their documents through apostille process.  

However, Indians traveling to non Hague nations need to follow the embassy/consular attestation process to authenticate their documents. 

How do I apply for apostille?

You can apply here for apostille give all the details in the form.

  • Registering online for apostille
  • Sending the documents for office/visiting our office to deposit the document
  • Online payment for apostille
  • Receiving the tracking number for the documents
  • Check updates online
  • Get emails regarding the apostille status
  • Receive/collect the documents after apostille

An Apostille contains following details:

  • 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 of certification date of certification.
  • Number of certificate.
  • Seal or stamp of authority issuing certificate.
  • Signature of authority issuing certificate.

Register for Online MEA Apostille

Provide applicant details

Frequently asked questions

In India the Ministry of External Affairs is the authority to issue an apostille stamp on the document. This apostille stamping is required for legalizing the document issued in India for use in any other Hague Apostille Country.

The fees may vary according to the number of documents and type of documents need to be apostilled. You can fill the Apostille Application form to learn more about the price details.

Fill the Apostille Application form  to find an apostille service near you. 

Yes. You can do the online apostille attestation of documents which are available in online repositories. Moreover, we at apostilleservices pick up your original documents for apostille and deliver at your door step once the apostille is done. 

Please fill the Apostille Application Form to get your documents apostille attestation.