In French language the word “Certification” is known as an Apostille (pronounce ah-poh-steel). Let’s understand what is Apostille.
While you are seeking for higher education, employment or work permit, resident permit or planning to start new business in any foreign country you might need your necessary documents legalized from Ministry of External Affairs –New Delhi (MEA) and that legalization process is called Apostille. Apostille is a sticker or a stamp which is affixed at the back side of your requested original documents with a machine generated unique identification number. Apostille is acceptable in all member-countries of The Hague Convention and Since 2005, India is a member of the Hague Convention of October 5, 1961 that abolished the requirement of legalization of foreign public documents.
Hague Convention Countries
The Hague Convention or Apostille Convention, is an international treaty drafted by The Hague Conference on Private International Law. The Hague Convention was signed on October 5, 1961. It specifies the modalities through which a document issued in one of the signatory countries can be certified for legal purposes in all the other signatory states. The convention was brought into action in order to abolish the necessity of legalization of documents and certificates to make the liberalization among the countries more convenient.
Albania
Australia
Belgium
Burkina Faso
Costa Rica
Denmark
Estonia
Georgia
Iceland
Italy
Korea, Republic of
Malaysia
Monaco
Netherlands
Panama
Poland
Romania
Singapore
Spain
Switzerland
Ukraine
Uzbekistan
Andorra
Austria
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Canada
Croatia
Dominican Republic
European Union
Germany
India
Japan
Latvia
Malta
Montenegro
New Zealand
Paraguay
Portugal
Russian Federation
Slovakia
Sri Lanka
Thailand
United Kingdom
Venezuela
Argentina
Azerbaijan
Brazil
Chile
Cyprus
Ecuador
Finland
Greece
Ireland
Jordan
Lithuania
Mauritius
Morocco
Nicaragua
Peru
Republic of Moldova
Saudi Arabia
Slovenia
Suriname
Tunisia
United States of America
Viet Nam
Armenia
Belarus
Bulgaria
China, People's Republic of
Czech Republic
Egypt
France
Hungary
Israel
Kazakhstan
Luxembourg
Mexico
Namibia
Norway
Philippines
Republic of North Macedonia
Serbia
South Africa
Sweden
Turkey
Uruguay
Zambia
More information can be found on the Hague Conference on Private International Law Apostille Section.
Why Apostille Required
To Apply for Long Term Visa
To Get Work & Resident Permit from Foreign Countries
To Prove Authenticity of Document
To Prove Genuineness of Company / Firm
Procedure of Apostille
Central Government of India has recently decentralized the procedure of Apostille. January 01 2019, Apostille services have been decentralized to Branch Secretariats/RPOs in 15 cities Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Chennai, Chandigarh, Cochin, New Delhi, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Panaji, Raipur and Thiruvananthapuram. Typically, the authentication of the certificates is at the regional level, followed by state authentication. At last, the Apostille sticker is received by the central government.
The procedure of Apostille depends on the nature/type of documents. Let’s understand the procedure of apostille according to its three major type Personal, Educational and Commercial Documents.
- Birth Certificate
- Birth Affidavit
- Marriage Certificate
- Marriage Affidavit
- Death Certificate
- Divorce Decree or Certificate
- Adoption Deed Certificate
- Single Status Certificate
- Medical Certificate
- Passport Copy
- FIR of Lost Passport
- PCC (Police Clearance Certificate)
- PVC (Police Verification Certificate)
- Driving License
- Aadhar Card
- PAN Card
- Personal Affidavit
- Property Will
- Notary Attestation
- Home Ministry or SDM Attestation
- MEA Apostille
- SSC Certificate
- HSC Certificate
- School Leaving Certificate
- College Leaving Certificate
- Mark sheets
- Diploma Certificate
- Bachelor Degree Certificate
- Master Degree Certificate
- Pre Degree Certificate
- Transfer Certificate
- Transcript
- Provisional Degree Certificate
- Bonafide Certificate
- Internship Certificate
- Notary Attestation
- HRD Attestation or Home Ministry or SDM Attestation
- MEA Apostille
- Certificate of Incorporation
- GMP Certificate
- WHO Certificate
- Partnership Deed
- Certificate of Proprietorship
- GST Certificate
- Memorandum of Association
- Business PAN Card
- Certificate of Origin
- Trade License
- Company profile
- Free Sale Certificate
- Commercial Invoices
- Board Resolution
- Packaging List
- Power of Attorney
- Special Certificate
- Trademark & Patent Registration
- ISO Certificate
- Chamber of Commerce
- MEA Apostille
