Getting an Apostille in India is a straightforward process once you understand the official MEA workflow. This guide explains every step clearly for educational, personal, and commercial documents.
What is Apostille?
An Apostille is an official government stamp issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India, that authenticates Indian documents for use in 105+ countries that are members of the Hague Convention of 1961.
Who Needs Apostille?
- Students applying for higher education abroad (Germany, France, USA, UK, Australia)
- Professionals applying for work visas
- Individuals applying for immigration or permanent residency
- Business owners registering companies overseas
Step-by-Step Apostille Process in India
Step 1: Notarization
Get your original document notarized by a local Notary Public. This is mandatory for personal documents like birth certificates and marriage certificates.
Step 2: State HRD / Home Department Authentication
Educational documents (degree, marksheets) must be authenticated by the state HRD department first. Personal documents go to the State Home Department.
Step 3: MEA Apostille Stamp
Submit the state-authenticated documents to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). MEA issues the official Apostille sticker on the back of the document.
Apostille Timeline
- Standard Processing: 5–7 working days
- Urgent Processing (via RM Global Apostille): 2–3 working days
Documents Required for Apostille
- Original document (degree/birth/marriage certificate)
- Government photo ID proof
- Address proof
- Application form
Need help? Contact RM Global Apostille for doorstep pickup and end-to-end Apostille services in Delhi NCR.