Process of Apostille Documents for Ireland

An apostille is a special certificate that is given by the government of the country where the documents were originally issued. In India, the designated government authority for giving an apostille is MEA (Ministry Of External Affairs). MEA is a central government department responsible for handling foreign relations, and providing an apostille for the documents issued in India. 

The MEA legalizes the document for foreign use by providing an apostille for the countries that are part of the Hague Apostille convention countries such apostille for south korea, apostille for oman. For Non-Hague countries an embassy attestation from the foreign embassy is mandatory. Since Ireland is a member of the Hague Convention, Apostille Ireland from MEA is enough to enter Ireland.

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
Apply for MEA Apostille

Applying for Work Visa

If you want to obtain a work visa for Ireland you need an apostille on the following documents: 

Applying for a Dependent Visa

If you want to travel to Ireland on a dependent visa then the following documents need to be Apostilled:

Applying for a Commercial Visa

To enter Ireland on a Commercial visa to establish or expand your business you must get MEA attestation on various documents like:

Applying for Student Visa

If you want to enroll in a university in Ireland for higher education, then you need an apostille Ireland on the following documents:

Apostille Stamp Ireland - How it looks?

An apostille confirms the legal validity and authenticity of your documents. In general, it streamlines the time-consuming and complex process of document verification. Here are the characteristics of an apostille stamp:  

  • An apostille is a square-shaped sticker/stamp that gets affixed on the back of your documents 
  • An apostille stamp Ireland is approximately 9 centimeters in length
  • It is generated electronically through a computer
  • The apostille includes a government seal
  • It consists of 11 standard fields in a printed form 
  • It contains a unique identification code that certifies the authenticity of the details provided in the document 

Procedure for Obtaining an Apostille for Personal Documents

Obtaining an Apostille Ireland can make your personal documents legally valid in Ireland for various purposes such as employment, education, marriage, and PR (Permanent Residency). Below are the steps to get an Apostille Ireland for personal documents:

  • Local verification
  • Notary Attestation 
  • SDM/State Attestation
  • MEA Attestation

Let’s discuss these steps in detail 

Local verification – In the first step a local verification of your personal documents is done. The local verification is done depending on the type of documents submitted. For instance – 

Notary Attestation – After local verification is done, the documents are sent to the Notary Public Offices. In this process, the documents are stamped or signed by the authorized officials at the Notary Public Offices.  

SDM/State Attestation – In this step, the documents that need to be attested are sent for either State Attestation or Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) attestation. State attestation involves a thorough authentication by the secretariat of the district where the documents were issued. The State Attestation is a time-consuming and expensive method. It can take up to 30 working days to complete as many government bodies are involved in the process.   

SDM attestation requires submission to the Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM). In this process, the SDM reviews all information on the documents and places a signature/stamp on them. Consider that if you want to enter Hague Convention countries, SDM attestation is recommended as it takes less time and is cheaper than State attestation.

It’s always better to talk to your Apostille helpline, they will guide you on which process you need.

MEA Attestation – This is the final process where the MEA (Ministry Of External Affairs) places an apostille Ireland on the back of your personal documents, making it authentic and legally accepted in Ireland.

Procedure for Obtaining an Apostille for Commercial Documents

These are the 3 steps to obtain an apostille Ireland on the commercial documents – 

  • Local verification
  • Global Chamber of Commerce
  • MEA Attestation

Local Verification – The Registrar of Companies will conduct local verification of all commercial documents, including GST, Registration, AOA(Article of Association), and MOU(Memorandum of Understanding).

Global Chamber of Commerce – The Global Chamber of Commerce carefully checks the details of commercial documents, ensuring they are valid and in line with Indian Rules and Regulations.

MEA(Ministry of External Affairs) – In this final step, the Ministry of External Affairs legalizes your commercial documents by placing an apostille Ireland.  

Please note that your documents must be original and free of any marks, and stains.

What are the Fees You Need To Pay To Get Apostille Documents for Ireland?

The cost of obtaining an apostille Ireland depends on several factors such as:

  • The number of documents submitted
  • The type of documents
  • The urgency of the process
  • Charges paid by various authorities 
  • Fees charged by your apostille service provider
  • Additional services are required such as document notarization, translation, and shipment.

Time to Get an Apostille Birth Certificate for Ireland?

There’s no fixed time to get an apostille for Ireland on your birth certificate. It can take up to 7-10 working days for the process to complete. However, this time period may vary due to some uncertainties. The time for getting an apostille birth certificate for Ireland depends on the country you are applying to, and the state from which the document was issued. Furthermore, the apostille attestation time can also increase if the documents submitted are more in number and if many government authorities are involved in the process.   

How to Get an Apostille or MEA Attestation on Your Documents?

To get apostille services Ireland you have to follow these steps:

  • Fill in Your Details in the Register for Apostille form
  • Submit your documents
  • Decide which type of Apostille to get (Through state attestation or SDM attestation)
  • Make the Online Payment 
  • Wait for the whole process to complete
  • Receive the apostille documents Ireland at your home address

Always remember that the process of obtaining an apostille varies across countries. Hence, it’s advisable to consult with Genuine apostille service provider for comprehensive guidance on obtaining an apostille for your documents. 

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