Ministry of External Affairs Apostille Attestation

The Ministry of External Affairs is the only apex body having the authority to attest to the documents issued from India. Documents attestation from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India, New Delhi, is required to make it valid for use throughout India and in a foreign country. MEA attests to the document or issues Apostille Stamp as per the applicant’s requirement and the country in which it is to be used.

MEA is a government organisation handling international affairs. Generally, document attestation by the MEA is regarded as a mandatory process of attestation services. MEA also helps in government dealings of all international matters. At the same time, the Ministry of External Affairs is also answerable for controlling foreign relations properly.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India has outsourced its General Attestation and MEA Apostille Documents services with effect from March 1, 2012. After the outsourcing of collection and delivery of Documents for Attestation/Apostille Services, No Document from individuals is accepted by MEA at CPV Division, Patiala House, New Delhi. The original documents are to be submitted by all individuals directly to the MEA-approved outsourced agencies along with a photocopy of the document and a photocopy of the Passport of the applicant.

In recognition of our quality of services, the Ministry has (after satisfactory completion of earlier contracts from March 2012 to 31st December 2018, and from 1st January 2019 to 31st January 2023) once again empanelled our company, Superb Enterprises Private Limited, with effect from 1st February 2023, as an authorised service provider for MEA Attestation in Delhi and other major hubs across India. SEPL will collect documents for further procedure of attestation by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Delhi.

What is MEA Attestation

MEA attestation can be defined as the procedure of authenticating documents when someone is moving to another country. Attestation is considered a necessary and unavoidable procedure for travelling abroad. Furthermore, it is mandatory to go through all the procedures of Attestation appropriately. MEA attestation is the validation done by the Ministry of External Affairs. Plus, MEA attestation develops the authentication of documents and makes it more attainable in other countries.

This Attestation will make it easy for the individual to complete these tasks. MEA certificate attestation services in Delhi is an essential step in Attestation. Simply, it is the authentication/verification done by the Ministry of External Affairs, which is a government-chosen body. This Attestation confirms that the certificates are authentic.

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

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

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.

Work Visa Abroad Documents

Dependent Visa Documents 

Student Visa Documents

Expansion of Business in Foreign Countries

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.
Blank Form (#3)