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An Apostille is a certificate under the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961 confirming that the signature and seal on a public document are genuine, so that the document can be used abroad. It does not certify what the document says. In India, where the Convention has been in force since 14 July 2005, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issues it as a sticker or certificate with a unique number that the receiving authority can verify online with the MEA. Where the Convention is in force between India and the destination country, no embassy legalisation is needed afterwards; see MEA Apostille for how the process works.

An Apostille is used for countries where the Apostille Convention is in force with India, and the MEA Apostille is typically the final legalisation step, with no embassy stage. Embassy attestation, also called legalisation, is used for countries where the Convention does not apply, such as the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait: the MEA attests the document, that country's embassy or consulate in India then legalises it, and several Gulf states require a further attestation by their Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) after arrival. Both routes usually start with authentication at state level, or by a Chamber of Commerce for commercial documents. See MEA Apostille and Embassy Attestation for each process.

It depends on the country where the document will be used, not on the type of document, so check your destination with our Service Finder or in our country guides, which set out the route and typical steps for each destination. Germany and China are exceptions: Indian Apostilles are not valid in Germany, which objected to India's accession to the Convention, and documents for China still need embassy legalisation because India objected to China's accession. Receiving authorities can also ask for extra steps, and German authorities may ask for a separate verification procedure, so confirm the requirements with the authority before you begin.

Usually, yes: the Apostille or attestation is typically placed on the original document, or on a properly certified copy where the authority accepts one, and plain photocopies are generally not accepted. You start by sending clear scans, and we confirm what each document needs before you hand over any originals. Damaged, laminated or altered documents may be rejected, so let us know about any such issues when you share your scans.

It depends on the document, the state that issued it, the route your destination requires and the workload of each authority involved, such as state authorities, the MEA and any embassy. Steps such as university verification or translation, where needed, can add time. After reviewing your documents, we give you an estimate for your case rather than a fixed date, and we keep you updated as each stage is completed. If you have a deadline, mention it when you request a quote so we can tell you whether it looks realistic.

Yes. We keep you updated by phone, WhatsApp or email as your documents move through each stage, such as state authentication, the MEA and, where applicable, the embassy. You can also contact us at any time for the latest status, and when your documents are on their way back to you, we share the courier tracking number.

We take care of your documents at every stage, and your originals stay with you until we have reviewed your scans and confirmed the steps each one needs. They then travel by pickup or courier, we follow up with each authority while they are being processed, and we return them by courier with a tracking number. We use your documents and personal details to process your request and for no other purpose. Before handing anything over, keep scans or photocopies for your own records, and tell us about any document that would be difficult to replace.

Yes. We serve customers across India from our head office in Mumbai (Andheri West) and our registered office in Surat (Athwa). Where pickup is available in your area, we collect documents from your home or office; elsewhere, you can send them to either office by courier. Completed documents are returned by courier with a tracking number, and any pickup or courier charges are confirmed in your quote.