Experience Certificate Apostille & Attestation
Experience letters from Indian employers, notarised and apostilled or attested for Gulf work visas, professional licensing and skills assessments.
What makes an experience certificate acceptable
An experience certificate, also called an experience letter or service certificate, is a private document issued by your employer. Before it can be authenticated, it should normally show:
- The company's letterhead, with its full address and contact details
- Your full name exactly as in your passport
- Your designation or designations, and the dates you held them
- A short description of your duties, which licensing bodies and skills assessors often ask for
- The signatory's name, designation and signature, with the company seal or stamp
- The date of issue
Some licensing bodies specify further details, such as hours worked per week. Check their list before your employer issues the letter, as getting it reissued later costs time.
Which route applies
The letter is notarised, then authenticated by the Home Department, GAD or SDM of the state where it was notarised, before the MEA applies an Apostille or attestation. Some destinations or employers ask for a different route, so confirm with them first.
Experience certificates are often requested for work visas in the Gulf. For the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait, embassy attestation follows the MEA stage, with MOFA attestation after arrival. Saudi Arabia has accepted the Apostille since 7 December 2022.
Practical points before you start
- Company closed or merged. If you cannot get a letter from a former employer, alternative evidence such as a relieving letter, payslips or provident fund records may help, but whether it is accepted depends on the receiving authority.
- Verification is a separate process. Some regulators, particularly in healthcare, verify your employment directly with your employer. This is different from attestation, and you may need both.
- Several employers. Each letter is authenticated separately, so collect them all before you start.
- Names and dates. Your name should match your passport, and dates should match your CV and application forms.
- Related documents. Relieving letters and salary certificates are usually authenticated in the same way.
- Translation. Gulf ministries often require Arabic; see Document Translation.
Ask your employer for the letter in the right format first, then request a quote or check your destination with the Service Finder.
Common reasons it is needed abroad
- Employment visas and work permits, especially in the Gulf
- Professional licensing and registration abroad
- Skills assessments for migration, where legalisation is requested
- Onboarding with an overseas employer
What we need from you
- Original experience letter on company letterhead, signed and stamped
- Passport copy
- Employer contact details, as some authorities verify directly
- Destination country and purpose, such as a work visa or licensing
- Signed authorisation letter, where required
Which route for your destination?
MEA Apostille is usually enough
United States
United Kingdom
Canada
Australia
New Zealand
Ireland
France
Italy
Spain
Netherlands
Belgium
Switzerland
Portugal
Sweden
Japan
South Korea
Singapore
Saudi Arabia
Oman
Bahrain
Vietnam
South Africa
Mauritius
Philippines
Indonesia
United Arab Emirates
Qatar
Kuwait
Egypt
Iraq
Jordan
China
Thailand
GermanyFrequently asked questions
Does an experience certificate need to be notarised first?
Typically, yes. It is a private document, so it is notarised before the state department and the MEA authenticate it.
My former employer has closed. What can I do?
Gather whatever evidence you have, such as a relieving letter, payslips or provident fund records, and ask the receiving authority what it will accept. Whether alternatives can be attested depends on the document.
Is attestation the same as the verification my licensing body is doing?
No. Some regulators verify your employment directly with your employer, while attestation authenticates the document itself. You may need both.
Can relieving letters and salary certificates be attested too?
Usually, yes. They follow the same route as experience certificates: notarisation, state authentication and then the MEA.
Related documents
Not sure which route your document needs?
Tell us the document and the destination country. We will confirm the route, the documents we need from you and a quotation — before you send anything.