4.9

Apostille

An apostille is a certification given to a document by the government of a country that is a signatory to the Hague Convention of 1961. The Hague Convention abolished the need for consular legalization of foreign public documents. Instead, an apostille is a simplified certification that verifies the authenticity of the document for use in other countries.

• The document should first be authenticated by the designated authority of the State or Union Territory from where the document has been issued. For example, educational documents need to be authenticated by the Department of Education of the concerned State or Union Territory.


• The authenticated document should then be submitted to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) for apostille. The MEA has four branches that issue apostilles in India, located in New Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, and Hyderabad.


• The fee for obtaining an apostille in India varies depending on the type of document and the urgency of the service. Normal service usually takes around 2-3 working days, while urgent service takes around 1-2 working days.


• Once the apostille is issued, the document can be used in any country that is a signatory to the Hague Convention without the need for further legalization.

It is important to note that only public documents can be apostilled, which include birth and death certificates, marriage certificates, educational documents, and other public documents issued by government authorities. Private documents such as personal letters, powers of attorney, and contracts cannot be apostilled.

In conclusion, an apostille is an important requirement for anyone who needs to use public documents issued in India in other countries. By following the steps outlined above, you can obtain an apostille in India and ensure that your documents are recognized and accepted in other countries that are signatories to the Hague Convention.