What is Apostille Attestation and its Procedure

When the documents are legalized in a particular format that is accepted by all the nations belonging to Hague Convention is apostille attestation. It is a type of attestation required for documents such as power of attorney, affidavits, birth certificate, death certificate, etc. The process of attestation applies between two countries and such an apostille is sufficient to certify the validity of a document in both the countries. You don’t have to bother for doubled-certification if you are visiting a foreign country. Know more about how to select

A document should be issued or certified by the officials of the recognized authority that issues the apostille. The attestation of apostille is affixed by the Competent Authority that is designated by the government of a state that is party to the convention. The list of authorities is maintained by the Hague Conference on private international law. The apostille itself is a stamp that consists of ten numbered standard fields in which at the top it is written apostille and under the text other information is being placed. As per the Hague Convention there are four eligible documents required for apostille that contain administrative documents, notarial acts, court documents and official certificates. The apostille convention only relies on the countries those who have signed the Hague Convention that includes 118 countries.  

Also read : Is Apostille done on original documents?

Apostille Attestation Procedure

India has been a member of Hague Convention since 2005 that means that the country is providing apostille attestation to its citizens since 2005. The MEA department provides a sticker on the document that contains details of the applicant including name of the document, name of the applicant, name of the officer issuing the stamp and date. We are authorized agency to do attestation servicesin Bangalore

The procedure of apostille attestation may differ depending upon the document type. There are three main types of documents that are apostille in three different ways. 

1. Personal Document Apostille

To apostille your personal document you need to go through the following steps. The primary and basic process is notary attestation, it will be done at the regional level by a lawyer. After that you need to go for Home Department Attestation or SDM attestation that includes state level organization used to certify the personal document and then the last procedure is apostille from MEA. The Ministry of External Affairs provides the attestation that is valid throughout the country as well as foreign countries. 

Some of the documents that need apostille attestation include birth certificate, marriage certificate, adoption deed, medical certificate, migration certificate, divorce certificate, etc.      

2. Commercial Document Apostille   

The procedure of getting your commercial document apostilled includes Chamber of Commerce Attestation that is the first step of verification for your document related to business. The authentication is done by a stamp applied at the backside of the document when you need to do business overseas. In this the attestation is independent from the state government but needs to be approved by the central government. The next step is to get an apostille from MEA that gives you validation to India and abroad. 

The commercial document includes board resolution, authority letter, memorandum of association, power of attorney, commercial invoice, bill of lading, etc.

3. Educational Certificate Apostille

To get your educational certificate attested you need to follow the following procedure. The first step is to get notary attestation by the local officials that can be a lawyer at the collector’s office. The next step includes Home Department Attestation, SDM attestation or, HRD attestation. Three of them can be chosen as per your board, class or previous document. Then the last step is to get it apostilled by a final stamp or signature. The procedure of attestation may vary, depending upon the type of document. 

The most common educational certificates are transfer certificate, degree certificate, marksheets, nursing certificate, engineering certificate, etc. 

Getting the documents attested with stamps and signature provides you a legacy to work abroad, study abroad or do overseas business. Follow the procedure and get your documents attested for your studies and entrepreneurship within the country and outside the country.