Authorities in one country cannot easily check whether a signature or seal on a document from another country is genuine. An apostille solves this. It is a standard certificate, created by the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention, that confirms the document's origin so that other member countries accept it without further embassy legalisation.
When you are likely to need one
- Immigration and residence: birth and marriage certificates, police clearance certificates, and single status certificates.
- Study and work: degree certificates, mark sheets and transcripts, where the institution or employer asks for legalised documents.
- Business: certificates of incorporation, board resolutions and powers of attorney, for setting up companies, opening accounts or signing contracts abroad.
- Legal matters: court documents, affidavits and property papers.
- Family matters: adoption, inheritance and registration of births or marriages abroad.
Who issues the apostille in India
India has been a party to the Convention since 2005. The apostille is issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), after the document has been authenticated by the relevant state authority or Chamber of Commerce.
What an apostille does not do
- It does not confirm that the contents of the document are correct. It only confirms the signature and seal.
- It is not used for countries outside the Convention, which need embassy attestation instead.
- It may not replace a certified translation if the destination needs the document in its own language.
See also: Apostille vs embassy attestation.