Easy Steps to Get Apostille/Attestation Services in Mumbai

Understanding Apostille

Apostille is an attestation service, that turns a normal document into legal. It becomes acceptable across 120 member countries of the Hague Convention, including Australia, France, Germany, India, Japan, the UK, etc.

Its square-sized stamp and sticker are internationally recognised. The applicant gets apostille attestation in Mumbai, which proves that your document is verified, legalised, and validated from Maharashtra, Mumbai.

However, you can get your single status certificate, transcript, or any other document attested by the Ministry of External Affairs in India. It authorizes four agencies to outsource this service to people because it does not accept any document for verification directly. The authorized outsourcing agents collect it from applicants and get the job done, which proves that your certificate or paper is true, legal, and valid.

When do you need apostille service?

To go outside of India for any reason, you need to have a passport and immigration documents. The purpose can be employment, education, business, or anything. At that point in time, you have to visit the embassy. There, the consul will ask you to submit educational, personal like marriage certificate or commercial documents—whatever relates to the motive of your visit. Then, the competent officer verifies your documents while cross-checking with the originals. This process is called apostille attestation. Once it is done, it lasts a lifetime.

Documents that Need Attestation/Apostille

1. Personal Document

• Marriage Certificate
• Single Status Certificate/Affidavit/Bachelorhood Certificate
• Birth Certificate/Non-Availability of Birth Certificate
• Divorce Paper/Certificate
• Death Certificate
• Adoption Deed
• Medical Certificate
• Police Clearance Certificate (PCC)
• Job Experience Certificate
• University Migration Certificate
• Passport Copies, etc. 

2. Educational Certificate Apostille/Attestation (Related to Education/Qualification)

• Transcript
• University/Degree Certificate
• Migration Certificate
• Police Clearance Certificate
• Passport or Visa 

3. Commercial Documents (Related to Business or Commercial Activities)

• Memorandum of Association
• Power of Attorney
• Authority Letter
• Board Resolution
• Article of Association
• Certificate of Incorporation
• Commercial Invoice
• Bill of Lading
• Insurance Certificate
• Invoice Bills and more. 

Services 2NRI Steps involved in apostille

• Contact an outsourcing agent nearby your location.
• Send the documents for apostilling.
• Pay for this service online via cashier check or debit card.
• Get the tracking details.
• Check updates of the application status on your email ID.
• Receive the documents upon being attested. 

Documents to enclose with

• Original or true copy of certificates
• Valid visa photocopy
• Original visa approval notice, if any
• Original passport and photocopies of the first and last two pages

Procedure to Follow in Person

Attestation has a major role in getting an apostilled document. This is particularly significant to make your document acceptable worldwide. Let’s break down which attestation services according to the type of document are prominent in role.

1. I) Steps Involved in Personal Document Apostille Services

For personal documents like a birth certificate, non-availability of birth certificate, single status certificate, or any other one, you need to focus on these certificate legalisation services:

1. Notary Attestation

This step basically involves notary public, a competent officer, to authenticate the document’s validity. He is accessible at the regional court or collector’s office in your area.

2. Home Department Attestation or SDM Attestation

This is the second level of attestation, wherein you need to visit the Home Department of your state government. This department is also recognized as Mantralaya in some states. So, the attestation will be regarded as Mantralaya attestation.

3. Apostille from MEA

This is concerned with the union government at the centre of India. It simply apostille but does not verify the authenticity of the document, provided it’s a rare case.  

Steps Involved in Educational Document Apostille Services

1. HRD Attestation

This is again concerned with the state‘s HRD, or Human Resource Department. It certifies that the transcript, marksheet, or degree is authentic.  In the background, this department enquires with the mentioned university or board to check its originality.

2. SDM Attestation

This step has the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) in a leading role, who certifies that the document is valid and original. Once attested from here, the document does not need further attestation from the home department of the state government.

III) Steps involved in Commercial Document Apostille Services

1. Chamber of Commerce Attestation
   This department is specifically set up for legalising documents associated with the business or commerce. For the chamber of commerce attestation on the document, you don’t need to visit the state government for legalising your paper.
2. MEA Attestation
   The next one is the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) attestation. It manages the legalisation work of documents that are associated with emigration. For the Apostille certificate also, you have to request here for attestation if  you’re going to one of the member countries of the Hague Convention. It pastes a sticker and puts stamps on it.  

How do you know that your documents are approved? Ensure that your document carries a square stamp and sticker. It also reads these details:

• Name of country from which the document was issued
• Name of the beneficiary or whose documents they are
• Name of person who is signing the document
• Designation of the competent authority
• Place & date of certification
• Number of certificates
• Seal or stamp of the issuing authority
• Signature of issuing authority

The state department does not accept any direct application for apostilling. There are four agents that are authorized to collect and forward your documents to the Ministry of External Affairs Counter at CPV Division, Patiala House, New Delhi, for attestation.

Do check if you have enclosed the original document/true copy with a photocopy of the document and the passport.

Fee or Payment

• The MEA charges a fee of Rs 50 for apostille of document via debit card or cashier check.
• The fee asked by the outsourced agencies per document for its collection and delivery is Rs. 90/- (service fee) and Rs 3 per page (scanning fee).
• The fee of the notary and apostille by SDM may differ per state. You can collect information about it beforehand.

The fee may vary. You can confirm by contacting the authentic service provider.

For further or personalized apostille services, send us an email or inquire, today!