If you are planning to study, work, or settle abroad, or are an NRI living in a foreign country, you may have come across the term apostille. But what exactly does it mean, why is it required, and how do you get an apostille for your documents?

This guide by explains the meaning of apostille, its process in India, and certificate details, so you know exactly what to expect.

What is Apostille?

An apostille is a form of document authentication issued under the , which abolished the need for embassy legalization of public documents.

In simple terms, an apostille is a stamp or sticker placed on your documents by the designated authority that confirms the document is genuine and valid for use in Hague Convention member countries.

Apostille Meaning in India

In India, apostille is often called apostille attestation. It is mandatory for various situations such as:

  • Students: applying for a student visa or university admission abroad.
  • Job seekers: seeking employment in foreign companies.
  • Families: migrating for reunification, marriage, or adoption.
  • Businesses: expanding operations internationally.
  • NRIs: confirming that documents originated in India.

👉 For Hague Convention countries, apostille is valid. For non-Hague countries, you will need embassy attestation instead following the apostille process.

What Does an Apostille Look Like?

An apostille is usually a square-shaped sticker (approximately 9x9 cm) affixed to the back of your document.

It must contains the below (HCCH)

  • Title “Apostille (Convention de La Haye du 5 octobre 1961)”.
  • Country
  • Name of the public document
  • has been signed by
  • acting in the capacity of
  • bears the seal/stamp of

Certified

  • at … …the
  • by
  • No.
  • seal/stamp … signature
  • is issued to

In the below image, the sample certificate issued by HCCH and original apostille stamp of India on a public document degree certificate.

left side with Sample India MEA apostille sticker and right side with model of apostille certificate by Hague
Example of an MEA apostille sticker valid in Hague Convention countries.

Apostille vs Attestation - What’s the Difference?

In general, they used the term “Apostille Attestation”, however both are different and its purpose based on the Hague members. Apostille is valid only in Hague nations, for the non-Hague countries Attestation is accepted. Below is the difference between the two.

Check this guide to know more about

FeatureApostilleAttestation
Valid in Hague countries✅ Yes❌ No
Valid in non-Hague countries❌ No✅ Yes (via Embassy/Consulate)
Issued byMEA (India)Embassy/Consulate
Verification methodQR code / onlineEmbassy records
Processing timeFast (1–3 days)Longer (may take weeks)
Pro Tip

In short: If your destination country is a Hague Convention member, you need an apostille, not embassy attestation.

Importance of Apostille for Students and Professionals

  • Students: Required for transcripts, , mark sheets, provisional, transfer certificates for admission abroad.
  • Job seekers: Needed for employment contracts and HR clearances.
  • Families: Required for marriage certificates, birth certificates, and adoption documents.
  • Businesses: Commercial agreements and power of attorney often need apostille for international use.

Without an apostille, your documents will not be accepted in Hague countries.

How to get an apostille?

Getting an apostille in India depends on whether you require a physical apostille stamp or the newer e-apostille (QR code-based digital certificate).

Apostille Stamp (Physical Sticker)

Standard procedure

  • Notarize the documents.
  • Get SDM (sub-divisional magistrate), Home Department, or HRD (Human Resource Development) attestation.
  • Submit the attestated documents to the MEA (Ministry of External Affairs), Delhi or designated MEA Branch Secretariat.
  • MEA affixes the apostille sticker and returns the documents.
Note

However, all these processes are cumbersome, and time consuming. To minimize the effort and save your time for the precious work, many agencies were helping from notary to MEA apostille.

Start chat in whatsapp & drop documents
Share Documents - Payment - Receive Apostille documents.

👉 Full guide:

e-Apostille (Digital QR Code)

Standard procedure

  • Visit the official .
  • Upload the required documents (online or offline).
  • Pay the processing fee.
  • Download the digitally signed e-apostille certificate with a QR code for verification.
Note

e-Sanad does not fully acknowledge all digital documents. Some of the documents to be verified by external agencies, it may take 3 - 10 working days, and depending upon the document classification it varies.

In this case, service providers quickly verify the digital documents and complete an e-apostille process.

👉 Full guide: How to Get e-Apostille QR Code Online in India - Step by Step

Tip

Always check whether your destination country accepts e-apostille or requires the physical sticker version before applying.

What Are the Requirements for Apostille?

In addition to the document you want apostilled, you may also need:

  • A valid passport copy (to confirm identity)
  • Supporting documents or originals (to prove authenticity of the primary document)
  • Any pre-attestations required (HRD, Home Department, or SDM depending on document type)

👉 Requirements vary depending on whether the document is educational, personal, or commercial.

How Much Does Apostille Cost in India?

The official MEA fee is ₹50 per document, but the total cost depends on:

  • Type of document - educational, personal, or commercial
  • Pre-attestation requirements - HRD, SDM, or Home Department authentication
  • Notary & verification charges - ₹100 to ₹3,000 depending on document type
  • Courier/logistics fees - for postal submission and delivery
  • Service provider fees - outsourcing agencies (e.g., EasyApostille, IVS, Alankit) charge ₹100-₹200+ per document for support
Tip

Outsourcing agencies often give multi-document discounts.

👉 Full cost breakdown here: Apostille Price in India - Updated 2025 Cost Guide

Conclusion

An apostille is an internationally recognized authentication that makes your documents valid across Hague Convention countries.

Whether it’s for education, employment, migration, or business, understanding the apostille meaning, process and certificate details in India will help you avoid delays and ensure your documents are accepted abroad.

👉 If your documents need to be used overseas, always check whether the country is part of the Hague Convention and whether you require apostille or attestation.