Skip to content
Apostille Servicesin Mumbai, since 2002

The apostille process in Mumbai, step by step

An apostille is the final stamp in a short chain of verifications. Here is every stage your document can pass through with our document apostille service in Mumbai, what each one does, and what you receive at the end.

Get a free quote Chat on WhatsApp
Your steps
4
Office visits
None
Working days
5*

*As little as, for most documents.

The ten fields on every Indian apostille, shown for a birth certificate attested in Maharashtra.

Your side of the process

This is all you need to do. Everything else happens between our team and the government offices.

  1. 1

    Send a photo

    Share a clear photo of your document on WhatsApp with the destination country. We confirm the route, the timeline and the full cost.

  2. 2

    We collect the original

    Our team picks the document up from your home or office anywhere in Mumbai, or you drop it at our Santacruz (West) office.

  3. 3

    Attestation and MEA apostille

    We take it through notary, state or Chamber of Commerce attestation and the MEA, with an update on WhatsApp at every stage.

  4. 4

    Scans, then delivery

    You receive scans of the apostilled document first, then the original is delivered back to your door.

The verification stages, explained

Your document goes through only the stages its route needs. Here is what each one is, and when it applies.

  1. Most personal and many educational documents

    Notary attestation

    A notary confirms the copy and signature on your document. It is the starting point for the Home Department and SDM routes.

  2. Documents issued in Maharashtra

    Home Department attestation

    The state Home Department at Mantralaya verifies personal documents, and some educational ones, issued in Maharashtra. Other states have their own Home or General Administration Department.

  3. Documents from other states, and an alternative route

    SDM attestation

    The Sub-Divisional Magistrate can attest personal and educational documents. It is often the practical route for documents issued outside Maharashtra.

  4. Educational documents, when required

    HRD attestation

    The state education department (often called HRD) attests degrees and certificates after the issuing university verifies them. This is the slowest stage, because each university sets its own timeline.

  5. Commercial documents

    Chamber of Commerce attestation

    A recognised Chamber of Commerce verifies company documents, invoices and certificates of origin before they go to the MEA.

  6. Every document

    MEA apostille

    The Ministry of External Affairs issues the apostille certificate, with a unique number, on the back of your document. This is the final step for Apostille Convention countries.

Every document follows a route to the MEA

The Ministry of External Affairs only apostilles a document that the right authority has already verified. Getting this first stage right is what keeps your timeline short.

Going to the UAE, Qatar or Kuwait? Those need embassy attestation instead. Check your country

Birth, marriage, police clearance and single status certificates

  1. 1NotaryA notary verifies the document and signature.
  2. 2Home Department or SDMState-level verification: Home Department for Maharashtra, usually SDM for other states.
  3. 3MEA apostilleThe Ministry of External Affairs fixes the apostille, with a unique verifiable number, to your document.
Birth certificate apostille Marriage certificate apostille PCC apostille Single status apostille

What is written on an apostille?

Every apostille follows the same ten-field format set by the Hague Convention, so any authority abroad can read and verify it.

  1. 1

    Country

    The country that issued the apostille: India.

  2. 2

    Has been signed by

    The official whose signature is being certified, for example the officer who attested your document.

  3. 3

    Acting in the capacity of

    That official’s designation or department.

  4. 4

    Bears the seal or stamp of

    The authority whose seal appears on your document.

  5. 5

    At

    Where the apostille was issued.

  6. 6

    The

    The date it was issued.

  7. 7

    By

    The issuing authority: the Ministry of External Affairs.

  8. 8

    No.

    The unique number used to verify the apostille online.

  9. 9

    Seal or stamp

    The MEA’s official seal.

  10. 10

    Signature

    The signature of the MEA officer.

How long the apostille process takes

5 working days

That is the typical time after pickup for most documents. Documents that need university verification and HRD attestation take longer, and public holidays can add a day or two.

The fastest applications are the ones where the route is right from the start, which is why we check a photo of your document before collecting it.

Before you start

  • Check your destination is in the Apostille Convention
  • Confirm which documents the receiving authority asked for
  • Make sure names match your passport
  • Ask whether a translation is also needed
Check your destinationRead the document apostille guide

What you receive at the end

The MEA apostille is fixed to the back of your original document and carries a unique number any foreign authority can verify online. These are documents we have processed.

  • 1Regular apostille sticker
  • 2Online apostille certificate
  • 3Apostilled police clearance
Regular MEA apostille sticker on the back of an Indian documentOnline e-apostille certificate issued by the MEAApostilled police clearance certificate from Mumbai

Send us a photo of your document

We reply with the exact route, the timeline and the full cost, before anything is collected.

Send it on WhatsApp Call +91 81047 04495
Call WhatsAppQuote