What is Apostille Attestation?
Apostille is a type of attestation in which papers are legalized in a specific format. Personal documents such as birth, death, and marriage certificates, powers of attorney, affidavits, etc., as well as educational documents like diplomas, degrees, matriculation certificates, and secondary-level certificates, among others, are all apostilled.
The Hague Convention, which was accepted and ratified by 105 countries on October 5, 1961, eliminated the demand for the authorization of foreign public papers and instituted the Apostille attestation.
Apostille is a procedure by which any document Apostilled in one member nation is accepted in 104 countries according to the Hague Convention.
It is recognized in 105 member countries. A candidate benefits from this since it eliminates the need to acquire the documents authenticated in each country independently.
The Hague Convention does not apply to the UAE. Once documents are issued must be verified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the UAE and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the nation where the documents were given.
An Apostille is required for residents of the UAE who wish to visit a nation that is a signatory to the Hague Convention.
Apostilles need several standard practices:
- SDM-WNR or SDM (It depends on the destination countries).
- Attestation.
Each Hague Convention nation requires this Apostille verification to confirm the validity of the immigrant's papers. Any certificate can be issued an Apostille.
The following documents need to be apostilled:
- Original certificate.
- A passport photocopy.
Once an Apostille is physically affixed to a document, it has no expiration date. A certificate that has received an apostille is still valid in nations that accept apostille documents. Yet, some organizations only accept apostille certificates that have been granted recently.
Procedure for obtaining an apostille for a document:
Notary Attestation
Obtaining a Notary's certification for the educational and personal documents is the first stage in their authenticity. At the local level, it is handled by a lawyer or the collector's office.
Attestation from Home Department:
The personal documents are certified by the Home Department, an entity at the state level. It is in charge of certifying documents issued by the same state government.
HRD Attestation:
The state's HRD, or Human Resource Department, is the only division responsible for certifying educational records. A vital component of the authentication process is certificate verification. Depending on where the document was issued, a university or board verification of the certificate is required.
SDM Attestation:
The Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) can replace the State attestation in rare circumstances. It is carried out when HRD or home department attestation is not an option.
Attestation from the Chamber of Commerce:
The Chamber of Commerce (CoC) is a business organization and the first step in verifying your commercial paperwork before the legalization of MEA. The state government does not handle commercial documents.
MEA Attestation:
The MEA, which administers international relations on behalf of the central government, will issue the sticker and MEA stamp as necessary. When both the country of origin and the country of destination are signatories to the Hague convention, it is the last step in legalization.
Numerous companies offer apostille services. Some are adept at gathering and dispersing information but less at maintaining records and offering prompt assistance.
It would be best to choose a service provider who offers the safest, quickest service and is directly authorized by the MEA of India. The business should also be customer-friendly and respond to inquiries right away.
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