APOSTILLE
The Ministry of External Affairs attests original documents or true copies of documents for use in abroad.
Apostille is an authentication of a signature on a document that is recognized by an international body. It is the legalization of a document for international use under the terms of the 1961 Hague Convention abolishing the requirement of legalization for Foreign Public Documents. The country of destination determines whether the authentication is an apostille or certification. The apostille ensures that public documents issued in one signatory country will be recognized as valid in another signatory country.
Apostille is done for personal documents like birth/death/marriage certificates, Affidavits, Power of Attorney, etc. and educational documents like degree, diploma, matriculation and secondary level certificates etc.
Apostille is first authenticated by the designated authorities of the State/Union Territory from where the document has been issued. Thereafter Ministry of External Affairs legalizes the document on the basis of the signature of the designated signing authorities of the State Government/Union Territory.
Authored by:
Shrinivas Mudagannavar
Attorney
Mento Associates