Apostille and Attestation

What is the difference between Apostille and Attestation

Apostille and attestation are two processes of legalizing the documents for going abroad. It is required to verify your educational, personal, and commercial documents for authentication purpose. Both apostille and attestation are used to avoid forgery, fraud, identity theft and misrepresentation. Apostille is only used for travelling to Hague member countries.

What is Attestation

Attestation is the process of legalizing the documents for authentication purposes. It is mainly required when you immigrate to foreign countries for employment, education or for getting a long term residence visa. 

There are different types of attestation process:

State Attestation: There are different types of state attestation for educational, personal and commercial documents. They are HRD attestation, Notary attestation, SDM attestation, Chamber of Commerce attestation etc. Here, the documents are attested in the state where the certificate was issued. 

MEA Attestation: MEA attestation is done by the Ministry of External Affairs. It is done after the state attestation. 

Embassy Attestation: After MEA attestation, the documents are attested from the embassy of the country you are immigrating to. These embassies are situated in your home country. 

MOFA Attestation: MOFA attestation is done by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is done once you reach the country you are immigrating to. 

What is Apostille 

Apostille is an another form of legalizing documents to travelling Hague convention member countries. A single apostille is required to travel to any of the Hague convention member countries. It is done by the Ministry of External Affairs.