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Electronic Apostille

How to Obtain an Electronic Apostille (e-Apostille) from India

India is one of the countries that now issues electronic Apostilles (e-Apostilles), allowing many public documents to be authenticated digitally for use overseas. This has significantly simplified the process for documents being used in countries that are parties to the Hague Apostille Convention.

This article explains what an Indian e-Apostille is, which documents are eligible, and how to obtain one step by step.

1. What Is an Indian e-Apostille?

An e-Apostille is a digitally issued Apostille that:

  • Confirms the authenticity of a public document
  • Is issued in electronic form
  • Can be verified online by foreign authorities

In India, e-Apostilles are issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) through its official digital system.

India is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, meaning Indian Apostilles are recognised in over 120 countries.

2. What Documents Can Be e-Apostilled in India?

Indian e-Apostilles are available for many public documents, including:

Personal Documents

  • Birth certificates
  • Marriage certificates
  • Death certificates
  • Divorce decrees
  • Police Clearance Certificates (PCC)

Educational Documents

  • Degree certificates
  • Diplomas
  • Academic transcripts

Commercial Documents

  • Power of attorney
  • Board resolutions
  • Company incorporation documents
  • Commercial agreements (after notarisation)

Private documents must usually be notarised before they are eligible.

3. The e-Sanad System (India’s Apostille Platform)

India issues e-Apostilles through its official e-Sanad system, which:

  • Digitally attaches an Apostille certificate
  • Assigns a unique verification number
  • Allows online verification by receiving authorities

The Apostille is not a physical sticker—it is a secure electronic record linked to your document.

4. Step-by-Step: How to Obtain an Indian e-Apostille

Step 1: Ensure the Document Is Eligible

Your document must:

  • Be issued in India, and
  • Be a public document or properly notarised private document

Some documents require prior authentication before Apostille.

Step 2: Pre-Authentication (If Required)

Depending on the document type, pre-authentication may be required from:

  • State Home Department (for civil documents)
  • State Education Department or university (for academic documents)
  • Chamber of Commerce (for commercial documents)

This step confirms the document’s authenticity before Apostille.

Step 3: Submit the Document via an Authorised Channel

The MEA does not accept direct walk-in Apostille applications from the public.

Documents must be submitted through:

  • MEA-authorised Apostille service providers, or
  • Government-approved outsourcing agencies

These providers upload the document into the e-Sanad system.

Step 4: MEA Issues the e-Apostille

Once approved:

  • The MEA issues the electronic Apostille
  • A digital Apostille certificate is generated
  • The Apostille can be verified online by foreign authorities

Processing times vary but are often much faster than traditional paper Apostilles.

5. How Is an Indian e-Apostille Verified?

Foreign authorities can:

  • Access the official verification portal
  • Enter the Apostille reference number
  • Confirm document authenticity digitally

This eliminates the need for physical inspection in many cases.

6. Countries That Accept Indian e-Apostilles

Indian e-Apostilles are valid in all Hague Apostille Convention countries, including:

  • United States
  • United Kingdom
  • Australia
  • New Zealand
  • Most EU countries

However, acceptance in practice can depend on the receiving institution. Some may still request a printed copy of the e-Apostille.

7. Common Issues and Mistakes

  • Submitting documents without proper pre-authentication
  • Using unauthorised agents
  • Apostilling documents for non-Hague countries
  • Confusing notarisation with Apostille
  • Assuming all countries accept e-Apostilles equally

8. Do You Still Need Attestation for Non-Hague Countries?

Yes. If the destination country is not a Hague Convention member:

  • Apostille is not sufficient
  • You will need MEA attestation and embassy legalisation instead

Always confirm the destination country’s requirements before applying.