MEA Attestation in India: Process, Documents and Fees
MEA attestation is the verification of an Indian document by the Ministry of External Affairs, normally after the issuing state authority has attested it. For non-Hague countries such as the UAE, Kuwait and Qatar it is followed by embassy attestation. For Hague Convention countries the MEA issues an apostille instead.
What is MEA attestation?
The MEA's Consular, Passport and Visa (CPV) Division authenticates the signature and seal of the state authority on your document, so that foreign governments and embassies can rely on it. It is the central step between state attestation and embassy attestation.
MEA attestation vs MEA apostille
| MEA attestation | MEA apostille | |
|---|---|---|
| Used for | Countries outside the Apostille Convention | Hague Apostille Convention countries |
| Next step | Embassy attestation in India | None. Accepted directly |
| Examples | UAE, Kuwait, Qatar | USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain |
MEA attestation process
- Notary attestation where required.
- State HRD attestation (educational), State Home Department or SDM attestation (personal), or Chamber of Commerce (commercial).
- MEA attestation through eSanad or the MEA's designated outsourced agencies.
- Embassy attestation for non-Hague countries.
- Courier delivery of the finished document.
Fees
Government fees are set by the MEA and updated from time to time. We confirm the current MEA fee before we submit your file and show it separately from agency charges, state fees, courier costs and our service fee.
Documents commonly attested
- Degrees, diplomas and mark sheets
- Birth and marriage certificates
- Police clearance certificates
- Affidavits and powers of attorney
- Commercial invoices and company documents
Last reviewed: . Rules, fees and Convention status change, so we re-check procedural pages regularly. We are a private facilitator, not the MEA, a state department or an embassy.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. An apostille is a standalone certificate for Hague Convention countries. MEA attestation is a central stamp that is normally followed by the destination country's embassy attestation.
Yes. For the UAE the chain is state attestation, MEA attestation and UAE Embassy attestation.
Yes, through eSanad where your document is eligible, or through the MEA's designated outsourced agencies. A facilitator saves time on the state steps and logistics.
No. The MEA authenticates the signature and seal of the previous authority. It does not verify the content or the genuineness of the underlying facts.
Related Guides
Not sure which route applies to your document?
Tell us the document and the country. We confirm the exact steps, fees and timeline before you pay.