MEA Apostille Service

Apostille is the simplified certification of public documents (including notarized), for their international use in all nations that have joined the Apostille Section of the Hague Convention. Signatory countries have agreed under the Apostille Section of the Hague Convention to recognize public documents certified by the “Apostille”. This certification ensures that public documents are valid within the country where the document was originally issued or notarized. The main function of the Apostille is to certify the authenticity of the signature on the document (i. e: State Registrar, County Clerk, Judge, Vital Records Officer or Notary Public). The Apostille also certifies the capacity in which the person signing the document acted and the identity of any stamp or seal affixed to the document. The Apostille is a one page document embossed with the Great Seal of a State (see sample image) and includes the facsimile signature of the individual issuing the certificate. There are currently over 75 member states of the Hague convention, and in the future, many other countries will join the Apostille Section of the Hague Convention to be able to recognize the Apostille for the international legalization of documents. The Apostille is applied only to public documents, signed by an authority or official connected with a court or tribunal of the State (including documents issued by an administrative, constitutional or ecclesiastical court or tribunal, a public prosecutor, a clerk or a process-server); administrative documents, notarial acts, and official certificates which are placed on documents signed by persons in their private capacity, such as official certificates recording the registration of a document or the fact that it was in existence on a certain date and official and notarial authentications of signatures. Almost every kind of document including: Birth Certificate, Adoption Certificate, Marriage Certificate, Divorce Decree, Death Certificate, Power of Attorney, School Diploma and/or Transcripts, Corporate Documents, Affidavits, Identity documents and/or Passports, Deeds and Wills, Agreements, Bills of Sale, Proof of Ownership, Private Documents.

LEGALIZATION

The literary meaning of legalization is “The process of certifying a document so that it will be recognized by the legal system of a foreign country.” Legalization is the process of removing a legal prohibition against something which is currently not legal. Legalization is a process often applied to what are regarded, by those working towards legalization, as victimless crimes. Those opposed to the legalizing of any particular behavior, action, substance or item will claim that legalization will bring benefits to individuals at the expense of the common good. Legalization should be contrasted with decriminalization, which removes criminal charges from an action, but leaves intact associated laws and regulations. Proponents of libertarianism support legalization of what they regard as victimless crimes.

In international law, legalization is the process of certifying a document so a foreign country's legal system will recognize it. The process is used routinely in international commerce and civil law. It is generally performed by validation of the signature on a document by an authority which is higher in hierarchical terms. For example, a school diploma may need to be legalized by evaluation by the Ministry of Education, followed by legalization of the signature of the Ministry of Education by the Ministry of Foreign affairs. Once authenticated by the foreign ministry the documents then need to be reviewed and approved by the consular staff of the country in which the transaction is to occur. Often also certified translation is required for full legalization.

Attestation

The literary meaning of the Attestation is “The act of attending the execution of a document and bearing witness to its authenticity, by signing one's name to it to affirm that it is genuine. The certification by a custodian of records that a copy of an original document is a true copy, which is demonstrated by his/her signature on the certificate. 
The attestation authorities for general documents in India are Notary Public, any Principal of a Secondary or Higher Secondary School or College or University, any Section Officer or Gazetted Officer of Government of India etc. but points to be noted that the above said authorities are entitled to attest the true copy of the documents. When an individual is planning to go abroad, then the individual’s original testimonials to be attested and to attest the same, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, has gave the power to various State’s Home Department, General  Administrative Department, Higher Education Department or Sub Divisional Magistrate, New Delhi etc.  After completion the attestation process from the above said authorities in India, the documents could be attested by the Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi further it may be attested by the respective Embassy.