Travelling to another country for job hunt pursuing a higher education program is a dream for millions. One has to undergo through a plethora of legal formalities before moving. Out of all other, getting an apostille for documents counts as the most fundamental legal formality for everyone. Everyone must ensure that they would get all their documents apostille in an appropriate manner.
The following section includes all the necessary details which one must know about document apostille:
Hague/Apostille Convention is an international treaty that was signed by many countries for facilitating the use of public documents in another country. A person's document becomes valid in another country only after they are verified by a credible authority of the native country. Earlier, this method of legalizing public documents was a time-consuming and expensive method. Therefore in order to simplify the legalization process, a joint initiative was taken by many countries in the year 1961. A conference referred to as the Hague Convention adopted a document called an apostille. This document was accepted by all the member countries. Once a document is attested with an apostille stamp, it becomes eligible to be used in all member countries.
What is an Apostille stamp?
An apostille stamp is a square-shaped sticker that is issued at the back of every document. This stamp is computer-generated and has a Unique Identification Number on it. With the help of this identification number, foreign authorities identify all information of a person. This helps them to be certain of the fact that a person is a legal citizen holding credible documents.
Why it is important to get an Apostille stamp?
For any country, it is important to know that a person visiting their country is a legal citizen of a country and holds genuine documents. The authorities of a foreign country mandate every visitor to get their documents verified by a credible authority. Document attestation is a method through which the country keeps a track of all information of a person. All this helps to avoid any kind of fraud.
How the legalization process for Hague Convention countries differs from others?
LEGALIZATION PROCESS WHEN TRAVELLING TO A MEMBER COUNTRY OF THE HAGUE CONVENTION
Step 1- Notary Attestation
Step 2- State Attestations
Step 3- Apostille sticker/stamp from Ministry of External Affairs
LEGALIZATION PROCESS WHEN TRAVELING TO COUNTRY NOT A MEMBER OF THE HAGUE CONVENTION
Step 1- Notary Attestation
Step 2- State Attestation
Step 3- Apostille from the Ministry of External Affairs
Step 4- Legalization from respective Embassy
What is the process of document Apostille?
1) NOTARY ATTESTATION- Notary certification is the first step in the authentication of educational and personal documents. These documents are verified at the regional level and certified by the notary.
2) HOME DEPARTMENT ATTESTATION- At the state level, Home Department is the organization that is responsible for the certification of your personal documents. The legalization of documents from the same state government falls under its purview.
3) HRD ATTESTATION- All your educational documents arecertified solely by the Human Resource Department.
4) SDM ATTESTATION- SDM attestation is an alternative to the state attestation which is done in case HRD or Home Department Attestation is not preferable.
5) CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ATTESTATION- This kind of attestation is solely responsible for certifying all the commercial documents.
6) MEA ATTESTATION- This is the final step of legalization where the MEA issues an apostille stamp on all necessary documents . The entire apostille process is hectic and time-consuming for everyone. However with the help of 360 degree complete assistance from SPS, one can say a final good bye to all his worries. Get the best apostille services with SPS. The qualified professionals at SPS work diligently to deliver hassle-free apostille services in Bangalore and Apostile Services in Chennai.
An Apostille is a French word that means Certification and it’s Pronounce as “ah-po-style”. An Apostille is simply the name for a specialized certificate, issued by the Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi. The Apostille sticker is pasted on the backside of original document to verify it is legitimate and authentic, so it will be accepted in one of the other countries who are members of The Hague Apostille Convention.
The Apostille Convention is an international treaty that simplifies the legalization procedure for foreign public documents. It allows a Government body to certify a document issued in its own country as valid for other countries without further certification by the destination state. The Convention has 126 contracting states as of November 2023, including the United States and Canada.
The Apostille Convention provides the simplified certification of public (including notarized) documents to be used in countries that have joined the convention. Documents destined for use in participating countries and their territories should be certified by one of the officials in the jurisdiction in which the document has been executed.
The Hague Convention requires that all Apostille be numbered consecutively, with individual numbers applied to each Apostille issued. The recognized standard Apostille contains a seal and 10 mandatory references: name of country from which the document emanates, name of person signing the document, the capacity in which the person signing the document has acted, in the case of unsigned documents, the name of the authority that has affixed the seal or stamp, place of certification date of certification, the authority issuing the certificate, number of certificate, seal or stamp of authority issuing certificate and signature of authority issuing certificate. Prior to the introduction of Apostille certificates the burden on international courts and authorities to judge foreign documents as authentic was quite considerable. On the October 5, 1961 the Hague Convention abolished the requirement of legalization for foreign public documents. The Convention reduces all of the formalities of legalization to the simple delivery of a certificate in a prescribed form, entitled “Apostille”, by the authorities of the Ministry where the document originates. This certificate, placed on the document, is dated, numbered and registered. The verification of its registration can be carried out without difficulty by means of a simple request for information addressed to the authority which delivered the certificate.
Apostille Process depends that if the documents are Educational, Non Educational or Commercial. Educational Certificate Apostille is required if you are going for Job or Study in any of The Hague Convention Countries. Non Educational documents like Marriage, Birth Certificate Apostille services are required for your dependents, if you want them to accompany you in that country. Commercial documents Apostille is required if you want to send shipment, open a branch in Hague country of have to do some business collaboration. We will try to explain process for you.
First step of the Process is getting the Notarization of document done. Notary can be done from anywhere in India. And it can be done from Delhi also. Doing Notary from Delhi will save some time, as documents has to come to Delhi only for Apostille.
After the Notary is done, next step in Sub Divisional Magistrate. SDM attestation is done in Delhi. It’s same for Educational and Non Educational documents. If you leave few countries, this SDM Stamping is valid in all the countries. Some countries Like, Italy, Switzerland and Austria might ask for State HRD for Educational Documents and State home Department/GAD for Non Educational documents. So, if you are planning for these countries please get complete knowledge from office HR or local bodies who are applying your case. SDM Stamping is done in 1 day and on the backside of the original Document.
Last and most important part is getting the document attested from Ministry of External affairs. After Notary and SDM Stampings are done Documents are submitted in Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi for Apostille. Just like Notary and SDM, Apostille Sticker is pasted on the back side of the document. Apostille sticker will have your name and current date. It also have unique number and contain name and designation of the person who have signed it. After Apostille sticker, the process is completed the documents are ready for use. When you receive the Apostille document, first please check that all the spellings and dates are fine. As sometimes there can be some mismatch in the spelling. If there is some spelling mistake then it has to submit in correction department. That will take another 1 day
If you are going through State Attestation Process then it might take more than a month. As for Educational documents, first stamp from University is required and then from State HRD Department. And for Non Educational Documents, First Stamp is required from Local DC office and then from State GAD/Home Department. If you go through SDM Apostille process then processing time is only 5 to 6 working. This Process takes less time and is less expensive as well.
Apostille Sticker has a validity of Six Months. Means you have to use this Apostille within 6 months, after that whole life you can stay in that country. But if you want to change the country after 6 Months then Apostille needs to done again. Don’t worry if there is no space on the backside of the document. New Apostille Sticker can be applied on the expired Sticker.
Original Documents are very important part of our Life. Sometimes it takes several months to obtain new documents. So security of documents is most important for us. You can do live tracking of the process daily. Currently document is in which city and in which department, you can check with just one click. Whenever you handover your documents to any of our office, a link is shared to you on mail. With that you can track the whole process, till documents are delivered back to you.
If you are travelling outside India to any of The Hague convention Country for Study or Work, then Apostille is required on your Educational documents. And if you are applying dependent visa for your spouse or children, then their Marriage and Birth Certificate will be required to get Apostille. Still if you have any query, you can get in touch with SPS Team @9920111362
