If you are planning to study, work, or migrate abroad, getting your degree certificate apostille in India is often a mandatory requirement. Foreign universities, employers, and immigration authorities need apostilled educational documents to verify authenticity. This guide explains the complete process, required documents, timeline, and common mistakes—clearly and simply.
Degree certificate apostille is a legal authentication process in which the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India, verifies and certifies your educational document for use in Hague Convention countries.
Once apostilled, your degree certificate becomes valid in countries like Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, and many others.
For a detailed service overview, visit Apostille Services in India.
You may need apostille for your degree certificate for:
Higher education abroad
Overseas employment
Skilled migration and PR applications
Professional licensing in foreign countries
Most Hague Convention countries do not require embassy attestation once apostille is completed.
The apostille process for educational documents in India involves two main stages:
1. HRD / State Education Verification
The degree certificate is first verified by the Human Resource Development (HRD) department or the relevant State Education Department.
2. MEA Apostille
After successful verification, the Ministry of External Affairs issues the apostille sticker on the document.
To understand how this differs from other legalizations, you can check Attestation Services in India.
To apply for apostille, you generally need:
Original degree certificate
Passport copy of the applicant
Authorization letter (if applying through an agency)
If your degree certificate is not in English, certified translation may be required. In such cases, professional Document Translation Services are recommended before apostille.
The processing time depends on the issuing university and state:
HRD / State verification: 7–15 working days
MEA apostille: 1–2 working days
Delays may occur due to university verification issues or incorrect documentation.
Applicants often face problems due to:
Submitting laminated degree certificates
Name mismatch between degree and passport
Applying apostille for non-Hague countries
Incomplete HRD verification
Checking destination requirements in advance can save time. You can verify country eligibility on Attestation Countries.
Apostille is accepted only in Hague Convention countries. If you are traveling to non-Hague countries like UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, or Kuwait, embassy attestation is required instead of apostille.
For non-Hague destinations, refer to Embassy Attestation Services before starting the process.
Professional apostille service providers help by:
Checking document eligibility
Handling HRD and MEA processes
Reducing verification errors
Saving time and effort
This is especially helpful for students, working professionals, and applicants with urgent deadlines.
Degree certificate apostille in India is a critical step for anyone planning to go abroad for education or employment. While the process involves multiple authorities, understanding the correct steps, documents, and timelines makes it manageable. Starting early and choosing expert assistance ensures your degree certificate is accepted without complications.