Complete MEA Attestation Procedure, Step by Step

If you have been asked for an MEA attestation, an MEA stamp or an MEA certificate, this guide explains the complete MEA attestation procedure in plain words, with the order of steps, what to submit and how long each stage takes. We handle this process every day at our office in New Ashok Nagar, Delhi, for documents from every state.

What MEA attestation actually is

The Ministry of External Affairs does not verify your degree or birth certificate from scratch. It checks the state government’s signature on your document and confirms it. That confirmation is the MEA attestation: a stamp or sticker with a unique number, signed by an MEA officer.

For countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention, the MEA issues an apostille instead. Both are done by the MEA, but they are used for different countries. Our guide Is MEA attestation the same as apostille? explains the difference.

The MEA attestation procedure in order

1. Check the route. The document type (educational, personal or commercial) and the destination country decide every step that follows.
2. Notary, if needed. Affidavits, declarations and some copies are notarised first.
3. State attestation. Educational documents go to the state HRD or education department (or are verified online through MEA e-Sanad). Personal documents go to the SDM in Delhi or the Home Department in many other states. Commercial documents go to a Chamber of Commerce.
4. Submission to the MEA. The MEA accepts documents through its authorised outsourcing agencies, not over a public counter. The agency checks the state attestation and forwards the document.
5. MEA attestation or apostille. The MEA adds an attestation stamp (for embassy countries) or an apostille sticker (for Hague countries).
6. Embassy, if needed. For countries such as Qatar, Kuwait, Iran and China, the embassy then legalises the MEA-attested document.

Which documents the MEA attests

How long the MEA attestation procedure takes

The MEA stage itself is usually 2–5 working days. The full procedure depends on the state step: SDM attestation for a Delhi birth certificate takes about 3–7 working days, while HRD verification of a degree can take 1–3 weeks. Embassy attestation adds 3–10 working days. See how long certificate attestation takes for a fuller breakdown.

Common mistakes that delay MEA attestation

• Sending a document to the MEA without state attestation. It will be returned.
• Using the wrong state authority, for example taking a degree to the SDM instead of HRD.
• Laminated certificates, which most authorities refuse to stamp.
• Names that don’t match the passport, without a name-change document.
• Choosing MEA attestation when the country needs an apostille, or the other way round.

Checking an MEA apostille or attestation

MEA stickers carry a unique number. Apostilles issued by the MEA can be verified on the MEA’s official apostille verification facility. Keep a scan of the stamped document before you hand it over to an employer or embassy.

Not sure which attestation your document needs? Send a photo of the document or the instruction you received on WhatsApp or call +91 93109 70010. We tell you the exact process, time and charges before you spend anything.

Frequently asked questions

What is the MEA attestation procedure?

Notary if needed, then state attestation (HRD, SDM / Home Department or Chamber of Commerce), then MEA attestation or apostille, then embassy attestation for non-Hague countries.

Can I submit documents directly to the MEA?

The MEA receives documents through authorised outsourcing agencies. We handle submission and collection for you.

What does the MEA certificate mean?

People usually mean the MEA attestation stamp or apostille sticker that confirms the state attestation on your document.

How long does MEA attestation take?

The MEA step usually takes 2–5 working days after state attestation is complete.

Is MEA attestation needed for the UAE?

Yes. The UAE needs MEA attestation followed by the UAE’s digital attestation.