Short answer: “attestation” covers several different stamps — gazetted officer, notary, magistrate, state (SDM / HRD), MEA, apostille and embassy. For use inside India you usually need only the first three. For use abroad, documents go through state attestation, then MEA, then the embassy or an apostille.
Attestation means someone with authority confirming that your document is genuine. In India there are several levels of it, and each is used for a different purpose. This guide maps them all out, so you know exactly which ones your document needs.
Attestation for use in India
| Type | Who | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Gazetted officer | Group A / gazetted government officer | Photocopies, photos, exam and government forms |
| Notary | Notary public | Affidavits, agreements, true copies |
| First class magistrate | Executive or judicial magistrate | Affidavits where an office asks for one |
Attestation for use abroad
- State attestation — SDM / Home Department for personal documents, HRD for educational ones, Chamber of Commerce for commercial ones.
- MEA — the Ministry of External Affairs either attests or apostilles the document.
- Embassy — for countries outside the Apostille Convention, their embassy attests after MEA. Some then need MOFA in the destination country.
Documents going abroad?
We handle MEA apostille for 120+ Hague countries (Saudi Arabia, China, Europe, USA) and embassy attestation for the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and more — state, MEA and embassy stages done for you, with pan-India courier pickup.
Apostille or embassy attestation?
Saudi Arabia (since December 2022), China (since November 2023), Oman, Bahrain, the Philippines, Japan and most of Europe are apostille countries. The UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Thailand, Egypt and Malaysia are not. Germany is a special case: it objected to India’s accession, so Indian apostilles are not accepted there. See apostille vs embassy attestation for the full comparison.
Documents by type
| Document | State step |
|---|---|
| Degree, marksheets | HRD / education department (or e-Sanad) |
| Birth, marriage certificate | SDM / Home Department |
| Police clearance certificate | Usually none — straight to MEA |
| Company documents | Notary / Chamber of Commerce |
How long it all takes
Same day for gazetted officer and notary work; typically 1–3 weeks for a full embassy chain. Details: how long attestation takes.
Not sure which attestation your form needs? Send a photo of it on WhatsApp or call +91 93109 70010 — we tell you the exact process before you spend any money.
Frequently asked questions
What does attestation mean?
Confirmation by an authorised person or office that a document or signature is genuine.
What are the types of attestation in India?
Gazetted officer, notary and magistrate for domestic use; state (SDM/HRD/COC), MEA, apostille and embassy attestation for use abroad.
Do all documents need embassy attestation?
No. Hague Convention countries accept an MEA apostille instead.
SK Document Centre has helped people in Delhi NCR with attestation, affidavits, apostille and embassy legalisation for over a decade. Questions about your documents? WhatsApp us.
