How Much Does Certificate Attestation Cost?

Short answer: Certificate attestation cost depends on four things: the document type, the destination country (apostille or embassy), how many documents you attest, and extras such as translation, urgency and courier. Government and MEA fees are a small part of the total. Embassy fees vary widely by country. Always ask for the full amount in writing before you pay.

“How much does attestation cost?” is the first question most people ask, and online answers range wildly. Rather than quote numbers that change, this guide explains what you are paying for, so you can compare quotes properly and avoid surprise charges.

What makes up attestation charges

Component	What it covers	Varies with
Notary	Notarising affidavits or copies, if needed	Document type
State attestation	HRD, SDM / Home Department or Chamber of Commerce	State and document type
MEA	MEA attestation or apostille, through the MEA’s outsourcing agency	Number of documents
Embassy fee	Embassy legalisation for non-Hague countries	Country and document type
Service charge	Preparing, submitting, following up and collecting	Provider
Translation	Certified translation, if the country needs it	Language and pages
Courier	Pickup and return	Distance

Apostille vs embassy: the biggest cost difference

For apostille countries (Saudi Arabia, the USA, the UK, most of Europe), there is no embassy fee, so the total is usually lower. For embassy countries (Qatar, Kuwait, Iran, China, Egypt and others), the embassy fee is often the largest single item, and commercial documents usually cost more than personal ones.

Why quotes differ so much

Some quotes cover only one stage (for example “MEA only”) and add the rest later.
Embassy fees for commercial documents can be many times those for personal documents.
Out-of-state degrees need that state’s HRD process, which adds cost and time.
“Urgent” service may not be possible at every stage. Ask what is actually being expedited.

How to avoid hidden charges

Tell the provider the exact document, the state where it was issued and the destination country.
Ask for a written quote covering every stage up to delivery.
Ask whether translation and courier are included.
Check the stated time for each stage.

At SK Document Centre, we give you the full route, time and charges in writing before you pay anything. People searching for attestation costs from abroad, for example in Kenya, Uganda or Ghana, should know the Indian part of the process must be done in India; we handle it and courier the documents back.

Want an exact quote for your document? 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