SDM Attestation in Delhi – Complete Process, Documents & Fees (2026)
Planning to go abroad for work, study, or
immigration? Your Indian documents need to be legally verified before any
foreign government or embassy accepts them. SDM Attestation in
Delhi is the fastest and most widely accepted alternative to HRD or Home
Department attestation. Whether it's your degree certificate, birth
certificate, or marriage certificate — SDM attestation is the first and most
important step before MEA and Embassy attestation.
What is SDM Attestation?
SDM stands for Sub-Divisional Magistrate.
SDM Attestation is the process of getting your documents officially stamped and
signed by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Delhi. It is a government-authorized
process and works as an alternative to State Home Department or HRD
attestation.
- Only
available in Delhi — documents from any Indian state can be attested here
- Covers
both educational documents (degree, marksheet) and personal documents
(birth, marriage, death certificate)
- Accepted
by MEA (Ministry of External Affairs) for further Apostille or Embassy
attestation
- Faster
than HRD attestation — takes 1–7 working days
Why is SDM Attestation Required?
✈
Work
VisaAbroad
Required by UAE, Saudi, Kuwait, Qatar, Germany, Canada & more
🎓
Residence / PR Visa
Immigration requires attested birth & marriage
certificates.
💼
Business Abroad
Commercial document attestation for company
registration overseas
👪
Family Visa
Sponsor family members — needs attested marriage
& birth certificates
📋
Apostille Process
SDM is accepted as the first step before MEA
Apostille for Hague countries
Countries That Accept SDM Attestation
⚠Always confirm with your employer or destination embassy if SDM attestation is accepted for your specific visa type before proceeding.