Embassy legalisation
Embassy attestation services — UAE, Qatar, Kuwait & more
Countries that are not part of the Hague Apostille Convention ask for embassy attestation: the country's own embassy in India confirms your document after MEA has verified it. We manage the full chain — state, MEA and embassy — and courier your documents back.
- Educational, personal & commercial documents
- Full chain: state → MEA → embassy
- Pan-India courier pickup and return
- 11+ years experience
- Walk-in or courier
- Charges told upfront
What is embassy attestation?
How embassy attestation works
Embassy attestation (also called embassy legalisation) is the last stamp a document gets in India before it can be used in a country that does not accept the apostille. The embassy only attests documents that already carry MEA attestation, so the chain is fixed:
- Notary / State (HRD, SDM, COC)
- MEA attestation
- Embassy attestation
- MOFA (in destination country)
Some countries complete the last step in their own country — for example Qatar's and Kuwait's foreign ministries (MOFA attestation). The UAE now does it digitally: after MEA, the UAE attestation is applied for online and covers the embassy and MoFA together.
Saudi Arabia (since Dec 2022), China (since Nov 2023), Oman, Bahrain, the Philippines and all EU countries accept an apostille. The UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Thailand, Egypt and Malaysia still need embassy attestation.
Countries that need embassy attestation
- United Arab Emirates
- Qatar
- Kuwait
- Thailand
- Egypt
- Lebanon
- Iraq
- Yemen
- Malaysia
Vietnam joined the Apostille Convention from 11 September 2026 — ask us for the current requirement for your document.
Common reasons for embassy attestation
Employment visa
Degree attestation for work visas in the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait.
Learn more →Family / residence visa
Marriage and birth certificates for spouse and children.
Learn more →Business & trade
Commercial invoices, certificates of origin and company documents.
Learn more →Higher studies
Educational documents for admissions and equivalency.
Learn more →Documents required
Keep these ready. We confirm the exact list for your case on WhatsApp.
- Original document(s)
- Passport copy (and visa copy if available)
- Supporting marksheets for degrees
- Authority letter
- Translation if the embassy requires it
Step by step
How the process works
Plan the chain
We confirm the exact steps for your document and country.
State + MEA
State attestation, then MEA attestation, tracked at every stage.
Embassy stage
Submitted to the embassy (or its official online system) with the correct fees and forms.
Return
Attested documents returned by hand or tracked courier.
Embassy attestation by country
| Country | Final step in India | Typical total |
|---|---|---|
| UAE | Digital attestation (embassy + MoFA) | 1–3 weeks |
| Qatar | Qatar Embassy (MOFA in Qatar) | 1–3 weeks |
| Kuwait | Kuwait Embassy (MOFA in Kuwait) | 1–3 weeks |
| Thailand | Royal Thai Embassy | 1–3 weeks |
| Egypt / Lebanon / Iraq | Respective embassy | 2–4 weeks |
Embassy fees and rules change. We quote the current charges and requirements before starting.
Countries
Embassy attestation by country
The route Indian documents take for each country that needs embassy attestation.
| Country | Route from India | Final step | Typical total |
|---|---|---|---|
| UAE | State → MEA → UAE digital attestation | Online via UAE MoFA (UAE Pass) | 1–3 weeks |
| Qatar | State → MEA → Qatar Embassy | MOFA in Qatar | 1–3 weeks |
| Kuwait | State → MEA → Kuwait Embassy | MOFA in Kuwait | 1–3 weeks |
| Oman | State → MEA → Oman e-attestation | Online via Oman Post | 1–3 weeks |
| Thailand | State → MEA → Royal Thai Embassy | Thai MFA (translations) | 2–3 weeks |
| Lebanon / Iraq | State → MEA → Embassy | MOFA in destination | 2–4 weeks |
| Egypt / Malaysia | State → MEA → Embassy | As per embassy | 2–4 weeks |
Going to Saudi Arabia, China, Oman, Bahrain or Europe? Those countries accept the MEA apostille instead — no embassy step.
Documents
Which documents can be embassy attested?
| Document type | Examples | State step | Common use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Educational | Degree, diploma, marksheets, school certificates | HRD / education dept or e-Sanad | Work visas, equivalency, admissions |
| Personal | Birth, marriage, divorce, single status, PCC | SDM / Home Department (PCC usually none) | Family & residence visas |
| Commercial | Incorporation, MOA/AOA, POA, invoices, certificates of origin | Chamber of Commerce / notary | Business setup, trade, tenders |
Charges
Embassy attestation charges
Embassy attestation charges are made up of:
- State attestation fee
- MEA attestation fee
- The embassy's own fee (varies by country and changes from time to time)
- Service & handling
- Courier, if you're outside Delhi
- Translation, if the embassy asks
We give you the full, current amount before starting.
Avoid rejection
- Names must match your passport
- No laminated documents
- MEA attestation must come before the embassy
- Don't use an apostille for a non-Hague country
Pan-India
Embassy attestation from anywhere in India
Based in New Ashok Nagar, Delhi — close to the embassies and the MEA. Courier your documents from any city.
- Attestation from Delhi
- Attestation from Noida
- Attestation from Gurugram
- Attestation from Ghaziabad
- Attestation from Faridabad
- Attestation from Mumbai
- Attestation from Bengaluru
- Attestation from Hyderabad
- Attestation from Chennai
- Attestation from Kolkata
- Attestation from Pune
- Attestation from Ahmedabad
- Attestation from Jaipur
- Attestation from Lucknow
- Attestation from Chandigarh
- Attestation from Kochi
- Attestation from Indore
- Attestation from Patna
Why us
Why choose SK Document Centre for embassy attestation
Right stamp, first time
We check your form's exact requirement before anything is attested.
Clear time & charges
Full cost and timeline before work starts — no surprises.
Originals kept safe
Logged, stored securely and returned by hand or tracked courier.
Walk-in or courier
New Ashok Nagar office near Mayur Vihar and Noida, or courier from anywhere.
FAQs
Embassy Attestation — frequently asked questions
What is embassy attestation?
The destination country's embassy in India attesting a document after MEA attestation, so the document is valid in that country.
Which countries need embassy attestation?
Countries outside the Hague Apostille Convention — such as the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Thailand, Egypt, Lebanon, Iraq and Malaysia.
Does China still need embassy attestation?
No. China joined the Apostille Convention on 7 November 2023, so Indian documents for China now need an MEA apostille instead.
How long does embassy attestation take?
Usually 1–3 weeks for the full chain, depending on the document and embassy.
Do I have to visit the embassy?
No. We handle submission and collection, or the country's official online process.
What is the difference between embassy attestation and apostille?
An apostille is accepted directly by Hague Convention countries. Countries outside it need MEA attestation followed by their embassy's attestation. Full comparison.
Can embassy attestation be done without MEA?
No. Embassies attest only documents that already carry MEA attestation.
Is UAE embassy attestation still done at the embassy?
The UAE now handles attestation of Indian documents digitally through the UAE MoFA after MEA. UAE guide.
How much does embassy attestation cost?
It depends on the country, the document and current embassy fees. We quote the full amount upfront.
Do you provide embassy attestation outside Delhi?
Yes — courier your documents from any city in India and we return them tracked.
Need embassy attestation? Start today
WhatsApp a photo of your document and tell us the country. We confirm the route and charges the same day.