State attestation for personal documents

Home Department Attestation

Home Department attestation is the state government's stamp on a personal document such as a birth, marriage or death certificate, an affidavit or a PCC, before the MEA apostille or attestation. Each state has its own office: in many states it is the Home Department or General Administration Department, and in Delhi it is the SDM. We identify the right authority for your document and handle the whole state step for you.

Birth, marriage, death certificates, affidavits & PCC
Every state's authority, handled by us
Moved on to MEA apostille or embassy

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All states
Courier option
Charges told upfront

What is Home Department attestation?

The state step before the MEA

The Ministry of External Affairs only attests documents that a state government has already verified. For personal documents, that state verification is usually called Home Department attestation or state home department attestation.

The name varies by state. Some states use the Home Department, some the General Administration Department (GAD), and Delhi uses the Sub-Divisional Magistrate. Educational documents go to the HRD or education department instead. That is why forms that say "HRD & Home Department attestation" really mean whichever applies to your document.

Notary (if required)
Home Department / SDM
MEA apostille or attestation
Embassy (if required)

Home Department Attestation process: Notary (if required) → Home Department / SDM → MEA apostille or attestation → Embassy (if required)

Home Department attestation at a glance

For	Personal documents
Who	State Home Dept, GAD or SDM
Time	Usually 3–10 working days
Next	MEA apostille or attestation

Home Department, SDM or HRD: which do you need?

The document type and the state that issued it decide the authority.

Home Department / GAD

Personal documents issued in states that use the Home Department or GAD for attestation.

SDM

Personal documents issued in Delhi, such as birth and marriage certificates and affidavits.

HRD

Educational documents from any state: degrees, diplomas, marksheets.

Civil records

Birth certificate
Marriage certificate
Death certificate
Divorce decree

Affidavits

Single status affidavit
Name change affidavit
Relationship affidavit
Address affidavit

Other

Police clearance certificate (as required)
Medical certificate
Power of attorney
Experience certificate (as required)

Speak to an expert about home department attestation

Call or WhatsApp with your document and destination. We confirm the exact route, time and charges in minutes.

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What to send

Original document
Photocopies
Passport copy of the person named
Authority letter
Notarised copy, if the state needs it
The state where the document was issued

Send a photo first

WhatsApp a clear photo of your document and tell us the country. We confirm the exact list, time and charges before you send anything.

Send a photo of the document first. We confirm the authority, time and charges for that state.

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Step by step

How Home Department attestation works

Day 1
Identify the authority
We confirm which state office attests your document type.
Day 1–2
Prepare the file
Notary, copies and authority letter prepared.
3–10 working days
State attestation
Submitted to the Home Department, GAD or SDM and followed up.
2–15 working days
MEA onwards
MEA apostille, or MEA and embassy attestation.

Get your exact process in writing

Send your document details and destination. We reply with the documents needed, the time and the full charges before you pay anything.

Send enquiry +91 93109 70010

Typical time for state attestation

Authority	Typical time	Notes
SDM (Delhi documents)	3–7 working days	Most common for Delhi documents
Home Department / GAD (other states)	5–10 working days	Varies by state
HRD (educational)	1–3 weeks	Needs university or board verification

These are typical, not guaranteed. State holidays and verification queries can add time.

Visit or courier

Home Department attestation from any state

You don't need to travel to your home state. Courier your documents or drop them at C-260, New Ashok Nagar, near Mayur Vihar and Noida. We coordinate with the right state office and take the document on to the MEA.

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Walk in near Mayur Vihar & Noida

Our desk at C-260, New Ashok Nagar is on the Delhi–Noida border, minutes from Mayur Vihar Phase 1, Noida Sector 15 and Laxmi Nagar.

Courier from anywhere in India

Send your documents by tracked courier from any state. We return them the same way, with every stage updated on WhatsApp.

Charges told before you pay

You get the exact route, the time and the full charges in writing before any work starts.

Why us

Why choose SK Document Centre for home department attestation

Right route, first time

We check the destination's current rules before anything is submitted, so nothing is done twice.

Every stage handled

State, MEA, embassy and translation, with one point of contact and tracking throughout.

Safe with your originals

Every original is logged, kept securely and returned by hand or tracked courier.

Pan-India pickup

Courier your documents from any city, or visit us near Mayur Vihar and Noida.

Clear charges upfront

You know the full cost and time before work starts. No surprise fees.

Real people to talk to

Call or WhatsApp someone who explains each step in plain words.

Reviews

What our clients say

Real Google reviews from people who got their documents attested with us.

See what our clients say on Google.
Real reviews from people who got their documents attested with us.

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FAQs

Home Department attestation: frequently asked questions

What is Home Department attestation?

It is the state government's attestation of a personal document, needed before the MEA apostille or MEA attestation.

Is Home Department attestation the same as SDM attestation?

They do the same job. Delhi uses the SDM for personal documents, while many other states use the Home Department or GAD.

What is HRD and Home Department attestation?

HRD attests educational documents and the Home Department attests personal documents. Your document needs one or the other, not both.

How long does Home Department attestation take?

Usually 3–10 working days, depending on the state.

Can it be done without visiting my home state?

Yes. We coordinate it for you through courier.

Is Home Department attestation needed for apostille?

For personal documents, yes. The MEA apostille is added only after state attestation.

Need state attestation for your document?

Visit our office in New Ashok Nagar, Delhi, or send your documents by courier from anywhere in India.

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