Bill of Lading Apostille and Attestation
MEA apostille and embassy attestation for copies of bills of lading and airway bills issued in India, when a buyer, bank, court or authority abroad needs a legalised shipping record.
Bill of lading apostille: quick answer
In short, Bill of lading apostille is the MEA’s apostille on your bill of lading, recognised in every Hague Convention country. As the MEA requires for commercial papers, the bill of lading is first attested by a Chamber of Commerce, and then the MEA apostilles it (₹50 government fee per document).
Countries such as the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and China are not covered by the apostille for Indian documents, so for them you need Bill of lading attestation: MEA attestation after the Chamber of Commerce, followed by embassy legalisation.
Need Bill of lading attestation in India without travelling to Delhi? Courier the original to our New Delhi office; we manage the chamber, MEA and embassy stages and courier it back. A WhatsApp photo gets you a written quote first.
Why a bill of lading needs apostille or attestation
A bill of lading is issued by the shipping line or freight forwarder when goods are loaded. It works as a receipt for the cargo, evidence of the contract of carriage and, in its negotiable form, a document of title. For air shipments the equivalent is the airway bill.
Legalisation is usually needed when the bill of lading is used as evidence outside the normal shipping process: insurance claims, payment disputes, court cases, tender proofs or registration of imported vehicles and machinery abroad. Because originals are often needed for cargo release, we usually work with a copy certified by the carrier or a notarised copy.
Insurance claims
Proof of shipment for cargo claims.
Payment disputes
Evidence in arbitration or courts abroad.
Tenders
Proof of past exports for overseas tenders.
Airway bills
Air shipments handled the same way.
Bill of lading apostille: step-by-step process
The destination country decides which of these two routes your bill of lading takes.
Apostille for Hague Convention countries
- 1Notary (where needed)Where required, a notary attests the bill of lading first.
- 2Chamber of CommerceThe Chamber of Commerce verifies the company signature and seal.
- 3MEA apostilleThe MEA fixes the apostille sticker (₹50 government fee per document).
Hague Convention countries
Full member list: HCCH Apostille Convention status table
Attestation for the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and other non-Hague countries
- 1NotaryNotarisation where required.
- 2Chamber of CommerceChamber of Commerce attestation.
- 3MEA attestationMEA attestation stamp.
- 4Embassy legalisationLegalisation by the embassy of the destination country.
Non-Hague countries
Documents required for Bill of lading attestation
- Copy of the bill of lading certified by the shipping line or forwarder, or a notarised copy (we advise which)
- Commercial invoice for the shipment, if the receiving authority needs both
- Company authorisation letter, signed and stamped
- Signatory’s passport or ID copy
- Where and why the document will be used
Bill of lading apostille charges and time
| MEA apostille (government fee) | ₹50 per document |
|---|---|
| Chamber of Commerce | Chamber’s own fee; depends on the chamber and document |
| INFINITYGRO service | Quoted per document in writing |
| Embassy legalisation | Depends on the country; quoted in writing |
| Courier | Extra, both ways |
Plan exactly how many legalised copies your buyer or the foreign authority needs, because each copy is charged separately. More on our commercial document apostille page.
Tips before sending your bill of lading
- Never send a negotiable original bill of lading for legalisation if it is needed to release the cargo; use a certified copy.
- Check with the receiving authority whether a carrier-certified copy is acceptable before you start.
- Keep the shipment reference, vessel name and date consistent with your invoice and packing list.
Official links for bill of lading apostille and attestation
Rules change from time to time. These government and official pages are the primary sources we follow:
FAQs: Bill of lading apostille and attestation
How do I get a bill of lading apostilled by the Ministry of External Affairs?
Send us the original bill of lading. We arrange Chamber of Commerce attestation in New Delhi and then the MEA apostille, and the stamped document comes back by tracked courier.
What are the charges for Bill of lading apostille?
For Bill of lading apostille you pay the MEA fee of ₹50 per document, the chamber’s fee and our service charge; courier is extra. If you need embassy legalisation instead, we quote that embassy’s charges as well.
Can an original bill of lading be apostilled?
It can, but originals are usually needed to release cargo, so most clients legalise a copy certified by the carrier or a notarised copy.
What documents are required for Bill of lading attestation?
Usually the original bill of lading, a company authorisation letter and a copy of the signatory’s passport or ID. For exporters, the buyer’s country and any instructions from the buyer or bank help us choose the right route.
What is the process for Bill of lading attestation for the UAE, Qatar or Kuwait?
The UAE, Qatar and Kuwait do not accept the apostille, so the bill of lading is attested in stages: the Chamber of Commerce, the MEA and finally the embassy of the country concerned. In the UAE, the foreign ministry adds one more stamp locally.
Is an airway bill legalised the same way?
Yes. An airway bill or its certified copy follows the same chamber, MEA and embassy route.
How long does Bill of lading apostille take?
An apostille is quicker than embassy attestation because there is no embassy queue. The exact time depends on the chamber and MEA workload; your quote gives an expected date.
Apostille or attestation: which one does my bill of lading need?
It depends on the country where the bill of lading will be used. Hague Convention countries, such as Saudi Arabia, Oman, Germany, Italy, the UK and Australia, accept the MEA apostille. The UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and China need MEA attestation followed by embassy legalisation.
Why would a court abroad want a legalised bill of lading?
In disputes over payment or damaged goods, courts and arbitrators abroad may want proof that the shipping document is genuine; legalisation provides that.
Is INFINITYGRO genuine, and does someone from the company need to visit Delhi for the bill of lading?
INFINITYGRO is a document facilitation agency in New Ashok Nagar, Delhi, working with exporters and companies across India. We give a written quote, explain each stamp and return originals by tracked courier, with WhatsApp updates at every stage. Nobody needs to visit; we do not offer pickup, so the bill of lading is couriered to our office or dropped off. Call or WhatsApp +91-8595558517.
Send your bill of lading for apostille or attestation
Message us a picture of the bill of lading and say where it will be used. We confirm apostille or attestation, the documents and a written quote.
Office: C – 5 A/2 New Ashok Nagar, Delhi – 110096 · Monday to Saturday, 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Apostille for other commercial documents
Disclaimer: INFINITYGRO is a private document facilitation service, not a government authority. Apostilles are issued only by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, and embassy legalisation is done by the respective embassies. Procedures and fees change from time to time; please confirm current rules with the receiving authority.