Documents to Apostille for Study Abroad: A Checklist for Indian Students
A study-abroad file has many papers, but only some of them need the MEA apostille. Apostilling the wrong ones costs money; missing the right ones costs weeks. This checklist sorts a typical Indian student’s file into what usually needs the apostille, what may need it, and what never does, and explains how to send everything in one batch.
Which papers to apostille: the short answer
Documents to apostille for study abroad are usually your academic certificates (degree, marksheets or transcript, 12th and sometimes 10th) and, when the visa office asks, personal papers such as the birth certificate, police clearance certificate and bank or sponsorship documents. Test scores, SOPs and recommendation letters are not apostilled. The university and visa checklists decide the final list.
Each document is notarised, attested by the SDM in Delhi and apostilled by the MEA. INFINITYGRO charges Rs 1,000–1,500 per document, all-inclusive, and the set is usually ready in 2–3 working days. The apostille works only for Hague Convention countries; for others, the same papers get MEA attestation and embassy legalisation.
Documents to apostille for study abroad, sorted
Usually apostilled
- Bachelor’s or master’s degree
- Marksheets or consolidated transcript
- 12th (HSC) certificate and marksheet
- 10th (SSC) certificate, where asked
- Provisional or migration certificate, where asked
Apostilled only if asked
- Birth certificate (age, or parents’ names for sponsorship)
- Police clearance certificate
- Bank statement or sponsor’s affidavit
- Medical certificate
- Passport copy
Read two checklists, not one
The documents to apostille for study abroad come from two lists. Students often follow the university’s list and forget the visa office, or the other way round, and the two can differ.
University admission
Usually wants academic records. Many universities accept scans at first and ask for apostilled copies at enrolment.
Student visa
May ask for the apostilled degree again, plus financial proof, a medical report or a police certificate.
Recognition or registration
Professional courses sometimes need the degree recognised by a body abroad, which may have its own list.
Put every one of the documents to apostille for study abroad from both lists into one batch. One courier, one set of MEA submissions and one return is cheaper and quicker than two rounds.
Check the country before you send
The apostille is accepted in Hague Convention countries, for example the UK, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, the Netherlands, Italy, France, Japan and South Korea. The UAE, Qatar and Kuwait are outside the Convention and need MEA attestation plus embassy legalisation.
For Germany, too, our clients use the MEA apostille; German offices have not asked for German Embassy legalisation. Check any other country on the HCCH status table.
Getting your documents to apostille for study abroad done in one go
- 1WhatsApp the listSend photos of your documents and both checklists. We tell you which need the apostille and confirm the total in writing.
- 2Send originalsCourier them with a passport copy, or drop them at our New Ashok Nagar office in Delhi.
- 3Notary, SDM, MEAEach document is notarised, attested by the Delhi SDM and apostilled by the MEA.
- 4ReturnBy Blue Dart or another secure courier, or collect from our office.
We also offer the online apostille (e-Sanad / QR apostille service). Done through INFINITYGRO it is usually ready in 2–3 working days; send the document and a copy of your passport, because the passport number is entered online.
Online (QR) apostille sample
Study abroad apostille: fees and time
| MEA apostille, personal or educational document | Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 per document, all-inclusive: notary, SDM attestation, the Rs 50 MEA fee and our service |
|---|---|
| Usual time | 2–3 working days in Delhi after the document reaches us |
| Courier | Extra, both ways |
| Translation | Quoted by language and page |
Each document is charged separately. For non-Hague countries the MEA stage costs the same and the embassy fee is extra, confirmed in your written quote.
FAQs: Documents to Apostille for Study Abroad: A Checklist for Indian Students
Which documents to apostille for study abroad?
Usually the degree, marksheets or transcript and the 12th certificate, and the 10th certificate where asked. Birth certificate, police clearance, bank documents and a medical certificate are apostilled only if the university or visa office lists them.
Do IELTS or TOEFL scores need an apostille?
No. Test scores, SOPs, CVs and recommendation letters are not apostilled. Universities usually check scores directly with the testing body or through the score report you share online. Spend the apostille budget on the academic and personal papers on your checklist.
Should I apostille my passport?
The passport itself is not apostilled. Some visa offices ask for an apostilled passport copy, which is possible as a notarised true copy. Do it only if your checklist asks for it; most student files simply include a plain photocopy of the passport.
How much does it cost for a full set?
Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 per document, all-inclusive of notary, SDM, the Rs 50 MEA fee and our service. A set of four documents is four times that. Courier is extra, and embassy fees apply only for non-Hague countries.
How long does the apostille take?
Usually 2–3 working days in Delhi once your documents reach us, for the whole batch. Add courier time both ways if you are outside Delhi. Plan it before your visa appointment, not after, so the apostilled set is in hand when you submit the visa file.
Can I get the apostille online?
Yes. We also offer the online apostille (e-Sanad / QR apostille service), usually ready in 2–3 working days through INFINITYGRO. Send the document and a copy of your passport, because the passport number is entered online.
Do I need State HRD attestation for study abroad?
Rarely. Most countries accept the Delhi notary, SDM and MEA route. INFINITYGRO does not do State HRD attestation; if a university insists on it in writing, the State education department does that step first and we handle the MEA stage.
My university is in Germany. Is the apostille enough?
In our experience, yes. Our clients use the MEA apostille for German universities and authorities, and they have not asked for German Embassy legalisation. If the university wants a translation, we can prepare it.
Official sources
Send your study abroad documents in one batch
WhatsApp a photo of your document and the country it is for. We confirm the route, time and total in writing before you send anything.
Office: C – 5 A/2 New Ashok Nagar, Delhi – 110096 · Monday to Saturday, 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM · office drop-off or courier, no home pickup
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Disclaimer: INFINITYGRO is a private document facilitation service, not a government office or embassy. Apostilles and attestations are issued only by the Ministry of External Affairs and the embassies concerned; we do not issue, correct or verify certificates. Rules and fees can change, so check the requirements of the authority that will receive your document.
Last reviewed: October 2026