Apostille Fees in India: MEA Fee, Per-Document Cost and Extras
Searching for apostille fees in India usually gives a confusing mix of the MEA’s own fee, agency charges and embassy fees. This page sets them out in one place: what our per-document charge covers, what the MEA itself charges, what is extra, and when an embassy fee applies instead of an apostille.
Apostille fees in india: quick answer
Apostille fees in India are charged per document. Our charge covers the notary, the SDM attestation in Delhi, the Ministry of External Affairs’ own fee and our service:
| Service | Charges |
|---|---|
| Notary + SDM attestation + MEA apostille (incl. MEA fee) | ₹1,000–₹1,500 per document |
| Courier, translation | Extra, quoted before you send |
| Embassy fee (non-Hague countries) | Per country |
Usually 2–3 working days after the document reaches our office.
Courier, translation and, for countries outside the Apostille Convention, embassy fees are extra and are quoted before you send anything.
What the per-document charge covers
- Notary attestation of the original or a true copy in Delhi.
- SDM attestation in Delhi, the step the MEA needs before its stamp (see SDM attestation).
- MEA apostille, including the Ministry of External Affairs’ own government fee of ₹50 per document.
- Our service: handling, tracking and WhatsApp updates at each stage.
Drop-off and collection at our New Ashok Nagar office cost nothing extra. When you compare apostille fees in India from different agencies, check whether the MEA fee, SDM stage and return courier are included.
MEA apostille fees: what the ministry charges
The Ministry of External Affairs charges a government fee of ₹50 per document for the apostille. On its own, though, that fee does not get a document apostilled: the MEA accepts documents only after an Indian authentication (notary and SDM in Delhi, or State HRD / Home Department), and it works through outsourced collection centres. This is why apostille charges in India quoted by agencies are higher than ₹50, and why apostille fees in India are best compared by what they include. Our per-document charge already includes the MEA fee; it is not added again.
Apostille fees by document
| Document | Route and fee guide |
|---|---|
| Birth certificate | Birth certificate apostille fees |
| Marriage certificate | Marriage certificate apostille fees |
| Degree, marksheets | Degree certificate apostille fees |
| Diploma | Diploma certificate apostille fees |
| Police clearance certificate | PCC apostille (no notary or SDM needed) |
| Commercial documents | Quoted per document, because a Chamber of Commerce attestation fee applies |
| Online (QR) apostille | Confirmed on WhatsApp (online apostille) |
What costs extra
| Item | How it is charged |
|---|---|
| Courier within India | By distance; drop-off and collection at our office are free |
| Courier outside India | By destination |
| Translation | By language and page (translation services) |
| State HRD (only if your checklist asks) | Quoted by State; see HRD attestation |
When you pay an embassy fee instead
The apostille works only for countries in the Hague Apostille Convention. For the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, China and other non-member countries the document needs MEA attestation and then the embassy’s legalisation, and each embassy sets its own fee by document type. These are quoted per country:
Ways people overpay for an apostille
- Paying for State HRD when the destination accepts the Delhi notary and SDM route.
- Getting embassy attestation for a Hague country, where the apostille alone is enough.
- Sending documents one at a time instead of together, which multiplies courier costs.
- A laminated document that has to be reissued before it can be apostilled.
Samples from our files
Apostille fees in india: FAQs
What are apostille fees in India?
Apostille is charged per document. Our charge covers the notary, the SDM attestation, the MEA’s own fee and our service; the figure is in the table at the top of this page. Courier, translation and embassy fees for non-Hague countries are extra.
What is the MEA apostille fee?
The Ministry of External Affairs charges a government fee of ₹50 per document. It is included in our per-document charge, not added on top.
Why is the apostille cost higher than ₹50?
Because the MEA only apostilles documents that already carry an Indian authentication, such as notary and SDM attestation in Delhi, and works through collection centres. Those stages and the handling make up the rest of the cost.
Is the apostille fee per document or per page?
Per document. A degree and its marksheets are separate documents; a multi-page document such as a Power of Attorney is usually one document.
Is the online (QR) apostille cheaper?
We confirm the charge for the online apostille on WhatsApp before you send, because it depends on the document.
Do I pay extra for courier?
Courier within India is charged by distance, and outside India by destination. Dropping off and collecting at our Delhi office costs nothing extra.
Why do UAE documents cost more?
The UAE is not in the Apostille Convention. Documents need MEA attestation, the UAE Embassy’s fee and UAE MOFA, which are charged in dirhams.
Send us a photo of your document
Tell us the country; we confirm the route, time and charges in writing.
Related services
INFINITYGRO, C-5 A/2, New Ashok Nagar, Delhi 110096 · Monday to Saturday, 10 AM to 7 PM · office drop-off or courier, no home pickup. INFINITYGRO is a private document facilitation agency, not a government office or embassy; apostilles and attestations are issued only by the MEA and the embassies concerned.
Reviewed October 2026 · sources: HCCH status table, MEA apostille