MEA Attestation Services in India
MEA attestation services for degrees, marriage and birth certificates, PCCs and company documents going to the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and other countries that do not accept an apostille. We complete the notary, SDM, Ministry of External Affairs attestation and embassy attestation from one Delhi office.
What is MEA attestation?
MEA attestation, or Ministry of External Affairs attestation, is the stamp the MEA, Government of India, puts on an Indian document after confirming the signature of the authority that authenticated it: the SDM, a state department or a Chamber of Commerce. It does not finish the job on its own; the embassy of the destination country attests the MEA stamp next.
MEA attestation is used for countries that are not in the Hague Apostille Convention, such as the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait. Countries in the Convention take an MEA apostille instead. Since 2012 the MEA accepts documents only through its authorised outsourced centres, not at its counter.
INFINITYGRO is a private attestation service in Delhi. We arrange the authentication, MEA attestation and embassy attestation and return the document to you.
Video: MEA attestation and UAE Embassy for a degree
The two routes for a UAE degree (State HRD or Delhi: notary, SDM, MEA, UAE Embassy) and why online MOFA finishes the file.
In this video
- Where the MEA stamp sits in the chain
- State HRD route vs the Delhi route
- Why the Delhi route is used in most UAE files
- Online UAE MOFA attestation
MEA attestation vs MEA apostille
| MEA attestation | MEA apostille | |
|---|---|---|
| For which countries | Countries outside the Hague Apostille Convention (UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and others) | Hague Convention countries (Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Europe, USA and others) |
| What follows | Embassy attestation of the destination country, sometimes its foreign ministry | Nothing; the apostille is final |
| Stamp | MEA attestation stamp with the officer’s signature | Square apostille sticker with a number and date |
| Before the MEA | Notary and SDM in Delhi, or a Chamber of Commerce for company papers (State HRD only if your checklist asks) | |
Countries that need MEA attestation
These countries are not parties to the Apostille Convention, so Indian documents need attestation by the MEA followed by their embassy’s attestation. Open a country for its process and fees.
MEA attestation process: Delhi route step by step
Personal and educational documents
- 1Notary (Delhi)The document, or its true copy, is notarised and names are checked against your passport.
- 2SDM attestation (Delhi)The Sub-Divisional Magistrate authenticates the notary’s signature.
- 3MEA attestationDeposited at an MEA-authorised outsourced centre; the MEA attests the SDM’s signature.
- 4Embassy attestationThe embassy of your destination country attests the MEA stamp in New Delhi.
- 5Courier backReturned by Blue Dart or another secure courier, or collected from our office.
Other routes
- Commercial documents: Chamber of Commerce, then the MEA and the embassy
- PCC from the passport office: straight to the MEA, no notary or SDM
- Degrees: State HRD is added only when the employer’s checklist asks for it
- UAE: UAE MOFA attestation is now online and we complete it; a PCC for the UAE needs no MOFA
MEA attestation sample with embassy stamp
A real degree certificate attested by INFINITYGRO through the Delhi route. When your document comes back, check for:
- Notary stamp and signature
- SDM attestation with the officer’s name and seal
- The MEA stamp with the signing officer’s name
- The embassy’s stamp or sticker, with number and date
Documents we attest through the MEA
Open the guide closest to your document to see its exact route and the papers to send.
Educational documents
Degrees, diplomas and experience letters for jobs, licences and visas abroad.
Personal documents
Marriage, birth and police clearance certificates for family visas, schools and jobs.
Commercial documents
Export and company papers, attested by a Chamber of Commerce before MEA.
MEA attestation near me: Delhi office or courier
In Delhi NCR
Drop off and collect your documents at our office: C – 5 A/2 New Ashok Nagar, Delhi – 110096, Monday to Saturday, 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Call before you come so the file is ready.
Apostille services by city: Delhi · Bangalore · Mumbai · Hyderabad · Chennai · Kolkata · Pune · Ahmedabad · Gurgaon · Noida · Nagpur · Chandigarh · Kochi · Nashik · Mangalore · Surat · Indore · Bhubaneswar · Lucknow · Jaipur.
Anywhere else in India or abroad
Send the original documents by a reputed courier with tracking. We complete the MEA and embassy stages in Delhi and return them by Blue Dart or another secure courier. There is no home pickup.
MEA attestation fees
| Our all-inclusive charge (MEA stage) | Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 per document, depending on the document |
|---|---|
| Notary, SDM and MEA attestation fee (Rs 50) | Included |
| Embassy attestation fee | Extra; differs by country and document (see the fee pages below) |
| Courier | Extra, both ways |
6 mistakes that delay MEA attestation
Apostille for a non-Hague country
The UAE, Qatar and Kuwait refuse an apostille; they need attestation by the MEA and their embassy.
Attestation for a Hague country
Saudi Arabia, Oman and Bahrain now take an apostille, which is simpler.
Name mismatch
Spelling on the document and the passport must match, or the embassy may refuse it.
Laminated document
Stamps cannot be fixed on lamination. Keep originals unlaminated.
Missing checklist
Some employers want State HRD or a translation; read the checklist before you start.
Using touts
The MEA warns against unauthorised agents. Ask any service where your document is deposited.
Official links for MEA attestation
FAQs: MEA attestation services
What is MEA attestation?
MEA attestation, also called Ministry of External Affairs attestation, is the stamp the MEA puts on an Indian document after confirming the signature of the authority that authenticated it, such as the SDM, a state department or a Chamber of Commerce. It is the step before embassy attestation for countries that do not accept an apostille.
What is the difference between MEA attestation and MEA apostille?
An MEA apostille is a single sticker accepted by all Hague Apostille Convention countries, with no embassy step. MEA attestation is a stamp that must be followed by the destination country’s embassy attestation, and it is used for countries outside the Convention, such as the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait.
Which countries need MEA attestation?
Countries that are not parties to the Hague Apostille Convention, for example the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Iran, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Malaysia. China is a Convention party, but India objected to its accession, so documents for China still need MEA attestation and Chinese embassy legalisation.
What is the MEA attestation process?
Through the Delhi route, the document is notarised, attested by the SDM in Delhi, attested by the MEA through its authorised outsourced centre and then attested by the embassy of the destination country. Commercial documents go through a Chamber of Commerce before the MEA. Some countries add a final stamp by their own foreign ministry.
Can I submit documents directly at the MEA for attestation?
No. Since 2012 the MEA does not accept documents from individuals at its counter. Documents are deposited through the MEA’s authorised outsourced centres, after authentication by the state government, the SDM or a Chamber of Commerce.
What is the MEA attestation fee?
Our charge is Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 per document, which includes the notary, the SDM attestation, the MEA’s Rs 50 government fee and our service. The embassy’s fee is separate and differs by country; it is listed on each country’s fee page on our site. We confirm the total in writing before starting.
How long does MEA attestation take?
The MEA stage usually takes a few working days through the Delhi route. With embassy attestation, a UAE degree file usually takes 5 to 7 working days and a PCC about 5 to 8, depending on the embassy.
Is HRD attestation needed before MEA attestation?
Not always. For the UAE, the Delhi route (notary, SDM, MEA, UAE Embassy) is accepted in most cases, and State HRD is added only if your employer’s checklist asks for it.
Does a PCC need notary or SDM before MEA attestation?
A PCC issued by the passport office goes straight to MEA attestation, so no notary or SDM stage is needed. For the UAE, a PCC now needs MEA attestation and online UAE Embassy legalisation only.
Is MEA attestation available near me?
Our office is at C-5 A/2 New Ashok Nagar, Delhi 110096. Delhi NCR clients can drop off and collect documents there; from any other city, send them by courier and we return them by Blue Dart or another secure courier. There is no home pickup.
Can MEA attest a photocopy?
The MEA attests originals or properly authenticated copies, not plain photocopies. Send the original document; laminated documents cannot take the stamps.
Do I still need MEA attestation for Saudi Arabia, Oman or Bahrain?
No. These countries have joined the Hague Apostille Convention, so they accept an MEA apostille instead of MEA attestation and embassy attestation.
Get your MEA attestation done
WhatsApp a photo of your document and the country it is going to. We confirm the route, the time and the cost in writing.
Office: C – 5 A/2 New Ashok Nagar, Delhi – 110096 · Monday to Saturday, 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Disclaimer: INFINITYGRO is a private document facilitation service, not the Ministry of External Affairs, an embassy or an MEA outsourced centre. Attestation is done only by the MEA and the embassy concerned; we arrange authentication and deposit through their authorised channels. Rules and fees can change; check the receiving country’s requirements before applying.
Last reviewed: October 2026