Birth Certificate Apostille Process: How Many Days It Really Takes
Families applying for a visa, a school seat or a foreign passport usually ask one thing first: how many days? This guide gives an honest answer. The Delhi stages normally take 2–3 working days; courier time is what turns that into a week or more. Here is the day-by-day picture and the details that cause delays.
Quick answer: how long it takes
Birth certificate apostille process in Delhi has three stages: a notary attests the certificate, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) authenticates the notary, and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) fixes the apostille. Once the original reaches us, these normally take 2–3 working days together. The total cost is Rs 1,000–1,500 per certificate, including the Rs 50 MEA fee.
The rest of the time is courier. From most Indian cities a parcel takes about two to four days each way, so a door-to-door week is realistic when the certificate is in order and courier is quick, and longer from distant places or around holidays. If you are in Delhi, drop it at our New Ashok Nagar office and collect it; there is no courier time at all.
Where each day goes
| Courier from your city to Delhi | Usually two to four days, depending on distance and service |
|---|---|
| Notary and SDM attestation | Part of the 2–3 working days in Delhi |
| MEA apostille | Part of the same 2–3 working days |
| Courier back to you | Usually two to four days |
| Delhi drop-off and collection | Only the 2–3 working days; no courier |
Sundays and public holidays do not count as working days. A certificate that arrives on a Friday afternoon usually starts moving on the next working day.
Can a birth certificate apostille be done in 7 days?
Often, yes, but it depends on things outside any office. Three conditions make a one-week turnaround realistic:
- The original certificate is clear, unlaminated and the names match the passport
- You courier it promptly by a fast service and pick a fast return service
- There are no public holidays in the middle of the week
If one of these fails, the Delhi stages still take 2–3 working days, but the total stretches. We would rather tell you that before you book a flight than after.
Six details that slow the birth certificate apostille process
Name mismatch
The child’s or parents’ names differ from the passport. Corrections must be made by the registrar who issued it; we cannot change a certificate.
Old handwritten certificate
Faded ink or a missing seal can lead the notary or SDM to refuse it. Send a photo first so we can judge it.
Laminated certificate
Lamination hides the paper surface; a laminated birth certificate is usually returned.
Only a photocopy
The process needs the original certificate or the registrar’s certified copy, not a self-made copy.
Regional language
Some countries ask for a translation as well, which adds a day or two.
Late courier
Parcels sent without tracking, or held at a local courier hub, cost the most time.
Birth certificate apostille process in four steps
- 1Send a photoWhatsApp the certificate and the destination country. We confirm the route, time and total in writing.
- 2Courier or drop offSend the original with a passport copy, or bring it to our New Ashok Nagar office.
- 3Notary, SDM and MEAWe take it through all three stages in Delhi, usually in 2–3 working days.
- 4ReturnThe apostilled certificate comes back by Blue Dart or another secure courier, or you collect it.
For the full list of charges and options, see the full service page for birth certificate apostille.
Countries that need a different route
The timing above is for Hague Convention countries such as the UK, the USA, Germany, Italy and Australia. For the UAE, Qatar or Kuwait, the certificate needs MEA attestation and embassy legalisation instead; for the UAE that route usually takes 5–7 working days and the embassy fee is extra.
Birth certificate 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 |
The time shown is for the Delhi stages. Courier days depend on your city and the service you choose.
FAQs: Birth Certificate Apostille Process: How Many Days It Really Takes
How many days does the birth certificate apostille process take?
Usually 2–3 working days in Delhi once the original reaches us. Add courier time both ways if you are outside Delhi, normally two to four days each way. Delhi clients who drop off and collect at our office avoid courier time entirely.
Can you guarantee the apostille in 7 days?
No. We can tell you whether a week is realistic for your city and certificate, and it often is. But the MEA sets its own pace and courier companies can be late, so we do not sell a guaranteed date we cannot control.
Why do some websites say 2 days and others 10?
Some count only the MEA stage, others count everything from courier booking to delivery. The fair comparison is door to door: Delhi stages of 2–3 working days plus courier both ways, if you are not in Delhi.
Does a hospital birth record work instead of the certificate?
Usually not. The apostille process works on the birth certificate issued by the municipal or panchayat registrar, not on a hospital discharge or birth record. If you only have the hospital paper, get the registrar’s certificate first.
My certificate is in Hindi. Does that add time?
Only if the receiving country wants a translation. INFINITYGRO translates into any language. The translation is quoted by language and page and can usually be done while the certificate is in Delhi, adding a day or two at most.
Is it faster to go to the MEA myself?
Not usually. The MEA accepts documents through its outsourced collection centres after the earlier attestation is complete, so you would still need the notary and SDM stages first. Most delays come from those earlier stages and from returns, not from the MEA.
Does the apostille expire?
The apostille itself has no expiry date. Some receiving offices, however, want a birth certificate or apostille issued within a recent period. Check the rule of the office you are applying to before sending an old one.
How much does it cost in total?
Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 per certificate, all-inclusive of notary, SDM attestation, the Rs 50 MEA fee and our service. Courier is extra both ways. For non-Hague countries, the embassy fee is added and confirmed in writing.
Official sources
Ask how many days it will take from your city
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