Commercial Invoice Apostille and Attestation
MEA apostille and embassy attestation for export commercial invoices, after Chamber of Commerce attestation, for customs clearance, letters of credit and buyer requirements abroad.
Commercial invoice apostille: quick answer
In short, Commercial invoice apostille is the MEA’s apostille on your commercial invoice, recognised in every Hague Convention country. As the MEA requires for commercial papers, the commercial invoice is first attested by a Chamber of Commerce, and then the MEA apostilles it (₹50 government fee per document).
For the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and other non-Hague countries the apostille is not accepted. There you need Commercial invoice attestation: Chamber of Commerce attestation, MEA attestation and then the embassy stamp.
INFINITYGRO handles Commercial invoice attestation in India for exporters, companies and individuals across India by courier. Send a WhatsApp photo of the commercial invoice and the destination country, and you get the route and a written quote before anything is sent.
Why a commercial invoice needs apostille or attestation
The commercial invoice is the core export document: it states the seller, buyer, goods, quantity and value. In many countries, especially in the Middle East and Africa, importers and customs authorities ask for the invoice to be legalised by their embassy before the goods are cleared. Banks handling letters of credit may ask for the same.
The invoice is first signed and stamped by the exporter and attested by a Chamber of Commerce. The MEA then apostilles it for Hague Convention countries, or attests it for the embassy route used by the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt and other non-Hague countries.
Customs clearance
Importing countries that require legalised invoices.
Letter of credit
Bank documents presented under an LC.
Middle East buyers
Common requirement for Gulf and Egypt shipments.
Tenders and contracts
Proof of past supplies in tenders abroad.
Commercial invoice apostille: step-by-step process
Choose the route by the country where the commercial invoice will be used.
Apostille for Hague Convention countries
- 1Notary (where needed)Where required, a notary attests the commercial invoice first.
- 2Chamber of CommerceA recognised Chamber of Commerce authenticates the document.
- 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 Commercial invoice attestation
- Original commercial invoice on company letterhead, signed and stamped by the exporter
- Certificate of origin and packing list for the same shipment, if they need legalisation too
- Company authorisation letter, signed and stamped
- Signatory’s passport or ID copy
- Where and why the document will be used
Commercial invoice apostille charges and time
| Apostille fee charged by the MEA | ₹50 per document |
|---|---|
| Normal MEA attestation | No government fee |
| Chamber and service charges | Quoted together, in writing, before you send |
| Embassy legalisation | Varies with the embassy |
| Courier and time | Courier extra; expected date given with the quote |
Every page set that is signed as one document counts once; separate documents and extra copies count separately. See also our commercial document apostille page.
Tips before sending your commercial invoice
- Use the same invoice number and values on every document in the set; chambers and embassies compare them.
- Sign and stamp every page of a multi-page invoice.
- Some embassies charge legalisation fees based on invoice value; we tell you this in the quote.
Official links for commercial invoice apostille and attestation
These are the official sources behind the process described on this page:
FAQs: Commercial invoice apostille and attestation
How do I get a commercial invoice apostilled by the Ministry of External Affairs?
The commercial invoice is notarised where required and then authenticated by a recognised Chamber of Commerce. After that the MEA checks the chamber’s attestation and fixes the apostille. Courier the original to us and we handle each stage.
What are the charges for Commercial invoice apostille?
The cost has three parts: the MEA’s ₹50 government fee per document, the Chamber of Commerce fee and our service charge. Courier both ways is separate. You get one written quote covering all of it.
Why does my buyer want the commercial invoice attested by their embassy?
Many importing countries use embassy legalisation to confirm that the invoice really comes from the exporter, which helps their customs and banks rely on it.
What documents are required for Commercial invoice attestation?
The original commercial invoice, signed and stamped by the company or issuing authority, an authorisation letter on company letterhead (we send the format) and an ID copy of the signatory. Tell us the destination country, because the route depends on it.
What is the process for Commercial invoice attestation for the UAE, Qatar or Kuwait?
The UAE, Qatar and Kuwait do not accept the apostille, so the commercial invoice 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 a proforma invoice attested the same way?
Yes. A proforma invoice signed and stamped by the exporter follows the same chamber, MEA and embassy route as a final commercial invoice.
How long does Commercial invoice apostille take?
It varies with the chamber, the MEA and the embassy if one is involved. We tell you the expected date before you courier the commercial invoice and message you as each stamp is done.
Apostille or attestation: which one does my commercial invoice need?
It depends on the country where the commercial invoice 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.
Do I need the certificate of origin attested with the invoice?
Often yes, especially for Gulf and Egyptian buyers. We can process the invoice, certificate of origin and packing list together.
Is INFINITYGRO genuine, and does someone from the company need to visit Delhi for the commercial invoice?
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 commercial invoice is couriered to our office or dropped off. Call or WhatsApp +91-8595558517.
Send your commercial invoice for apostille or attestation
WhatsApp a photo of the commercial invoice and tell us the destination country. You get the route, the documents list and a written quote before you courier anything.
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.