Degree Certificate Apostille Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
A degree that comes back unapostilled usually fails for a reason that was visible on day one. Below are the mistakes we see most often with Indian degree certificates, what each one leads to, and the simple fix, so your degree goes through the notary, SDM and MEA stages in one round and reaches the university, employer or council abroad on time.
Quick answer: the mistakes that matter
Degree certificate apostille mistakes fall into three groups. Some are about the paper: a laminated or damaged degree, a provisional certificate sent when the final one is needed, or a name that does not match the passport. Some are about the route: an apostille obtained for a country such as the UAE that wants attestation instead. The rest are about expectations, such as believing an agent can buy speed.
Each one is avoidable with a two-minute check before posting. Send us a photo of the degree and the country name and we confirm the route, time and total in writing. The MEA apostille itself costs Rs 1,000–1,500 per document all-inclusive with INFINITYGRO and usually takes 2–3 working days in Delhi.
Eight degree certificate apostille mistakes, with the fix
| Sending the provisional certificate | Fine if the receiver accepts it; many want the final degree. Check their list first. |
|---|---|
| Laminating the degree | Usually refused. Ask the university about a duplicate before you plan travel. |
| Sending only a photocopy | A self-made copy cannot be apostilled. Send the original. |
| Name differs from passport | May be questioned abroad. Only the university can correct the degree. |
| Forgetting marksheets or transcript | A second round later. Send everything the receiver asks for together. |
| Apostille for the UAE, Qatar or Kuwait | Not accepted there. These need MEA attestation and the embassy. |
| Paying for a promised same-day apostille | The MEA does not sell priority. Plan for 2–3 working days plus courier. |
| Posting without tracking | A lost degree is the worst delay of all. Use a tracked courier. |
Mistakes you can spot on the degree itself
Lay the degree next to your passport and check these before anything else.
- Your full name, spelt as in the passport, including surname
- The university’s name, the registrar’s or controller’s signature and the seal
- No lamination, tape, stains or writing on the certificate
- The final degree, unless the receiver has said a provisional is enough
- The year and course, matching the marksheets you are sending
Choosing the wrong stamp for the country
The most expensive mistake is a perfect apostille sent to a country that does not accept one. Check the destination first.
Apostille is correct
Hague Convention members such as the UK, Germany, the USA, Canada, Australia, Saudi Arabia and South Korea.
Attestation is correct
The UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt, and China, where India objected to accession. The embassy fee is extra.
What an apostille will not do for your degree
It is not recognition
An apostille authenticates Indian signatures. Some countries also assess whether your degree is equivalent to theirs; that is a separate process with its own body.
It is not verification with the university
The MEA confirms the authentication chain, not your marks. Some employers run their own background checks as well.
It cannot be rushed for money
Anyone promising a guaranteed same-day MEA apostille is promising what the system does not offer.
The route without mistakes
- 1Photo checkWhatsApp the degree, marksheets and destination; we confirm everything in writing.
- 2Send the originalsTracked courier, or drop-off at our New Ashok Nagar office in Delhi.
- 3Notary, SDM and MEAUsually 2–3 working days in Delhi.
- 4Tracked returnBy Blue Dart or another secure courier, or collect from the office.
Fees, documents and state-wise options are on the full service page for degree certificate apostille.
Degree 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 |
For non-Hague countries the MEA stage costs the same and the embassy fee is extra, confirmed in your written quote.
FAQs: Degree Certificate Apostille Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
What are the most common degree certificate apostille mistakes?
Sending a laminated degree, sending a provisional when the final degree is needed, a name that differs from the passport, getting an apostille for a non-Hague country such as the UAE, and forgetting the marksheets or transcript the receiver asked for.
Can a laminated degree be apostilled?
Usually not. Lamination prevents proper examination of the paper and seal, and the notary or SDM is likely to refuse it. Ask your university whether it issues a duplicate degree. We cannot remove lamination or apply to the university for you.
Is a provisional certificate enough?
Sometimes. Some universities and employers abroad accept a provisional certificate until the final degree is issued; others insist on the final one. Check the receiver’s list. A provisional certificate can be apostilled in the same way as a degree.
My degree has my name with initials only. Is that a problem?
It may be. If your passport shows the full name and the degree only initials, the receiving office can ask for proof that both belong to you. Only the university can correct the degree; some people add a sworn affidavit, if the receiver accepts one.
I got an apostille, but the UAE rejected it. What now?
The UAE does not accept the apostille. The degree needs MEA attestation, UAE Embassy legalisation in New Delhi and UAE MOFA attestation online. Send us the degree; we start the attestation route and confirm the embassy fee in writing.
Does the apostille prove my degree is genuine?
It confirms the Indian authentication chain behind the document, ending with the MEA. It does not assess your marks or the course, and some employers or authorities abroad run their own checks on top of it.
Is it a mistake to try it myself?
Not necessarily. Anyone can approach a notary, the SDM and the MEA’s outsourced collection centre. It simply takes several visits in Delhi. Most people outside Delhi find it easier to courier the degree to an agency.
How much does a degree apostille cost?
Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 per document with INFINITYGRO, all-inclusive of notary, SDM attestation, the Rs 50 MEA fee and our service. Courier is extra, and each marksheet or transcript counts as a separate document.
Official sources
Avoid a second round: send a photo first
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