MEA Apostille for Marriage Certificate: What the Ministry Checks and Stamps
The Ministry of External Affairs is the only authority in India that issues an apostille on a marriage certificate. But the MEA does not take papers from the public and will not look at a certificate that has not been authenticated first. This post explains what the MEA actually does, what has to happen before it, and what the finished apostille proves abroad.
Quick answer: the MEA’s part
MEA apostille for marriage certificate is the certificate the Ministry of External Affairs attaches to an Indian marriage certificate so that it is accepted in countries that are party to the Hague Apostille Convention, with no further embassy legalisation. The MEA lists marriage certificates among the personal documents it apostilles. It charges Rs 50 per apostille and accepts documents only through its outsourced collection agencies.
Before the MEA signs, the certificate must carry an authentication it can rely on. In Delhi that is a notary followed by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate. INFINITYGRO arranges all of it for Rs 1,000–1,500 per certificate, all-inclusive, usually in 2–3 working days.
What the MEA does, and what it does not
The MEA does
- Issue the apostille on Indian public documents for Hague countries
- Rely on the signature of a designated state or Delhi authority
- Charge Rs 50 per apostille
- Give each apostille its own number
The MEA does not
- Accept documents directly from individuals
- Register marriages or issue certificates
- Check whether the marriage details are true
- Apostille for non-Hague countries; those get attestation
Under the Convention an apostille confirms who signed the document and in what capacity. It does not certify what the document says. So an MEA apostille for marriage certificate use abroad settles the signature question, while a foreign office may still ask about the marriage itself.
The authentication the MEA needs first
The MEA legalises on the basis of signatures of officers designated by the state governments and union territories. A marriage registrar is not one of them, so the certificate goes through an intermediate stage.
Delhi route
A notary attests the certificate and the Sub-Divisional Magistrate authenticates the notary. This is the route INFINITYGRO uses, for certificates from any state.
State route
The Home or General Administration Department of the issuing state authenticates the certificate. Timelines vary from state to state.
Then the MEA
Either way, the authenticated certificate is lodged through an MEA outsourced centre for the apostille.
Reading your marriage certificate apostille sticker
The MEA’s apostille is a printed sticker fixed to the certificate. It follows the model set by the Convention and carries a set of numbered fields.
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| Signed by / acting as | The officer whose signature the MEA is certifying |
| Place and date | Where and when the apostille was issued |
| Number | The unique apostille number a foreign office can check |
| Seal and signature | Of the MEA officer issuing the apostille |
We also offer the online apostille (e-Sanad / QR apostille service). Done through INFINITYGRO it is usually ready in 2–3 working days; send the document and a copy of your passport, because the passport number is entered online.
Countries that take the MEA apostille, and those that do not
The MEA states that its apostille is accepted in member countries of the Convention, such as the UK, the Netherlands, Italy, France, Spain, Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and Oman. Non-member countries need MEA attestation and embassy legalisation instead.
China is a member, but India objected to its accession, so Indian certificates for China still go through MEA attestation and the Chinese embassy.
MEA apostille for marriage certificate: cost 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 Rs 50 MEA fee is part of the Rs 1,000–1,500, not added on top. For non-Hague countries the MEA attestation stage costs the same and the embassy fee is extra.
MEA Apostille for Marriage Certificate: What the Ministry Checks and Stamps: real sample
A real document from our files, with personal details hidden. Check the stamps on your own document against it.
FAQs: MEA Apostille for Marriage Certificate: What the Ministry Checks and Stamps
Can I submit my marriage certificate to the MEA myself?
Not over a counter at the Ministry. The MEA states that it does not accept documents directly from individuals; they are lodged through its outsourced collection agencies, and only after state or SDM authentication. INFINITYGRO arranges the authentication and the submission for you.
What is the MEA fee for an apostille?
The MEA charges Rs 50 per apostille, and its outsourced agencies add their own service and scanning charges. Our price of Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 per certificate already includes the MEA fee, the notary, SDM attestation and our service.
Does the MEA verify that our marriage is genuine?
No. The apostille confirms the signature and capacity of the official who authenticated the document. It does not certify the content. If a foreign office doubts the marriage details, it may check with the issuing registrar.
Which marriage certificates does the MEA apostille?
Certificates issued by a marriage registrar under Indian law are the usual case, including certified copies issued by the registrar. Religious certificates on their own are often not accepted abroad. Send a photo first and we will tell you what to expect.
How long does the MEA apostille take?
Through INFINITYGRO the whole process, including notary and SDM, usually takes 2–3 working days in Delhi once the original reaches us. The online QR apostille is also usually ready in 2–3 working days when you send the document and a passport copy.
Is the apostille the same as MEA attestation?
No. The apostille is for Hague Convention countries and needs no further stamp. MEA attestation is for other countries, such as the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait, and is followed by legalisation at that country’s embassy in New Delhi.
Can I use one apostilled certificate in two countries?
Yes, if both are Hague Convention countries, because the apostille is not tied to one destination. In practice the first office may keep the original, so many couples apostille two certificates or a certificate plus a certified copy.
Can you get the certificate issued for us?
No. INFINITYGRO does not register marriages or obtain certificates. We start once you hold the registrar’s certificate and then arrange the MEA apostille for marriage certificate use abroad. Drop it at our Delhi office or courier it from any city; there is no home pickup.
Official sources
Get the MEA apostille on your marriage certificate
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