Certificate of Conformity Apostille: What It Covers and How Exporters Get It
An importer or customs broker abroad has asked for your certificate of conformity with an apostille or embassy stamp. Before you send it, understand what that stamp adds. It authenticates the signature on the certificate; it does not test your product. This guide covers who should issue the certificate, how to prepare it, and the Chamber of Commerce and MEA route.
Quick answer: certificate of conformity apostille
Certificate of conformity apostille is the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) apostille placed on a certificate stating that goods meet a named standard or specification. It tells a buyer or authority in a Hague Convention country that the Indian signature and seal on the certificate are genuine. As a commercial document, it is attested by a Chamber of Commerce before the MEA.
The apostille does not certify the product. Whether the goods actually meet the standard is a matter for the manufacturer, the testing body and the buyer. For the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt and China, and for commercial papers going to Oman or Vietnam, the route is MEA attestation plus embassy legalisation instead. INFINITYGRO quotes every commercial file in writing.
What the apostille certifies, and what it does not
It certifies
- That the Indian signatures and seals in the chain are genuine
- The capacity of the official who signed last
- That the document came through the recognised Indian route
It does not certify
- That your product meets the standard
- Test results or factory inspections
- That customs abroad will clear the goods
Explaining this to your buyer early avoids a common misunderstanding: some expect the stamp to replace their own inspection or a third-party test. It does not.
Self-declared or third-party certificate?
| Manufacturer’s declaration of conformity | Signed by the company on letterhead; goes through the Chamber like other company papers |
|---|---|
| Certificate from an accredited testing or certification body | Signed by that body; check whether the buyer wants this rather than a self-declaration |
| Certificate required by the importing country’s own scheme | Issued through that scheme’s approved bodies; ask the importer how it must be legalised |
Checks before the certificate goes to the Chamber
- Product name, model or HS code, and quantity match the invoice and packing list
- The standard or specification is named in full
- The order or invoice number is stated where the buyer asks for it
- The signatory’s name, designation, signature and company seal are clear
- The date is recent and within any validity the buyer has set
A certificate of conformity often travels with other shipping papers. Sending them together means one Chamber round and one MEA submission.
Certificate of conformity apostille, step by step
- 1Photo checkWhatsApp the certificate and name the destination; we confirm route and price in writing.
- 2Send the originalCourier it with an authorisation letter, or drop it at our New Ashok Nagar office.
- 3Chamber of CommerceNotary first where needed, then the Chamber attests the signature.
- 4MEAApostille for Hague countries; MEA attestation and the embassy for others.
- 5ReturnBy Blue Dart or another secure courier, with tracking.
Other trade papers are listed on the full service page for commercial document apostille.
Destinations that need embassy legalisation
Exporters to Hague countries such as Saudi Arabia, the EU states, South Korea and the USA can use the MEA apostille. Exporters to the following markets need MEA attestation followed by the embassy in New Delhi, with the embassy fee extra:
Certificate of conformity apostille: fees and time
| Commercial document | Chamber of Commerce + MEA (+ embassy where needed), quoted in writing after we see the document |
|---|---|
| Embassy legalisation fee | Extra where the country needs it; confirmed in your written quote |
| Courier | Extra, both ways |
| Translation | Quoted by language and page |
We quote after seeing the certificate and the destination. Any embassy fee is shown separately in the written quote.
FAQs: Certificate of Conformity Apostille: What It Covers and How Exporters Get It
What is a certificate of conformity apostille?
It is the MEA apostille on a certificate stating that goods meet a named standard, added after Chamber of Commerce attestation. It confirms to a buyer or authority in a Hague Convention country that the Indian signature and seal on the certificate are genuine.
Does the apostille prove my product meets the standard?
No. The apostille authenticates signatures and seals only. Product compliance is shown by the certificate itself, any test reports behind it and the buyer’s own checks. Customs abroad can still inspect or sample the goods on arrival.
Can a self-declared certificate of conformity be apostilled?
Usually yes. A manufacturer’s declaration on letterhead, signed and stamped by an authorised person, goes through the Chamber of Commerce and the MEA like other company papers. Check first whether your buyer accepts a self-declaration.
Do I need a CoC apostille for every shipment?
Only if the buyer or the importing country asks for it per shipment. Some want a fresh certificate for each order; others accept one certificate for a product line for a period. The buyer’s instructions decide.
My buyer is in the UAE. Does the apostille work?
No. The UAE is not a Hague Convention member. The certificate needs Chamber attestation, MEA attestation, UAE Embassy legalisation and then UAE MOFA attestation. The embassy fee is extra and shown separately in your written quote.
What about Oman or Vietnam?
Both are Hague parties, but the apostille does not cover commercial documents for them. Oman excluded commercial and customs documents from 2021, and in Vietnam commercial papers still go Chamber, MEA attestation and then the embassy.
Can you arrange testing or a certificate for my product?
No. INFINITYGRO does not test products, inspect factories or issue certificates of any kind. Obtain the certificate from your own quality team or from a certification body, then send it to us for the legalisation stages.
How do I send the certificate?
Courier the original with an authorisation letter on letterhead, or drop it at our New Ashok Nagar office in Delhi. We do not collect from factories or offices. Documents return by Blue Dart or another secure courier.
Official sources
Send your certificate of conformity for a quote
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