What Is Apostille? Meaning in English and Hindi, with Examples
What is apostille? An apostille is a certificate added to a public document so that it is accepted in another country without further embassy stamps. In India the Ministry of External Affairs issues it. This guide explains the apostille meaning in plain English and in Hindi, how it differs from attestation, and what it looks like.
What is apostille: quick answer
What is apostille? It is a standard certificate, created by the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention, that confirms the signature, seal and capacity of the official on a public document. A country that is a member of the Convention accepts a document with an apostille from another member without asking for its own embassy’s legalisation.
In India, apostilles are issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Indian public documents such as birth and marriage certificates, degrees and police clearance certificates. Hindi में: अपोस्टिल एक प्रमाण-पत्र है जो विदेश मंत्रालय (MEA) भारतीय दस्तावेज़ पर लगाता है, ताकि वह दस्तावेज़ हेग कन्वेंशन वाले देशों में बिना दूतावास की मुहर के मान्य हो जाए।
Apostille meaning in simple words
The word comes from French, where an apostille is a note added in the margin of a document. Today it means a short, numbered certificate, usually a sticker on the back of the document, that tells the foreign authority: this signature and seal are genuine, and the person who signed held the office stated.
So, what is apostille not? It does not confirm that the contents of the document are true. A birth certificate with an apostille is still only as accurate as the birth record. The apostille only authenticates where the document came from.
Apostille meaning in Hindi: अपोस्टिल का मतलब
अपोस्टिल (Apostille) का मतलब है एक सरकारी प्रमाणीकरण, जो यह बताता है कि किसी भारतीय दस्तावेज़ पर लगे हस्ताक्षर और मुहर असली हैं। भारत में यह विदेश मंत्रालय (Ministry of External Affairs) देता है। यह आम तौर पर दस्तावेज़ के पीछे एक स्टिकर के रूप में लगता है, जिस पर नए फ़ॉर्मेट में QR कोड भी होता है।
अपोस्टिल सिर्फ़ उन देशों में चलता है जो 1961 के हेग अपोस्टिल कन्वेंशन के सदस्य हैं, जैसे अमेरिका, ब्रिटेन, कनाडा, जर्मनी, ऑस्ट्रेलिया और सऊदी अरब। यूएई, कतर, कुवैत और चीन जैसे देशों के लिए अपोस्टिल नहीं, बल्कि अटेस्टेशन (MEA अटेस्टेशन + दूतावास की मुहर) चाहिए।
आसान भाषा में: अपोस्टिल = विदेश मंत्रालय की एक मुहर, जिसके बाद दस्तावेज़ हेग देशों में मान्य हो जाता है। अटेस्टेशन = विदेश मंत्रालय की मुहर + उस देश के दूतावास की मुहर।
The Hague Apostille Convention and India
The Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents was signed at The Hague on 5 October 1961. It replaced the old chain of legalisation, where a document needed stamps from several ministries and then the foreign embassy, with a single certificate issued in the country of origin.
The Convention has been in force for India since 14 July 2005, and more than 120 countries now apply it. Recent members include Saudi Arabia (December 2022), Canada (January 2024) and Bangladesh (March 2025). India objected to China’s accession, so documents between India and China still need embassy legalisation. The HCCH status table, linked below, is the official list.
What is apostille vs attestation?
| Apostille | Attestation (legalisation) | |
|---|---|---|
| Used for | Hague Convention countries | Non-member countries such as the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, China |
| Final stamp in India | MEA apostille | MEA attestation, then the embassy |
| Embassy involved | No | Yes, plus MOFA in Gulf countries |
| Format | Numbered certificate, sticker with QR code | MEA stamp plus embassy stamp or e-attestation |
| Usual time | 2–3 working days through us | Several more days for the embassy |
For the full picture of both routes, see document legalization in India.
What is written on an apostille
Every apostille follows the model set by the Convention, with the heading “Apostille (Convention de La Haye du 5 octobre 1961)” and ten numbered entries:
- 1. Country: Republic of India
- 2–4. Who signed the document, in what capacity, and whose seal it bears
- 5–6. Place and date of the apostille
- 7–8. The issuing authority (MEA) and the apostille number
- 9–10. Seal or stamp and signature of the MEA officer
The current Indian apostille also carries a QR code for verification; older apostilles without QR remain valid.
What is apostille process in India?
- 1Original documentIssued by an Indian authority: municipality, registrar, university, passport office.
- 2Indian authenticationNotary and SDM in Delhi, or State HRD / Home Department.
- 3MEA apostilleThe Ministry of External Affairs adds the apostille, with a QR code.
- 4Use abroadAccepted in Hague Convention countries without an embassy stamp.
- 5Translation if askedSome countries also want a translation.
What is apostille used for? Examples
- A degree for a master’s programme or work visa in Germany, the USA or Canada.
- A marriage certificate for a spouse visa in the UK or Australia.
- A birth certificate for a child’s passport or school admission abroad.
- A police clearance certificate for a job in Saudi Arabia.
For a document going to Dubai or Doha, read MEA attestation instead.
Samples from our files
Apostille meaning: FAQs
What is apostille?
An apostille is a certificate under the 1961 Hague Convention that confirms the signature and seal on a public document, so that it is accepted in other member countries without embassy legalisation. In India the MEA issues it.
What is the apostille meaning in Hindi?
अपोस्टिल का मतलब है विदेश मंत्रालय (MEA) का प्रमाण-पत्र, जो बताता है कि भारतीय दस्तावेज़ पर लगे हस्ताक्षर और मुहर असली हैं, ताकि वह हेग कन्वेंशन वाले देशों में मान्य हो।
What is apostille attestation?
People often say ‘apostille attestation’ for the MEA apostille. Strictly, an apostille is for Hague countries, while attestation (MEA attestation plus the embassy) is for non-member countries such as the UAE.
What is apostille process?
The document gets an Indian authentication (notary and SDM in Delhi, or State HRD), then the MEA adds the apostille. Through INFINITYGRO this usually takes 2–3 working days.
Who issues an apostille in India?
The Ministry of External Affairs. No State Government, embassy or private agency can issue an apostille.
Does an apostille expire?
The apostille itself has no expiry date, but some receiving authorities want documents, such as a PCC, issued recently.
Is apostille valid in the UAE?
No. The UAE is not in the Apostille Convention, so UAE documents need MEA attestation and the UAE Embassy’s legalisation.
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INFINITYGRO, C-5 A/2, New Ashok Nagar, Delhi 110096 · Monday to Saturday, 10 AM to 7 PM · office drop-off or courier, no home pickup. INFINITYGRO is a private document facilitation agency, not a government office or embassy; apostilles and attestations are issued only by the MEA and the embassies concerned.
Reviewed October 2026 · sources: HCCH status table, MEA apostille