FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. Why attestation is done?

When you present a legal document in a foreign country, it is often very difficult to determine whether the document is genuine and legal and therefore overseas governments sometimes need proof that the Indian documents which you hold is a genuine and not fake, or the signatures of Indian officials on documents, are genuine before they will accept them. The reason for that is job competition with locals/ or to get admission in various courses. Attestation is universal whether you come from Srilanka or America or India. It is the verification of the document. In the attestation / legalization process your documents passes through various level of department to confirm that this document is genuine. The attestation process first starts from state level (Home department of states) and after that Central Govt level, Ministry of External affairs (MEA) and at last Certificate Authentication or attestation has to be completed from India or the Country of Origin from where the Certificates are issued.

2. Should I attest the Originals or photocopies? What if laminated?

Attestation is done on the reverse of the Originals. If originals are laminated, we will remove the lamination and get the attestation done. However there is a chance that a frail document might get damaged cannot be ruled out. We recommend that you should get new ones issued in such cases.

3. What should I do in case of Loss of Original Education Certificates?

You need to go to the University/College and submit a Lost Certificate Application. First you need to go to the territorial police station from where it was lost and lodge one FIR (First Information Report). Get a copy of the FIR after signing by the Duty Officer and IPC no.(Indian Penal code) on it. Use this copy for applying for duplicate certificates. Repeated follow up is required.

4. What is an Apostille and when do I need one?

An Apostille is a certificate that authenticates the origin of a public document (e.g., a birth, marriage or death certificate, a judgment, an extract of a register or a notarial attestation). Apostille can only be issued for documents issued in one country party to the Apostille convention and that are to be used in another country which is also a party to the convention.

5. What are the effects of an Apostille?

An Apostille only certifies the origin of the public document to which it relates; it certifies the authenticity of the signature or seal of the person or authority that signed or sealed the public document and the capacity in which this was done. An Apostille does not certify the content of the public document to which it relates.

6. Once I have an Apostille, do I need anything else to show that the Signature or Seal on my public document is genuine?

An Apostille issued by the relevant Competent Authority is all that is required to establish that a signature or seal on a public document is genuine and to establish the capacity of the person or authority that signed or sealed the public document.

7. If the recipient of my Apostille wants to verify my Apostille, what should I suggest?

Each Competent Authority is required to keep a register in which it records the date and number of every Apostille it issues, as well as information relating to the person or authority that signed or sealed the underlying public documents.

8. Can Apostille be rejected in the country where are to be used?

Apostille issued in accordance with the requirement of the convention must be recognized in the country where they are to be used.

9. Apostilles may only be rejected if:

Their origin cannot be verified
Their formal elements differ radically from the Model Certificates annexed to the convention.