Marriage certificate attestation services in India.

The Step-by-Step Process for Marriage Certificate Attestation & Apostille

The process typically involves several stages of verification by different authorities. Our experts manage each step diligently to ensure accuracy and efficiency.

For Hague Convention Countries (Apostille Process):

• Notary Attestation: The initial step involves getting your original marriage certificate attested by a Notary Public. This local verification confirms the document’s authenticity.
• State Home Department (GAD) / Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Attestation:
  
  • State Home Department (GAD) Attestation: This is a comprehensive verification by the Home Department of the state where the marriage certificate was issued. It’s a robust process that can take longer.
  • Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Attestation: An alternative, quicker process for personal documents. While faster, some countries or specific purposes might still prefer State Home Department attestation. We guide you on the best option based on your destination and urgency.
• Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Apostille: After state-level or SDM attestation, the document is submitted to the MEA, Government of India, for the final Apostille stamp. This is the ultimate legalization for Hague Convention countries.

For Non-Hague Convention Countries (Attestation Process):

• Notary Attestation: (Same as above)
• State Home Department (GAD) Attestation: (Mandatory, as SDM attestation is usually not accepted for non-Hague countries)
• Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Attestation: After State Home Department attestation, the MEA attests the document.
• Embassy Attestation: The final step involves getting the document attested by the respective Embassy or Consulate of your destination country in India. This is crucial for the document to be accepted in non-Hague nations.
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) – Destination Country (Optional but Recommended): In some cases, after embassy attestation, the document may require a final stamp from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the destination country. Our team can advise if this step is necessary for your specific requirements.

The Attestation Process for Bangalore-Issued Marriage Certificates:

For marriage certificates issued in Bangalore, Karnataka, the attestation typically follows these steps:

• Notary Attestation (Bangalore): The initial verification by a local Public Notary in Bangalore, confirming the document’s authenticity.
• Home Department Attestation (Karnataka): The document is then authenticated by the State Home Department, General Administration Department (GAD), or Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) in Karnataka. This step validates the certificate at the state level.
• MEA (Ministry of External Affairs) Attestation (Delhi): The Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, provides the central government’s final attestation, making the document valid nationwide.
• Embassy Attestation (Delhi): For non-Hague countries, the certificate receives legalization from the Embassy or Consulate of your destination country, typically located in New Delhi.
• MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) Attestation (Destination Country): In some cases, especially for Middle Eastern countries, the final attestation is completed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the destination country.