Skip Global Navigation to Main Content
  •  
Skip Breadcrumb Navigation
Skip Left Navigation
Notarial Services

Authenticate Indian Documents for Use in the United States

Indian documents can be authenticated for use overseas by the issuance of an apostille sticker at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Consular-Passport-Visa Division in New Delhi. 

Documents with apostilles from the MEA do not require authentication at the U.S. Embassy or a Consulate General; they are ready to use in the United States.

Apostille

Indian apostilles apply to public documents such as:

  • birth certificates
  • death certificates
  • marriage certificates
  • affidavits
  • powers of attorney
  • court documents
  • notarial acts
  • degrees
  • diplomas
  • matriculation and secondary level education certificates.

The first step in getting an apostille is to have your document authenticated by the state government where the document originated. 

Contact information for Indian state government offices

Documents authenticated by these authorities then need to be presented to MEA for issuance of the apostille sticker. 

Apostilles do not apply to:

  • Commercial documents
  • Customs operations documents
  • Documents executed by a diplomatic or consular agent

To authenticate these documents for use in the United States, you must:

  1. Have the document attested at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi.
  2. Make an appointment at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate for authentication.

Make an appointment here

Fees

Complete fee information is available here. If you need to authenticate a document at the Embassy or Consulate, notary fees will apply. You may pay with cash dollars, cash rupees (at the current exchange rate), demand draft or a major U.S. credit card. Personal checks are not accepted.

Location and Hours of the MEA

To receive an apostille or have documents attested, you must go in person to the MEA: 

Attestations Office
Ministry of External Affairs (CPV Division)
Patiala House, Tilak Marg (near India Gate)
New Delhi - 110 001
Tel. +91-11-2338-7931
 
The office's hours are 9:30 am - 12:00 pm, Monday through Friday for dropping off documents. You can collect finished documents between 4:00 pm and 5:00 pm.  

Questions?

Email:  acsnd@state.gov