Who authenticates documents from Madurai
Before MEA will apostille a document, it must carry the signature of the authority MEA designates for the state where it was issued. For Tamil Nadu these are:
| Document type | Examples | Authenticated in Tamil Nadu by |
|---|---|---|
| Educational | Degree, diploma, mark sheets | The Public (Protocol) Department, Secretariat, Chennai |
| Personal | Birth, marriage, death, PCC, affidavit, power of attorney | The Public (Foreigners-III) Department, Secretariat, Chennai |
| Commercial | Invoices, certificates of origin, company documents | A recognised Chamber of Commerce |
Source: MEA list of designated signing authorities (Aug 2024).
The process, step by step
Check. We check each document for the stamps and signatures the state office expects — the most common cause of rejection.
State or Chamber authentication by the office in the table above.
MEA apostille (or MEA attestation, for countries that are not members of the Apostille Convention). MEA does not accept documents directly from individuals — they are submitted through MEA's authorised outsourcing agencies or a facilitation service like ours.
Embassy legalisation, only for non-member countries.
Return courier to your address.
MEA's own fee is ₹50 per apostille; normal attestation by MEA is free (the authorised MEA agencies add a small service charge per document).
Apostille or attestation?
An apostille is accepted in the countries where the Apostille Convention applies with India. Three cases catch people out:
Not members — the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq, Egypt, Malaysia and others need MEA attestation followed by embassy legalisation instead.
Members where the Convention does not apply with India — Germany (it objected to India joining), China and Kosovo (India objected to them) and Pakistan (it excluded India). See Germany and China.
Recent changes — Oman, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Canada, Bangladesh and Viet Nam now take an apostille; Thailand only from 28 February 2027.
Documents from Madurai we handle
Collection from Madurai
We collect documents free of charge from your home or office anywhere in India (pickup is not available from villages), and you can follow each stage online on our process status and return courier pages.
Frequently asked questions
Which office in Tamil Nadu verifies documents before the apostille?
For educational documents, the Public (Protocol) Department, Secretariat, Chennai. For personal documents, the Public (Foreigners-III) Department, Secretariat, Chennai. Commercial documents go to a recognised Chamber of Commerce.
Do I have to visit any office in Madurai or Delhi?
No. We submit the documents to the state office and to MEA through its authorised agency, and courier them back to you.
Is the apostille accepted in every country?
Only where the Apostille Convention applies with India. Non-member countries such as the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait need MEA attestation and embassy legalisation; Germany, China, Kosovo and Pakistan are special cases.