How Indian documents are legalised for the United Arab Emirates
State or Chamber authentication in the state where the document was issued.
MEA attestation. MEA does not accept documents directly from individuals — they are submitted through MEA's authorised outsourcing agencies or a facilitation service like ours.
Legalisation by the UAE Embassy in New Delhi or the UAE Consulate in Mumbai, through the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs online service. One UAE application covers both the UAE Embassy in India and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Sources: HCCH Apostille Convention status table · MEA list of designated signing authorities (Aug 2024).
Who authenticates documents in India
The first step is always done in the state where the document was issued, by the office MEA designates. A few examples:
| State | Educational documents | Personal documents |
|---|---|---|
| Maharashtra | The Higher & Technical Education Department (medical degrees: Medical Education & Drugs Department; ITI/skill certificates: Skill Development Department), Mantralaya, Mumbai | The Home Department, Mantralaya, Mumbai |
| Gujarat | The General Administration Department (Protocol), Sachivalaya, Gandhinagar | The General Administration Department (Protocol), Sachivalaya, Gandhinagar |
| Karnataka | The Regional Commissioners (Bengaluru, Mysuru, Belagavi, Kalaburagi divisions) | The Home Department (Passport & Foreigners), Bengaluru, or the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Bengaluru |
| Kerala | The Certificate Authentication Centres of the General Education Department (Norka Roots — Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Kozhikode) | The Home Department, Government Secretariat, Thiruvananthapuram |
| Tamil Nadu | The Public (Protocol) Department, Secretariat, Chennai | The Public (Foreigners-III) Department, Secretariat, Chennai |
| Delhi | The Regional Directorates of Education, Government of NCT of Delhi | The Home (Passport) Department, Delhi Secretariat, or a Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) |
Commercial documents are authenticated by a recognised Chamber of Commerce in every state.
Documents we handle for the United Arab Emirates
Degree certificate — work visas, higher studies, professional registration and immigration
Diploma certificate — skilled-worker visas, job applications and further studies
Mark sheets (10th and 12th) — student visas, dependant visas and admission to schools or colleges abroad
Birth certificate — family and dependant visas, citizenship and residence applications, school admission and marriage abroad
Marriage certificate — spouse and family visas, residence permits and name changes abroad
Death certificate — insurance and pension claims, inheritance and property matters, and closing accounts abroad
Divorce decree — remarriage abroad, visa and immigration applications, and changes to civil records
Police clearance certificate (PCC) — work and residence visas, permanent residence and citizenship applications
Affidavit — name-change, single-status and support declarations, and visa or court requirements abroad
Power of attorney — property, bank and court matters abroad handled by someone on your behalf
Commercial documents — exports, tenders, opening branches or bank accounts abroad, and registering agents or distributors
Translation
Documents for Arabic-speaking countries are often requested with a certified Arabic translation — check with the receiving authority before starting.
Fees
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). The United Arab Emirates mission charges its own legalisation fee. Our service charge depends on the document — ask for a quote.
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
Does the United Arab Emirates accept an Indian apostille?
No. The United Arab Emirates is not a party to the Apostille Convention, so documents need MEA attestation and legalisation by the United Arab Emirates mission in India.
Where is the first step done?
In the state where the document was issued — for example a degree from a Gujarat university goes to GAD (Protocol), Gandhinagar, whatever state you live in now.
Do I have to visit any office?
No. We collect your documents, submit them at each stage and courier them back to you.