How a degree certificate from Seawoods Darave is apostilled
Check with the issuer. The degree is first checked with the university that issued it, then authenticated by the state education authority.
State authentication in Maharashtra. MEA's list of designated signing authorities names the Higher & Technical Education Department (medical degrees: Medical Education & Drugs Department; ITI/skill certificates: Skill Development Department), Mantralaya, Mumbai for educational documents from Maharashtra.
MEA apostille. MEA adds its apostille to the original. MEA does not accept documents directly from individuals — they are submitted through MEA's authorised outsourcing agencies or a facilitation service like ours.
Return. The apostilled degree certificate is couriered back to you.
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). Source: MEA list of designated signing authorities (Aug 2024).
Where the apostille is accepted
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.
What to send
- The original degree certificate
- Mark sheets or transcripts if the receiving authority also asks for them
- A photocopy of your passport (first and last page)
Common reasons for delay
Provisional certificates and photocopies are not accepted where an original degree is required
Name or date-of-birth differences between the degree and the passport need an explanation (often an affidavit)
Degrees from a university in another state are authenticated by that state, not the one you live in
Collection from Seawoods Darave
Our head office is at Andheri (West), so documents from Seawoods Darave and the rest of the Mumbai region can also be handed over in person. 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.
See also: Degree certificate apostille — all cities · How apostille works.
Frequently asked questions
Who authenticates a degree certificate issued in Seawoods Darave before the apostille?
The Higher & Technical Education Department (medical degrees: Medical Education & Drugs Department; ITI/skill certificates: Skill Development Department), Mantralaya, Mumbai. That is the authority MEA lists for educational documents from Maharashtra; MEA then adds the apostille.
I no longer live in Maharashtra. Can I still get my degree certificate apostilled?
Yes. The state step depends on where the document was issued, not where you live now, so a degree certificate from Seawoods Darave goes through Maharashtra wherever you are. We collect it from your current address.
What does MEA charge for an apostille?
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). Our service charge depends on the document and the country — ask for a quote.