How a marriage certificate from Kochi is apostilled
Check with the issuer. The marriage certificate issued by the registrar is authenticated by the state Home Department or the department MEA designates, before the MEA step.
State authentication in Kerala. MEA's list of designated signing authorities names the Home Department, Government Secretariat, Thiruvananthapuram for personal documents from Kerala.
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 marriage 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 marriage registration certificate
- Passport copies of both spouses
- A joint photograph if the receiving country asks for one
Common reasons for delay
A religious or ceremony certificate is not a substitute for the registrar's certificate
Names must match the passports of both spouses
Collection from Kochi
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: Marriage certificate apostille — all cities · How apostille works.
Frequently asked questions
Who authenticates a marriage certificate issued in Kochi before the apostille?
The Home Department, Government Secretariat, Thiruvananthapuram. That is the authority MEA lists for personal documents from Kerala; MEA then adds the apostille.
I no longer live in Kerala. Can I still get my marriage certificate apostilled?
Yes. The state step depends on where the document was issued, not where you live now, so a marriage certificate from Kochi goes through Kerala 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.