MEA Attestation / Apostille
MEA Attestation / Apostille
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi is the sole authority for national-level attestation and apostille of Indian documents. Since India joined the Hague Apostille Convention in July 2023, documents destined for member countries receive an apostille, while documents for non-member countries like the UAE continue through the traditional attestation and embassy chain.
MEA processing requires that all prerequisite state-level attestations are complete. Educational documents need HRD clearance, personal documents need SDM or Home Department authentication, and commercial documents need Chamber of Commerce verification. Any gap in the chain results in immediate rejection at the MEA counter.
GreenAttest ensures your documents arrive at the MEA with every prerequisite stamp in place. We handle the submission, track progress through the MEA system, and collect the attested documents for onward processing to the UAE Embassy or direct delivery to you.
Documents Required
- Original documents with all prior attestation stamps (HRD, SDM, or Home Department)
- Passport copy of the document holder
- MEA application form (prepared by GreenAttest)
- Authorization letter for representative submission
- Covering letter specifying the destination country and purpose
Special Requirements
- • Commercial documents require prior attestation from the local Chamber of Commerce and the Ministry of Commerce before MEA will accept them.
- • Documents with corrections, overwriting, or white-out marks are rejected outright. Obtain a fresh copy from the issuing authority if your document has any alterations.
How It Works
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1GreenAttest reviews your documents to confirm all prerequisite attestations are in place.
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2We prepare the MEA application and covering letter specifying the correct attestation type.
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3Documents are submitted to the MEA office in New Delhi.
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4We track the application through the MEA online portal and handle any queries.
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5Attested or apostilled documents are collected and forwarded to the UAE Embassy or delivered to you.
Insider Tips
Insider Tips
- Opt for Tatkal (express) MEA processing if your UAE employer has set a joining deadline within 30 days. The small additional fee saves significant time and avoids last-minute stress.
- Double-check that every prerequisite stamp is present before forwarding documents for MEA submission. A single missing stamp means starting that step from scratch.
- If you need both apostille and attestation for documents going to different countries, submit them as separate batches to avoid processing confusion at the MEA.
Frequently Asked Questions
An apostille is issued for documents going to countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention. Traditional attestation is issued for non-member countries. The UAE is not a Hague member, so Indian documents for UAE use receive MEA attestation followed by UAE Embassy stamping. GreenAttest determines the correct path automatically.
Standard MEA processing takes 3-5 business days after submission. Express or Tatkal processing is available for 1-2 business days at an additional government fee. GreenAttest recommends express processing when your UAE employment or visa timeline is tight.
Yes. Common rejection reasons include missing prerequisite attestations, mismatched names between documents and passport, damaged or altered certificates, and documents from unrecognized institutions. GreenAttest pre-screens every document to catch these issues before MEA submission.
No. GreenAttest submits documents on your behalf through our authorized representatives in New Delhi. You do not need to travel to India or visit any government office during the process.
Quick Facts
- Processing Time
- 3-5 business days after HRD completion
- Pricing From
- AED 200
- Country
- India
- Delivery
- Free across the UAE
Questions About This Service?
Our specialists know India requirements inside out — call or message for free guidance.
Other India Services
Complete India Attestation Chain
End-to-end management of the full Indian attestation process: notarization, state HRD/Home Department attestation, MEA attestation, and destination embassy stamp. Covers all Indian states.
State HRD Attestation
State-level Human Resource Development department attestation for educational documents, with dedicated processing teams for every Indian state.
Doorstep Document Collection
Secure pickup of original documents from your location anywhere in India, with tamper-proof packaging, live tracking, and insured transit throughout the attestation process.
Home Department Attestation
State Home Department attestation for non-educational documents including marriage certificates, birth certificates, police clearance, and commercial documents.
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