When you’re planning to study, work, or move abroad, document verification is a vital step. Two commonly used processes—attestation and apostille—ensure that your documents are recognized as legitimate across international borders. But here’s the catch: each country has its own rules, authorities, and timelines.
At True Attestation, we simplify this process for you by understanding the detailed requirements of each country and ensuring hassle-free processing. In this blog, let’s explore how attestation and apostille processes vary around the world, and what you need to know before submitting your documents.
What is Attestation?
Attestation is the process of verifying the authenticity of documents like birth certificates, educational degrees, marriage certificates, power of attorney, or commercial papers by a series of government authorities. This is usually needed when you move to countries that are not members of the Hague Convention.
The Attestation Process Typically Involves:
Notary Attestation – First-level verification.
Home Department/HRD Attestation – State-level confirmation for educational documents.
MEA Attestation (Ministry of External Affairs) – Central government attestation.
Embassy Attestation – Final verification by the destination country’s embassy.
What is Apostille?
Apostille is a form of authentication accepted among countries that are part of the 1961 Hague Convention. It is a single-layer certification issued by a designated authority (in India, it’s the Ministry of External Affairs).
Key Benefits of Apostille:
No need for Embassy Attestation.
Valid across 100+ Hague Convention countries.
Faster and cheaper process.
Country-Specific Variations
Let’s dive into how the attestation and apostille process varies depending on the destination country.
1. United Arab Emirates (UAE) – Attestation Required
The UAE is not a member of the Hague Convention, so apostille is not accepted. Full embassy attestation is required.
Required Process:
Notary
HRD/Home Department
MEA Attestation
UAE Embassy Attestation
MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UAE) – optional for certain documents
Common Uses: Employment visa, education, spouse visa, business setup
2. United States of America (USA) – Apostille Accepted
The USA is a member of the Hague Convention. If your documents are apostilled in your home country, they’re accepted without embassy attestation.
Required Process:
Notary
MEA Apostille
Common Uses: Student visa, higher education, employment, green card
3. Qatar – Attestation Required
Qatar is not a signatory of the Hague Convention. Hence, full embassy attestation is necessary.
Required Process:
Notary
HRD
MEA Attestation
Qatar Embassy Attestation
Special Notes: Degree certificates must often include transcripts and university verification.
4. Germany – Apostille Accepted
Germany recognizes apostille as valid authentication for all civil, legal, and commercial documents.
Required Process:
MEA Apostille only
Tip: For Germany, document translations are often required along with notarization before apostille.
5. Saudi Arabia – Attestation Required
Saudi Arabia requires embassy attestation and does not recognize apostille.
Process:
Notary
HRD/Chamber of Commerce (for commercial docs)
MEA
Saudi Embassy Attestation
Note: For work visas, a GAMSAT or Dataflow verification may also be needed.
6. Italy – Apostille Accepted
Italy is a Hague Convention member. Apostille is sufficient and widely accepted.
Process:
MEA Apostille
Common Applications: Marriage registration, citizenship applications, academic equivalency
7. Kuwait – Attestation Required
Like the UAE, Kuwait mandates full attestation.
Required Steps:
Notary
HRD/Home Department
MEA
Kuwait Embassy Attestation
8. Australia – Apostille Accepted
Australia accepts apostilled documents for most personal and professional processes.
Required Process:
MEA Apostille
Advice: Ensure spelling and formats match Australian immigration or educational standards to avoid delays.
9. China – Attestation Required
China does not accept apostille. You’ll need full embassy attestation.
Required Process:
Notary
MEA
Chinese Embassy Attestation
Language Note: Often requires translation into Mandarin with notary seal.
10. France – Apostille Accepted
France, being a Hague Convention member, only needs apostille.
Steps:
MEA Apostille
Bonus Tip: French authorities often require document translation into French by a certified translator.
What Documents Commonly Require Attestation or Apostille?
Educational Certificates
Birth & Marriage Certificates
Commercial Invoices
Power of Attorney
Police Clearance Certificates
Medical Reports
Affidavits
Why Choose True Attestation?
✅ Experienced in handling attestation for 50+ countries
✅ Real-time courier tracking
✅ Notarization, translation, and legalization under one roof
✅ Doorstep document collection and delivery
✅ Transparent timelines and affordable pricing
Final Thoughts
Understanding how attestation and apostille requirements differ from one country to another can save you time, money, and a lot of stress. Whether you’re traveling for education, employment, or personal reasons, it’s important to follow the correct process as per your destination country.
Let True Attestation be your trusted partner. From document pickup to embassy attestation and delivery, we handle the entire process so you can focus on what matters most—your future abroad.