Define Attestation in simple words.
Attestation is done to authenticate a document. It is evidence that let the foreign country know that the document is verified by authorities. There are mainly three authorities involved in the attestation of documents for the Hague nations. These are Notary, SDM/State, and Ministry of External Affairs.
When a degree certificate is attested then the other countries come to know that all the details such as name, marks, year, and all other important information are accurate. Attestation makes a document legal and valid. After attestation, a document is ready to use in a foreign country.
Why does a person require degree certificate attestation?
There are many reasons that require degree certificate attestation. These are as follows:
- A person who wants to apply for higher studies.
- An applicant who wishes to get a permanent resident visa.
- For business purpose visa
- Any person who wants to apply for a work visa.
Is attestation of a degree certificate a simple procedure or need expertise?
Yes, the attestation of a degree certificate needs expertise as there are four authorities involved. The authorities will check the documents thoroughly, so the documents should contain the correct details. Let’s see the complete apostille procedure that is needed to be done for the attestation of a degree certificate:
- Notary Attestation: This is the first and basic step for attestation of the degree certificate. Here the documents are carefully checked by a notary. When the verification of documents is done then the notary attests to the certificate by placing a stamp and signature on the documents.
- State/SDM Attestation: Further, the birth certificate is attested by SDM or State. Both authorities will verify the details with utmost care. When they will feel satisfied with the information given then the documents will be attested.
The only difference in the attestation of both authorities is the time taken to accomplish the attestation process. At the state level, the attestation is completed in three to four weeks. On the other side, the same work at SDM is finished in three to five days. At the state level due to the heavy rush of applications, more time is taken
It is better to select SDM attestation rather than State attestation. However, if the country has mandatorily asked for state attestation then, a person has to go ahead with state attestation only.
- Ministry of External Affairs: The next step in the attestation of the birth certificate is presenting documents to the Ministry of External Affairs. This is a very important step of attestation. In this, the documents are examined with every detail kept in mind. When the documents are found real and all the information correct then the attestation is done by MEA.
An apostille stamp is placed on the backside of the certificate. This stamp certifies that the information is correct and the document is legal. There is also a unique number on the certificate that helps the foreign country to check the information.
- Embassy Attestation: This is the last and final step for all the countries that are not a part of the Hague Nations. In this step, the documents are presented to the Embassy for attestation. A signature and stamp are placed on the documents after the details are found correct and true.
What all documents does a person require for attestation of a degree certificate?
There are some documents needed to get the attestation of a degree certificate. All these are essential at the time of attestation. Let’s see the documents:
- Major Documents
- Original Degree Certificate
- Supporting Documents
- A photocopy of the passport
- A photocopy of the Aadhar Card
- A photocopy of the License
Is there any validity of attested certificates?
The attested documents are valid for a period of six months. However, there are a few countries that take the attested certificates that are more than six months old or even a year old. So, the agency that you have hired can tell the document’s validity after analyzing the documents.
FAQ
Can I get the attestation of the degree certificate myself?
This was possible before 2012, but now a person needs to get an apostille service for attestation of a degree certificate. Before 2012, the person can go and get the attestation done themselves. But, this leads to a huge rush there. So, now only the apostille service provider can go and get the attestation done for the documents.
How long does it take to get the degree certificate attestation?
The time that is taken generally for the degree certificate attestation is ten to twelve days. However, it may vary from one state to another or country to country. In case the documents are more or there is a rush at the attestation authorities then the time might extend from the standard time.
Any sort of uncertainty may also increase the time. An apostille service can guide you about the exact time frame when you will contact them. It is important to hire a service provider who has complete knowledge of the work to avoid any delays.
What all expenses a person has to pay to get the attestation of a degree certificate?
A person has to pay a few expenses to get the attestation of a degree certificate. This depends on the charges of the apostille service that is hired. Also, there are many authorities involved in the attestation process, so the amount also depends on the fees charged by them.
Moreover, the embassy fees and all small expenses are also added to the attestation of the degree certificate. To know, the exact amount that a person has to pay for attestation, register here and know all the details.
Is Embassy attestation essential for all countries’ documents?
The answer is partial yes and partial no. Embassy attestation is essential for the countries that are not a part of the Hague nations or for the countries that have specifically asked for Embassy attestation.
For Hague Nations
- Notary + SDM/State + Ministry of External Affairs
For Non-Hague Nations
- Notary + SDM/State + Ministry of External Affairs + Embassy Attestation