• slide
    Verification of
    Documents & Certificates
    eSanad: An initiative of Ministry of External Affairs for Online
    Attestation and Apostille of Documents
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WHAT WE DO

The project e-Sanad aims at providing a centralized platform for contactless, faceless, cashless and paperless document verification/attestation/apostille service for Indian citizens, foreigners who have obtained documents from document issuing authorities (DIAs) in India.These include all type of documents i.e personal, educational and commercial. The project is being implemented in phased manner and proposed to extend the service to Indians residing abroad. The system ensures that the foreign employers/other verification agencies get digitally verified genuine documents.

The primary requirement for the attestation/apostille through e-Sanad is the availability of the document in digital depository. The project was launched on 24th May 2017with CBSE documents depository (documents from year 2014 onwards), since then it has been adopted by various document issuing authorities (DIAs) including National Academic Depository (NAD). The NAD project being implemented by (MHRD) has been integrated with e-sanadfor enhancing the digital depository of the documents. The verification/attestation of the documents issued by the document issuing authorities (DIAs) integrated with NAD would be done online. The Physical copy of CBSE documents from year 2014 onwards would not be accepted for attestation / apostille.

The project has been developed in highly configurable mode for integration with various other depositories of the Document Issuing Authorities, Digi Locker, depositories of States/UTs. The ministry is under discussion with other Document Issuing Authority (DIAs) under State Government for integration in phased manner.The pre-requisite for integration is the availability of the digital depository of the documents with the concerned Document Issuing Authority (DIAs) such as CBSE and NAD. This service would be extended to other DIAs as per their readiness for providing the digital depository of documents issued by them.

The documents will be attested/apostilled by the Ministry of External Affairs only after the verification by the concerned DIA and the digital copy of the same will be send to applicant by speed post. The documents where digital depository is not available, would continue to be attested/apostilled as being done previously, the procedure for the same is explained at: http://mea.gov.in/apostille.htm.

Educational Documents

Educational Documents

Personal Documents

Personal Documents

Commercial Documents

Commercial Documents

HOW IT WORKS

Registration

Registration

Document Upload

Document Upload

Fee Payments

Fee Payments

Document Verification

Document Verification

SOME FACTS AND SERVICES

4

Registered Agencies

Documents

Processed documents

Documents Received Today

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)

What is e-Sanad?

e-Sanad is a project aimed at online submission/verification of documents with an ultimate object to extend contact less, cashless, faceless and paperless document attestation service for apostille and normal attestation to applicants in India (to be extended to applicants abroad in a phased manner). It is designed and developed by NIC.

Which are the documents authenticated/apostilled?

Any type of document viz personal, educational or commercial can be authenticated/apostilled using e-Sanad. The document should be available in the digital repository for getting attestation/apostille through e-Sanad.

How many offices are presently extending this service?

e-Sanad is currently operational in five passport offices and in Attestation Section, CPV Division, Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi. With further decentralization of attestation related work to other locations, it is going to be extended to entire country very soon.

Are we integrating this project with States/UTs also?

To begin with, the e-Sanad, will start with CBSE depository (for years 2014 & onwards) and verification of the CBSE documents would be done online. As regards its implementation/integration with States/UTs, the matter is being taken up with Telengana State, as a pilot project and others will be included in a phased manner.

How is the project being implemented?

The project is being implemented by NIC in coordination with CBSE, States/UTs and the Ministry of External Affairs in a phased manner. Initially only those Document Issuing Authorities(DIAs), that have digital depository of their documents(such as CBSE), are taken on board . This service would be extended to other DIAs in phased manner as and when they are capable to providing digital depository of documents issued by them.

What is an Apostille and when do I need one?

An Apostille is a certificate that authenticates the origin of a public document (e.g., a birth, marriage or death certificate, a judgment, an extract of a register or a notarial attestation). The Model Apostille Certificate is reproduced at the beginning of this brochure. Apostilles can only be issued for documents issued in one country party to the Apostille Convention and that are to be used in another country which is also a party to the Convention.

You will need an Apostille if all of the following apply:

  • The country where the document was issued is party to the Apostille Convention; and
  • The country in which the document is to be used is party to the Apostille Convention; and
  • The law of the country where the document wasissued considers it to be a public document; and
  • The country in which the document is to be used requires an Apostille in order to recognise it as a foreign public document.

An Apostille may never be used for the recognition of a document in the country here that document was issued – Apostilles are strictly for the use of public documents abroad!

An Apostille may not be required if the laws, regulations, or practice in force in the country where the public document is to be used have abolished or simplified the requirement of an Apostille, or have exempted the document from any legalisation requirement. Such simplification or exemption may also result from a treaty or other agreement that is in force between the country where the public document is to be used and the country that issued it (e.g., some other Hague Conventions exempt documents from legalisation or any analogous formality, including an Apostille).

If you have any doubts, you should ask the intended recipient of your document whether an Apostille is necessary in your particular case.

In which countries does the Apostille Convention apply?

The Apostille Convention only applies if both the country where the public document was issued and the country where the public document is to be used are parties to the Convention. A comprehensive and updated list of the countries where the Apostille Convention applies, or will soon apply, is available in the Apostille Section of the Hague Conference website – look for the link entitled Status table of the Apostille Convention.

The Status table of the Apostille Convention has two parts: the first part lists countries that have joined the Apostille Convention and are also Members of the Hague Conference (i.e., the Organisation that developed the Convention); the second part lists countries that have joined the Apostille Convention but are not Members of the Hague Conference. In other words, a country does not need to be a Member of the Hague Conference to be party to the Apostille Convention.

When checking the Status table of the Apostille Convention, always keep the following in mind:

  • Check if both the country where the public document was issued and the country where the document is to be used are listed in either part of the Status table.
  • It does not matter whether a country appears in the first or the second part of the Status table – the Convention applies equally to Members and non-Members of the Organisation.
  • Check the date of entry into force of the Convention for both countries. Look for the column entitled ‘EIF’ – only after that date can the relevant country issue and receive Apostilles.
  • There are different ways for a country to become a party to the Convention (ratification, accession, succession or continuation), but these differences have no impact on how the Convention operates in a country.
  • If one of the countries has acceded to the Convention, check that the other country has not objected to that accession; to find out, see the column entitled ‘Type’ next to the acceding country’s name and check if there is a link entitled ‘A**’ – if so, click on it and check whether the other country is listed.
  • Check whether the Convention applies to the entire territory of a country or only to parts of it; to find out, see if there is a link in the columns entitled ‘Ext’ and ‘Res/D/N’ – if so, click on it and read the relevant information.

What do I do if either the country where my public document was issued or the country where I need to use my public document is not a party to the Apostille Convention?

If your public document was issued or is to be used in a country where the Apostille Convention does not apply, you should contact the Embassy or a Consulate of the country where you intend to use the document in order to find out what your options are. The Permanent Bureau (Secretariat) of the Hague Conference does not provide assistance in such cases.

To which documents does the Apostille Convention apply?

The Convention only applies to public documents. Whether or not a document is a public document is determined by the law of the country in which the document was issued. Countries typically apply the Convention to a wide variety of documents. Most Apostilles are issued for documents of an administrative nature, including birth, marriage and death certificates; documents emanating from an authority or an official connected with a court, tribunal or commission; extracts from commercial registers and other registers; patents; notarial acts and notarial attestations (acknowledgments) of signatures; school, university and other academic diplomas issued by public institutions. The Apostille Convention does not apply to documents executed by diplomatic or consular agents. The Convention also excludes from its scope certain administrative documents related to commercial or customs operations.

Where do I get an Apostille?

Applicant can, however, submit and collect documents directly at the four under-mentioned Branch Secretariats of the Ministry of External Affairs. They also Attest/ Apostille documents in addition to MEA

Sl.No.

MEA Branch Secretariat

Address

1

Chennai

Ministry of External Affairs Branch Secretariat,
68, College Road, E.V.K. Sampath Maaligai,
7th Floor, Numgambakkam,
Chennai -600006.
Phone : 044-28252200044-28252200, 28251323
Email :usbs.chennai@mea.gov.in

2

Guwahati

Ministry of External Affairs Branch Secretariat
House No. 307, Beltola, Basistha Road,
Guwahati-781028.
Phone : 0361-22291550361-2229155, 2229156,
Fax : 0361-2229157
Email :hobs.guwahati@mea.gov.in

3

Hyderabad

Ministry of External Affairs Branch Secretariat
B-Block, Room No. 310-312,
Andhra Pradesh Secretariat,
Hyderabad-500022
Phone : 040-23456051040-23456051, Fax : 040-23451244
Email :hobs.hyderabad@mea.gov.in

4

Kolkata

Ministry of External Affairs Branch Secretariat
2, Ballygunge, Park Road,
Kolkata-700019
Phone : 033-22879701033-22879701, 22802686,
Fax : 033-22879703,
Email :
hobs.kolkata@mea.gov.in

Note: W.e.f. October 13, 2016, Attestation/ Apostille services have been decentralized to RPOs in Bangalore, Chandigarh, Goa, Mumbai and Trivandrum. The contact details of these RPOs and the collection centres of the four service providers in these five cities (i.e. Bangalore, Chandigarh, Goa, Mumbai and Trivandrum) can be seen here ––Click here. NORKA ROOTS, a public sector company under the Department of Non-Resident Keralite Affairs, Government of Kerala is authorized to submit documents for Attestation/Apostille by RPO, Trivandrum.

What do I need to know before requesting an Apostille?

Before you approach a Competent Authority about getting an Apostille, you should consider questions such as:

  • Does the Apostille Convention apply in both the country that issued the public document and the country where I intend to use it?
  • If the country that issued the public document has designated several Competent Authorities, which one is the relevant Competent Authority to issue an Apostille for my public document?
  • Can I get an Apostille for my public document, i.e., is my document considered a public document under the law of the country where it was issued?
  • Can I request an Apostille by mail or must I appear in person? This is particularly relevant if you are living in a country other than the country that issued your public document.
  • If I have multiple documents, will I need multiple Apostilles?
  • Are there other documents (in addition to the public document) or additional information that I need to provide to get an Apostille (e.g., a document establishing my identity or a stamped envelope in the case of requests by mail)?
  • How much does an Apostille cost and what forms of payment are available?
  • How long will it take to get the Apostille?

How much does an Apostille cost?

MEA: A fee of Rs. 50/- is payable for Apostille of each document. (W.e.f 21 December 2016, payment by means of postal orders has been discontinued.) Normal Attestation is done free of cost.

Outsourced agencies: As the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is not accepting documents directly from the applicant/individual, all documents for the purpose of Attestation/ Apostille by MEA are to be submitted and collected from the four designated outsourced agencies. The fee chargeable by the outsourced agencies per document for its collection and delivery for Apostille/normal attestation by MEA will be Rs.22/- (Personal document), Rs.18/- (Educational document) and Rs.16/- (Commercial document).

Do all Apostilles have to look exactly the same?

No. An Annex to the Apostille Convention provides a Model Apostille Certificate (which is reproduced at the beginning of this brochure). Apostilles should conform as closely as possible to this Model Certificate.

In particular, an Apostille must:

  • be identified as an Apostille; and
  • include the short version of the French title of the Convention (Convention de La Haye du 5 octobre 1961); and
  • include a box with the 10 numbered standard informational items.

An Apostille may also provide additional information. For example, an Apostille may:

  • provide extra information about the public document to which it relates;
  • recall the limited effect of an Apostille (i.e., that it only certifies the origin of the public document to which it relates);
  • provide a web-address (URL) of a register where the origin of the Apostille may be verified; or
  • specify that the Apostille is not to be used in the country that issued it.

However, such additional information must be outside the box that holds the 10 numbered standard informational items.

How are Apostilles affixed to public documents?

An Apostille must be placed directly on the public document itself or on a separate attached page (called an allonge). Apostilles may be affixed by various means, including rubber stamps, self-adhesive stickers, impressed seals, etc. If an Apostille is placed on an allonge, the latter can be attached to the underlying public document by a variety of means, including glue, grommets, staples, ribbons, wax seals, etc. While all of these means are acceptable under the Convention, Competent Authorities are encouraged to use more secure methods of affixation so as to safeguard the integrity of the Apostille.

Failure to affix an Apostille in a particular manner is not a basis for refusing the Apostille.

What are the effects of an Apostille?

An Apostille only certifies the origin of the public document to which it relates: it certifies the authenticity of the signature or seal of the person or authority that signed or sealed the public document and the capacity in which this was done. An Apostille does not certify the content of the public document to which it relates.Apostilles are not grants of authority and do not give any additional weight to the content of underlying documents. An Apostille may never be used for the recognition of a document in the country where that document was issued – Apostilles are strictly for use of public documents abroad. It is up to the country where the Apostille is to be used to decide how much weight to give to the underlying public document.

Once I have an Apostille, do I need anything else to show that the signature or seal on my public document is genuine?

No. An Apostille issued by the relevant Competent Authority is all that is required to establish that a signature or seal on a public document is genuine and to establish the capacity of the person or authority that signed or sealed the public document.

If the recipient of my Apostille wants to verify my Apostille, what should I suggest?

The e-Register of Apostillie is available on e-Sanad portal at e-Register. The Competent Authority is required to keep a register in which it records the date and number of every Apostille it issues, as well as information relating to the person or authority that signed or sealed the underlying public document. Recipients may contact the Competent Authority identified on the Apostille and ask whether the information on the Apostille corresponds with the information in the register. In order to verify a particular Apostille, recipients may access the online electronic Register (e-Register). The e-Registers allow for easy online queries to verify the origin of an Apostille without Competent Authorities having to answer these queries individually by phone, e-mail or otherwise.

Can Apostilles be rejected in the country where they are to be used?

Apostilles issued in accordance with the requirements of the Convention must be recognised in the country where they are to be used. Apostilles may only be rejected if and when:

  • their origin cannot be verified (i.e., if and when the particulars on the Apostille do not correspond with those in the register kept by the Competent Authority that allegedly issued the Apostille); or
  • their formal elements differ radically from the Model Certificate annexed to the Convention.

While an Apostille should conform as closely as possible to the Model Certificate annexed to the Convention, in practice Apostilles issued by different Competent Authorities vary in design, size and colour as well as in any additional elements that may be included on the Certificate. Such variations in appearance are not a basis for refusal of an Apostille. Failure to affix an Apostille to the public document in a particular manner is not a basis for refusing the Apostille. The mere fact that an Apostille has been affixed by a method that differs from the method(s) employed by the country where it is to be used is not a reason for the rejection of the Apostille. Additional text on an Apostille outside the box with the 10 numbered standard informational items is not a basis for rejection of an Apostille. ‘Apostille Certificates’ issued by countries that are not party to the Convention must be rejected in all other States as being contrary to the Convention.

What about electronic Apostilles and electronic Registers of Apostilles?

The Convention does allow Competent Authorities to issue Apostilles in electronic form (e-Apostilles) and to maintain electronic registers of Apostilles (e-Registers). Ministry of External Affair is in process of developing and implementing e-Apostilles. However, the e-Register of Apostillie is available on e-Sanad portal at e-Register

How many Document Issuing Authority(DIA) are integrated with eSanad ?

Sl.No.

Issuing Authority State

Document issuing Authority

1.

Delhi

Issuing Authority Document Type Repository Type
CBSE i (CBSE international) Educational DigiLocker
Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Commercial Self
Indo Latin American Chamber of Commerce Commercial Self

2.

Haryana

Issuing Authority Document Type Repository Type
BOARD OF SCHOOL EDUCATION HARYANA (HARYANA BOARD OF EDUCATION) Educational DigiLocker

3.

Maharashtra

Issuing Authority Document Type Repository Type
MAHARASTRA STATE BOARD OF SECONDARY AND HIGHER SECONDARY EDUCATION Educational DigiLocker

4.

Puducherry

Issuing Authority Document Type Repository Type
JAWAHARLAL INSTITUTE OF POSTGRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION & RESEARCH (JIPMER), PUDUCHERRY Educational Self
Pondicherry Univeristy, Puducherry Educational Self
Sri Balajai Vidyapeeth Mahatma Gandhi Medical College, Puducherry Educational Self
DIRECTORATE OF SCHOOL EDUCATION, PUDUCHERRY Educational Self
Registration Office Puducherry Personal Self

5.

Punjab

Issuing Authority Document Type Repository Type
PUNJAB SCHOOL EDUCATION BOARD Educational DigiLocker

6.

Tamil Nadu

Issuing Authority Document Type Repository Type
TAMIL NADU BOARD OF HIGHER SECONDARY EDUCATION Educational DigiLocker
GREATER CHENNAI CORPORATION Personal DigiLocker
Academy of Maritime Education and Training, Chennai Educational Self
Alagappa University, Alagappa Nagar, Karaikudi Educational Self
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore Educational Self
Anna University, Chennai Educational Self
Annamalai University, Annamalainagar Educational Self
B. S. Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute Of Science And Technology Educational Self
Bharath Institute of Higher Education & Research Educational Self
Bharathiar University, Coimbatore Educational Self
Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli Educational Self
Chennai Mathematical Institue, Chennai Educational Self
Chettinad Academy of Research & Education Educational Self
Directorate of Government Examinations, Tamil Nadu Educational Self
Directorate of Technical Education (DTE), Chennai Educational Self
District Collector office, Ariyalur Educational Self
District Collector office, Chengalpattu Educational Self
District Collector office, Chennai Educational Self
District Collector office, Coimbatore Educational Self
District Collector office, Cuddalore Educational Self
District Collector office, Dharmapuri Educational Self
District Collector office, Dindigul Educational Self
District Collector office, Erode Educational Self
District Collector office, Kallakurichi Educational Self
District Collector office, Kancheepuram Educational Self
District Collector office, Kanniyakumari Educational Self
District Collector office, Karur Educational Self
District Collector office, Krishnagiri Educational Self
District Collector office, Madurai Educational Self
District Collector office, Mayiladuthurai Educational Self
District Collector office, Nagapattinam Educational Self
District Collector office, Namakkal Educational Self
District Collector office, Perambalur Educational Self
District Collector office, Pudukkottai Educational Self
District Collector office, Ramanathapuram Educational Self
District Collector office, Ranipet Educational Self
District Collector office, Salem Educational Self
District Collector office, Sivaganga Educational Self
District Collector office, Tenkasi Educational Self
District Collector office, Thanjavur Educational Self
District Collector office, The Nilgiris Educational Self
District Collector office, Theni Educational Self
District Collector office, Thiruchirappalli Educational Self
District Collector office, Thoothukudi Educational Self
District Collector office, Tirunelveli Educational Self
District Collector office, Tirupathur Educational Self
District Collector office, Tiruppur Educational Self
District Collector office, Tiruvallur Educational Self
District Collector office, Tiruvannamalai Educational Self
District Collector office, Tiruvarur Educational Self
District Collector office, Vellore Educational Self
District Collector office, Villupuram Educational Self
District Collector office, Virudhunagar Educational Self
District Police office, Ariyalur Educational Self
District Police office, Krishnagiri Educational Self
District Police office, Thoothukudi Educational Self
District Police office, Tirunelveli Rural Educational Self
GREATER CHENNAI CORPORATION Educational Self
Gandhigram Rural Institute, Dindigul Educational Self
Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science, Kancheepuram Educational Self
Indian Institute of Industry Interaction Education And Research, Chennai Educational Self
Karpagam Academy of Higher Education, Coimbatore Educational Self
Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences, Coimbatore Educational Self
M.G.R. Educational and Research Institute, Chennai Educational Self
Madras University, Chennai Educational Self
Madurai Kamraj University, Madurai Educational Self
Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli Educational Self
Meenakshi Academy of Higher Education and Research, Chennai Educational Self
Mother Teresa Women''s University, Kodaikanal Educational Self
Office of The Commissioner of Municipal Administration Educational Self
Office of The Inspector General of Registration Educational Self
Periyar University, Salem Educational Self
Ponnaiyah Ramajayam Institute of Science & Technology (PRIST) Educational Self
SRM Institute of Science & Technology, Chennai Educational Self
Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences Educational Self
Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai Educational Self
St. Peter''s Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai Educational Self
TAMIL NADU Dr. J. JAYALALITHAA FISHERIES UNIVERSITY Educational Self
TAMIL NADU NATIONAL LAW UNIVERSITY Educational Self
Tamil Nadu Dr. Ambedkar Law University, Chennai Educational Self
Tamil Nadu Open University, Chennai Educational Self
Tamil Nadu Teacher Education University, Chennai Educational Self
Tamil Nadu Veterinary & Animal Sciences University Educational Self
Tamilnadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore Educational Self
Tamilnadu Physical Education and Sports University, Chennai Educational Self
The Southern India Chamber of Commerce and Industry Educational Self
The Tamil Nadu Dr. J Jayalalithaa Music & Fine Arts University Educational Self
The Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University, Chennai Educational Self
Thiruvalluvar University Educational Self
VINAYAKA MISSION'S RESEARCH FOUNDATION, SALEM Educational Self
Vel Tech Rangarajan Dr.Sagunthala R&D Institute of Science and Technology Educational Self
Vellore Institute of Technology, Chennai Educational Self
Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore Educational Self
Vels Institute of Science, Technology and Advanced Studies, Chennai Educational Self

Contact Us

GET IN TOUCH

ADDRESS

ADDRESS

esanad[dot]nic[dot]in

EMAIL

EMAIL

support[at]mea[dot]gov[dot]in

SUPPORT HELP LINE

SUPPORT HELP LINE

011 - 23088403, 23088404