How do I apostille an Indian degree certificate?

I would also be careful about using old blog posts for this. I found several websites describing procedures and fees that didn't match the current MEA information.

MEA's 2025 Citizen's Charter says the MEA charge for an apostille is ₹50 per document, with separate service charges depending on whether the submission is through e-Sanad or an outsourced agency. It also says the apostille is usually completed within 7 working days after receipt by the MEA.

That doesn't mean the entire process takes seven working days because the state-level pre-authentication happens before MEA receives the document.

If you're outside India, I'd have someone in India confirm the current procedure with the relevant state authentication authority. The receiving country or organization can also have its own requirements, so confirm whether they want the original degree certificate, a particular certified copy, or any additional verification.

Requirements and processing arrangements can change, so I'd verify the current instructions before sending your original.

I had my postgraduate degree apostilled for use in Germany, and my experience was a little different because my university documents were eligible for an electronic verification route.

The process depends quite a bit on the issuing university and state, so I wouldn't rely on someone's exact list of steps from another state.

The general principle is the same, though. MEA distinguishes between the pre-authentication of the educational document and the actual apostille. Its published procedure says educational documents should first be authenticated by the designated Education Department of the State/UT before being submitted for apostille.

One thing I'd also check with the organization requesting your degree. They may be asking for an apostille specifically, or they may actually require a separate credential evaluation or verification report as well.

An apostille authenticates the document/signature for international use; it isn't the same thing as an assessment of whether your degree is equivalent to a qualification in another country.

I went through something similar with my engineering degree from a university in Andhra Pradesh.

The biggest thing I learned is that MEA apostille is not normally the first step. The educational document needs to be pre-authenticated by the designated authority before it can be submitted for apostille. MEA's published guidance says educational documents should first be authenticated by the Education Department of the relevant State/UT.

In my case, I had my family handle the initial authentication in India because I was already overseas. After that, the document was submitted for the MEA apostille.

I would first check the current requirements for the state where your degree was issued rather than assuming the procedure is identical across India.

Also check whether your particular document can go through e-Sanad. MEA's current Citizen's Charter says e-Sanad is available only for documents for which the relevant State/UT pre-authentication is integrated with the system.