How to Get a Bonafide Certificate Apostilled in India?
Do you want to use your bonafide certificate abroad in countries like Spain, Netherlands, France, the USA and others? Then it must be apostilled by an Indian government agency called the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Any document that you want to use in a Hague signatory country needs an apostille; while other countries ask for attestation. A bonafide certificate confirms your enrollment in school or employment at a company. It shows your connection or association with an institute or organisation.
An apostille stamp authenticates your bonafide certificate for use in any Hague Convention country so that this certificate is recognised and accepted internationally. To get your certificate apostilled, you will need to follow a few steps, gather the necessary documents, and pay associated fees to the relevant authorities. In this guide, we’ll detail the process, requirements, and costs to help you get your Bonafide certificate apostilled fast and securely.
Who Needs an Apostille for a Bonafide Certificate?
- Students applying for higher education may be asked to present a bonafide certificate from their current university.
- Individuals seeking employment opportunities overseas will need it.
- Professionals applying for work visas or residency permits.
- People moving abroad for immigration purposes.
- Individuals submitting documents for international legal matters or verifications.
- Those applying for international internships or training programs.
- Those who want to attend conferences or meetings or are on a business trip.
Why is the Apostille Stamp Needed on a Bonafide certificate?
An Apostille is a stamp that shows a certain document is real and not forged. When you present your bonafide certificate abroad, the receiving foreign authority needs to know if it is real and not manipulated — and so it needs an apostille. This stamp is granted by the Ministry of External Affairs in India. Their stamp is needed on a Bonafide certificate to verify that the document is genuine and can be recognized internationally. It shows that your bonafide certificate meets the standards required by other countries, thus making it valid for use abroad.
What is the Cost and How Long Does it Take to Get a Bonafide Certificate Apostilled in India?
It can take 3 to 5 days to get your bonafide certificate apostilled by MEA in India. The cost ranges from 2000 to 3500 INR.
What Documents are Needed?
- The original bonafide certificate
- Clear photocopies of the bonafide certificate
- Proof of identity (Passport or Aadhaar card)
- Notary stamp (optional)
What is the Process for Getting Your Certificate Apostilled?
The first step is to gather all needed documents. The exact steps will differ spending upon the type of your bonafide certificate. If your bonafide certificate is related to education, then the process will be a little different. Similarly, if it is issued by your employer, then there will be minor changes in the process. Generally, the final apostille stamp will be granted by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) after it is first verified by other government bodies. Let’s see it in more detail.
Bonafide Certificate Issued by Educational Department
If you are a student studying in a particular university/ college/ or institute, and your bonafide certificate was granted by such an educational institution, then the process of apostille will be as follows.
- Initial verification and notarization
- HRD/ SDM verification
- MEA Apostille
Bonafide Certificate Issued by Employer.
If your bonafide certificate was issued by your employer and you need to prove your association with them, you need to follow the apostille procedure for personal documents, The process is also valid when you need to prove your connection with any institute or government body. Here’s the whole process:
- Notarization
- SDM/ State Home Department Verification
- MEA Apostille
How Do You Get Your Bonafide Apostilled Fast?
You can handle the apostille process yourself, but it can be time-consuming and complicated since you have to follow each step on your own. You’ll have to visit each department on your own like Notary Public, HRD, SDM, Home Department, and finally the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
If you want to get your bonafide certificate apostilled fast and safely, then the best way is to get apostille services for bonafide certificate. Here’s how we make things easier for you.
- We’ll collect your documents from your home.
- We’ll manage the entire apostille process, ensuring every step is completed.
- We’ll deliver an apostilled bonafide certificate back to your home anywhere in India.
