Getting your Indian documents legalised

An apostille is a square sticker or stamp issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) certifying that a document, signature or seal is genuine. Because both India and the Republic of Korea are Hague Convention members, an apostilled Indian document is accepted in Korea without further consular legalisation.

• When the guideline marks a document as requiring apostille or consular confirmation
• Typically: degree certificates, transcripts, birth certificate, and sometimes parent nationality proof
• Notarised copies are usually accepted only where the guideline explicitly allows them
• Documents issued in a language other than English or Korean must also be translated and certified

The exact list of apostille-required documents changes between cycles and between the two tracks. Read the checklist annotation in your guideline before spending money.

1. 1

   Obtain the original document

   From your university, board or municipal authority. Photocopies alone cannot be apostilled in most states.

2. 2

   Authentication by the state / issuing department

   Educational documents go through the State HRD or Education Department; personal documents such as birth certificates go through the Home Department or GAD (SDM route in Delhi).

3. 3

   Submission through an MEA-authorised agent

   Since 2012 the MEA does not accept documents directly from individuals; use an MEA-outsourced service centre or authorised agent.

4. 4

   MEA apostille

   The MEA affixes the apostille sticker with a unique number that can be verified online.

5. 5

   Translation if required

   Get an English or Korean translation certified after apostille, keeping the apostille visible in the scan.

Budget six to eight weeks for the whole chain, not two. State-level delays are the most common reason Indian applicants miss the Embassy submission deadline.