Document guide
Commercial Document Attestation
For exporters, companies and professionals using Indian business documents abroad — Chamber of Commerce first, then MEA and the embassy.
Commercial documents are the paperwork of trade and business: certificates of origin, commercial invoices, packing lists, memoranda and articles of association, certificates of incorporation, board resolutions and powers of attorney. Buyers, banks, customs authorities and company registries abroad often ask for them to be attested before they will accept them.
The route differs from personal and educational documents. Instead of state HRD or Home Department verification, the first step is attestation by a Chamber of Commerce. The document then goes to the Ministry of External Affairs for an apostille or attestation and, for countries outside the Hague Convention, to that country’s embassy in New Delhi.
Requirements vary by destination and by document. Some embassies ask for commercial documents on company letterhead, signed and stamped by an authorised signatory, and some ask for a notarised copy. We check exactly what your buyer, bank or authority needs before anything is submitted.
What we need from you
- The original commercial document, signed and stamped by an authorised signatory
- Company letterhead or seal where the document requires it
- A photocopy of the document
- A copy of the authorised signatory’s ID
- An authorisation letter for submission on your behalf
Process
How commercial document attestation works
Chamber of Commerce
Attestation of the document by a recognised Chamber of Commerce.
MEA apostille or attestation
Ministry of External Affairs applies the sticker or stamp.
Embassy attestation
Only for non-Hague destinations.
MOFA
Gulf countries only, completed in the destination country.
Timelines
How long it takes
Indicative only — the issuing state is the main variable.
| Destination | Typical timeline |
|---|---|
| Apostille (Hague countries) | 5–10 working days |
| Embassy chain (non-Hague countries) | 10–20 working days |
| Gulf countries (full chain) | 12–25 working days |
Clients outside India
Apostille & Attestation from Abroad, Simply Send by Courier or Scanned Copies
Most of our clients live outside India. There is no need to travel: send your Indian documents to our New Delhi office and we handle every stamp.
Message us first
Tell us the document and destination country. We confirm exactly what to send before you courier anything.
Courier your originals
Send them to our New Delhi office by DHL, FedEx or any courier you prefer.
We handle every stamp
State verification, MEA apostille or attestation, and embassy legalisation, with an update at each stage.
Returned to you
Your completed documents are couriered back to your address anywhere in the world.
Courier charges for sending documents to us and for returning them are paid by the client.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Certificates of origin, commercial invoices, packing lists, memoranda and articles of association, certificates of incorporation, board resolutions, powers of attorney, agreements and similar company documents. Send us a copy and we will confirm the route.
The Chamber of Commerce is the first check for business documents, in the same way that state HRD or the Home Department is for educational and personal documents. The Ministry of External Affairs and the embassies expect that step to be done first.
Only for countries outside the Hague Convention, such as the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait. For Hague countries an MEA apostille is usually enough.
Yes. Many clients courier originals to our New Delhi office by DHL, FedEx or any courier, and we return them the same way once attested. Mailing and return courier costs are paid by the client.
Not sure where to start?
Send us the document and the destination country. We will reply within one working hour with the exact process, timeline and cost.