Apostille Certificate in Pune

Introduction

If you are someone who is thinking of moving abroad and wants to get their documents Apostilled then you don’t need to go anywhere. The team of lawyers at Lawtendo will guide you through the procedure of getting your documents apostilled in Pune. 

What are the types of authentication of documents available in Pune?

1. Normal Authentication: It is the type of authentication available where the foreign country is not a party to the Hague Convention (which has been discussed in further detail)
2. Apostille: It is used where both countries are signatories to the Hague Convention (discussed in detail

Thus, these are the types of authentication of documents available to a person in Pune. They may adopt any one of these as per their requirements.

What is an Apostille Certificate?

In simple words, an Apostille Certificate is used to verify the origin of the legal documents of an individual ranging from birth certificates, marriage certificates, educational documents, death certificates, power of attorney, divorce decrees, application of patents, contracts,  etc. 

Validation of the legal documents is a must and if you want to get them validated in an altogether different country then you require an Apostille Certification in Pune for this purpose. Therefore, in order to get any public document used in a foreign country the document should be authenticated and there an Apostille Certificate comes into play. 

When an Apostille Certificate is required in Pune?

The Hague Convention of 5 October 1961 legalises the use of the foreign documents and makes the use of the Apostille Certificate all over the countries that are members of the above convention. In the year 2005, India became a member of the Hague Convention and since then we have been  using the Apostille Certificate to authenticate our documents. If the below mentioned criteria are met then a person is definitely required to have an Apostille Certificate. The criteria run as;

1. The country that issued the document is a party to the Hague Convention and the country at the same time accepts the document to be an official document
2. The country where the document is presented/used is also a party to the Hague Convention
3. Lastly, the country in which the Apostille Certificate is required/presented/used should ask for it. 

Thus, these are the criteria required to be fulfilled in order to be eligible to obtain an Apostille Certificate. However, if the country where the Apostille Certificate is to be used has explicitly exempted the requirement to have such a Certificate. 

What are the documents necessary for getting an Apostille Certificate in Pune?

As such there is no straight jacket formula to jot down the required documents. The only document required to get an Apostille Certificate is the official document for which the Apostille Certificate is required. 

What is the procedure to get the Apostille Certificate in Pune?

The Ministry of External Affairs has centralised the procedure for obtaining an Apostille Certificate in Pune. There are two ways in which an Apostille Certificate can be obtained in Pune. These runs as:

1. E- Sanad: E-Sanad is a type of online verification program run by the Minisitry of External Affairs in order to make obtaining an Apostille Certificate easier, faceless, cashless, and in a timely manner. This procedure is applicable where the Online depository of the legal document is available. This process was started with the CBSE records now it has become applicable to all the documents whose depository is available online. After affixing the Apostille Stamp the government dispatches the document by speed post to its receiver. A person in Pune can obtain an Apostille Certificate through E-Sanad. 
2. Documents not covered under E- Sanad: The documents whose online repository is not available are required to present their application for authentication to the Regional Authentication Centers. The second step in the procedure to obtain an Apostille Certificate in Pune is the deposit of the authenticated document to the Outsourced Service Provider and thereby receiving the Apostilled document from the Outsourced Service Provider. 

Thus, by the following steps, a person may obtain an Apostille Certificate in Pune. 

Which are the Regional Services Centers in Pune?

There are three regional service centers in Pune for the purpose of authentication of documents. 

1. Personal Documents: For the purpose of authentication of the personal documents in Pune the General Administration Department of State is the regional service center.
2. Commercial Documents: For the purpose of authentication of the commercial documents in Pune the Chambers of Commerce is the regional service center.
3. Educational Documents: For the purpose of authentication of the educational documents in Pune the Educational Department of State is the regional service center.

These are the authorised Regional Service Centers in Pune that will authenticate the respective documents. 

What is the cost of Attestation in Pune?

1. Normal Authentication: The Normal Authentication of the document requires no fees. 
2. Apostille Certificate: The fee for an Apostille Document is Rs 50 and the fee of Rs 90 is charged by the Outsourced Service Provider per document for the collection and the delivery of the Apostilled Document in Pune and Rs 3 each page as Scanning Fees. 

This is the amount of the fees charged for the authentication of documents in Pune. 

Frequnetly Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: What is an Apostille Certificate?

Ans: An Apostille Certificate in Pune is a form of authentication for legal documents issued in one country and intended for use in a foreign country.

Q2: Can an Apostille Certificate be granted Online?

Ans: Yes, with the assistance of e-Sanad, it is now possible to obtain an Apostille Certificate online.

Q3: What is the time limit to get an Apostille Certificate in Pune?

Ans: With the e-Sanad process, obtaining an Apostille Certificate typically takes around 3-4 weeks in Pune.

Q4: Can an Apostille be used in a non-member country of the Hague Convention?

Ans: No, in such cases, the normal authentication process for legal documents will be followed instead of issuing an Apostille Certificate.

Q5: How many countries are signatories to the Hague Convention?

Ans: More than 100 countries, including India, are signatories to the Hague Convention.

Q6: What types of documents can be apostilled in Pune?

Ans: Various types of documents can be apostilled in Pune, including educational certificates, birth certificates, marriage certificates, affidavits, power of attorney, court judgments, and commercial documents, among others.

Q7: Is there a specific authority responsible for issuing apostille certificates in Pune?

Ans: Yes, apostille certificates in Pune are typically issued by the State Home Department or the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) office, depending on the type of document and the jurisdiction.

Q8: Are there any specific requirements for apostilling educational certificates in Pune?

Ans: Yes, educational certificates such as degrees, diplomas, and transcripts may require verification or authentication from the respective educational institutions or boards before apostille in Pune. It is essential to ensure that the documents are genuine and duly verified before the apostille process.

Q9: Can commercial or business documents be apostilled in Pune?

Ans: Yes, commercial or business documents such as company registrations, partnership deeds, export/import documents, and financial statements can be apostilled in Pune. These documents may require verification or certification from relevant authorities before apostille.

Q10: Is it possible to expedite the apostille process for urgent requirements in Pune?

Ans: Yes, some authorities in Pune may offer expedited or fast-track services for urgent apostille requirements, subject to additional fees and conditions. It is advisable to inquire about expedited services at the time of application.

Q11: Can apostille certificates issued in Pune be used for all types of transactions and purposes?

Ans: Yes, apostille certificates issued in Pune are generally accepted for various transactions and purposes, including employment, education, immigration, business, legal matters, and more. However, it is essential to verify specific requirements with the concerned authorities or institutions.

Q12: Are there any restrictions on the validity of apostille certificates issued in Pune?

Ans: Apostille certificates issued in Pune are typically valid indefinitely, as long as the underlying document remains valid and unaltered. However, it is advisable to confirm the precise validity requirements with the authorities or institutions in the destination country.

Q13: Can documents in languages other than English be apostilled in Pune?

Ans: Yes, documents in languages other than English can be apostilled in Pune. However, they may need to be translated into English by a certified translator before apostille, depending on the requirements of the receiving country.

Q14: Is it necessary to notarize documents before apostilling them in Pune?

Ans: Notarization of documents may not always be necessary before apostille in Pune. However, certain documents may require notarization or attestation by a notary public or gazetted officer before they can be apostilled. It is advisable to check the specific requirements for each document.

Q15: Can I apostille documents issued by foreign authorities or institutions in Pune?

Ans: Yes, documents issued by foreign authorities or institutions can be apostilled in Pune, provided they are duly verified, authenticated, or legalized by the relevant authorities in the issuing country. Additional requirements may apply depending on the nature of the document and the country of issuance.