Why India Requires Embassy Attestation (Not Just Apostille)
India has not signed the Hague Convention on the Legalisation of Foreign Public Documents. This means that a UK FCDO apostille alone is not sufficient for your documents to be recognised in India. An additional step — attestation by the Indian High Commission in London — is required.
For countries that are members of the Hague Convention (such as France, Germany, or the USA), a single apostille is all that is needed. For non-member countries like India, the process involves two stages of authentication.
🔎 The Two-Step Process Explained
FCDO Apostille
Your UK document is first apostilled by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. This confirms the document is genuine and issued by a recognised UK authority.
Indian High Commission Attestation
The apostilled document is then submitted to the Indian High Commission (or consulate) for attestation. This second stamp confirms that the Indian government recognises the document for use in India.
This two-step process is also referred to as "legalisation" or "consular legalisation." It applies to all types of UK documents — personal, academic, and commercial.
Note: India has been considering joining the Hague Convention for several years, but as of February 2026, it has not done so. If India does join in the future, the process would simplify to a single apostille — but for now, the full embassy attestation route is required.
Who Needs Documents Attested for India?
The UK is home to approximately 1.5 million people of Indian origin, making this one of the most commonly requested attestation routes. A wide range of people need UK documents attested for use in India.
💼 Employment & Business
- • UK citizens taking up employment in India
- • Business registration and company formation
- • Professional qualifications for Indian registration
- • Financial documents for Indian business dealings
👩👩👦👦 Family & Personal
- • Marriage registration (UK marriage recognised in India)
- • OCI holders needing UK documents recognised
- • Property transactions in India
- • Power of Attorney for Indian legal matters
🎓 Education
- • UK degrees for professional registration in India
- • Academic transcripts for Indian institutions
- • Professional certifications (medical, engineering, law)
- • Research credentials and publications
📝 Legal Documents
- • Birth certificates of UK-born children
- • Death certificates for inheritance claims
- • Divorce decrees for remarriage in India
- • Court orders and legal judgments
Step-by-Step Attestation Process
The full attestation process for India involves up to five steps, depending on the type of document. Here is a detailed breakdown of each stage.
Obtain Original Documents
Request original documents from the issuing authority. GRO birth/marriage/death certificates cost £12.50 each. ACRO police certificates cost £65. University degrees and transcripts: contact your university registrar. Always request originals — photocopies cannot be apostilled.
Solicitor or Notary Certification (If Required)
Non-public documents (copies, private documents, powers of attorney) must first be certified by a solicitor or notary public. This confirms the document is a true copy or has been properly witnessed. Cost: £15–50 per document. Public documents issued by UK authorities (GRO certificates, ACRO) can go straight to the FCDO.
FCDO Apostille
Submit documents to the FCDO for apostille. Paper apostille: £45 per document, up to 15 working days. e-Apostille: £35 per document, up to 2 working days — but only available for digitally signed documents. Even though India is not a Hague member, the FCDO apostille is still the required first step before embassy attestation.
Indian High Commission Attestation
Submit your apostilled documents to the Indian High Commission in London (or via BLS International centres). Fee varies by document type, typically £15–30 per document. Processing time: 5–10 working days. You will need to include your passport copy and a completed application form.
Collect Attested Documents
Collect your attested documents in person from the BLS centre, or receive them by post (additional postage fee applies). Check that the attestation stamp is correctly applied and legible before leaving or before your return post deadline.
💡 Important: Order Matters
The steps must be completed in order. The Indian High Commission will reject any document that has not been apostilled by the FCDO first. Solicitor certification (Step 2) must come before the FCDO apostille (Step 3), not after.
Indian High Commission London — Practical Info
The Indian High Commission in London handles consular services for Indian nationals and foreign nationals needing document attestation. However, most consular services are now outsourced to BLS International, which operates on behalf of the Indian mission.
🏢 Indian High Commission
Address:
India House, Aldwych
London WC2B 4NA
Consular Services:
Typically by appointment only
BLS International Centres:
- • London (main centre)
- • Birmingham
- • Edinburgh
BLS handles visa and consular services on behalf of Indian missions in the UK.
📋 What to Submit
Submission Requirements:
- ✓ Original document with FCDO apostille attached
- ✓ Photocopy of your passport (bio data page)
- ✓ Completed application form (available from BLS website)
- ✓ Attestation fee (check current accepted payment methods — these vary)
- ✓ Pre-paid return envelope if requesting postal return
Documents Commonly Required
The documents you need attested depend on why you need them recognised in India. Below are the most common scenarios and the specific documents required for each.
💼 Employment Visa Documents
- • Degree certificates and professional qualifications
- • Employment reference letters
- • ACRO police certificate (£65)
- • Professional registration documents (medical, engineering, etc.)
🏢 Business Visa Documents
- • Company registration certificate
- • Board resolution / letter of authorisation
- • Invitation letter from Indian company
- • Financial statements (audited accounts)
💍 Marriage & Family Documents
- • Birth certificate (GRO: £12.50)
- • Marriage certificate (GRO: £12.50)
- • Divorce decree (if applicable)
- • Certificate of No Impediment (CNI) for marriage in India
🎓 Education Documents
- • UK degree certificate
- • Academic transcripts
- • IELTS / English proficiency certificates
- • Professional course completion certificates
📝 Power of Attorney
- • Must be notarised by a UK notary public
- • Then apostilled by the FCDO
- • Then attested by the Indian High Commission
- • Special handling required — Powers of Attorney need all three steps
💡 Language Note
All documents in English are accepted by Indian authorities. Hindi translation is NOT required for most purposes. This simplifies the process compared to many other non-Hague countries where translation is mandatory.
Costs & Timelines
Below is a detailed breakdown of the costs involved at each stage of the attestation process, along with realistic timelines for both DIY and professional service routes.
💰 Cost Breakdown Per Document
| Stage | Cost | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Solicitor / Notary certification | £15–50 | 1–3 days |
| FCDO apostille (paper) | £45 | Up to 15 working days |
| FCDO e-Apostille (digital docs only) | £35 | Up to 2 working days |
| Indian High Commission attestation | £15–30 | 5–10 working days |
📈 Total Cost Comparison
DIY Route
Requires managing each step yourself, including trips to BLS International centre.
Professional Service (LegaliseNow)
We handle everything: solicitor certification, FCDO apostille, and Indian High Commission attestation.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
We see the same errors repeatedly from people attempting the India attestation process. Avoiding these pitfalls can save you weeks of delays and unnecessary expense.
❌ Mistake 1: Submitting Without FCDO Apostille
The Indian High Commission will reject any document that has not been apostilled by the FCDO first. The apostille must come before embassy attestation — never skip this step.
❌ Mistake 2: Using e-Apostille for Ineligible Documents
The FCDO e-Apostille is only available for digitally signed documents. Physical certificates (GRO certificates, degree certificates) require the standard paper apostille. Applying for the wrong type wastes time.
❌ Mistake 3: Skipping Solicitor Certification
Non-public documents (photocopies, private documents, powers of attorney) must be certified by a solicitor or notary before the FCDO will apostille them. The FCDO will reject uncertified private documents.
❌ Mistake 4: Wrong Visa Attestation Type
Different Indian visa categories require different supporting documents. Employment visa attestation requirements differ from business visa requirements. Check the specific visa category requirements before starting.
❌ Mistake 5: Forgetting Power of Attorney Special Handling
Powers of Attorney must be notarised (not just solicitor-certified), then apostilled, then attested. The notarisation step is different from solicitor certification. A notary public must witness the signing.
OCI Holders — Special Considerations
Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card holders in the UK have some specific considerations when it comes to document attestation. While OCI status provides many benefits, it does not exempt you from the attestation process for legal documents.
💳 OCI Card Holder Information:
- • OCI holders may have simpler processes for some routine documents
- • Full attestation is still required for legal documents (property, court matters, business registration)
- • Birth certificates of UK-born children of Indian origin need full attestation for Indian passport applications
- • Marriage certificates need attestation for registration of marriage in India
- • Educational documents still require the complete FCDO + High Commission route
Tip for OCI Holders: If you regularly need documents attested for India, consider using a professional service. With approximately 1.5 million people of Indian origin in the UK, demand is high and processing times at the Indian High Commission can be longer during peak periods.
Need Documents Attested for India?
We handle the entire process: solicitor certification, FCDO apostille, and Indian High Commission attestation. Professional, fast, and fully insured service from £150 per document.