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e-Sanad: online apostille and attestation by MEA
Last reviewed: 13 August 2026.
Quick answer: e-Sanad is the Ministry of External Affairs platform for online submission and verification of eligible Indian personal, educational and commercial documents for apostille or normal attestation. The document normally needs to be available through an integrated digital repository or issuing authority. Check whether the destination country requires an apostille, normal attestation or another legalisation route before paying.
Apostille or normal attestation?
An apostille authenticates the origin of a public document for use between countries where the Apostille Convention applies. It certifies the signature, seal and capacity of the signer; it does not certify the truth of the document's contents.
If the destination or issuing country is outside the Convention relationship, contact the receiving embassy or consulate for the required legalisation chain. Do not buy an apostille merely because an agent says every foreign application needs one.
Check whether e-Sanad can process the document
The official portal says the primary requirement is availability in a digital depository. Participating document issuing authorities are integrated in phases. CBSE documents from 2014 onwards are handled through the digital route and the portal says their physical copies are not accepted for this purpose.
For a document not available in an integrated repository, follow the current physical attestation/apostille process linked by MEA. The route may depend on the document type and issuing state or authority.
Application sequence
- Confirm the receiving country's requirement and whether the document is a public document for that purpose.
- Check the live e-Sanad list for your document issuing authority and document type.
- Register on e-Sanad and enter the issuing-record details exactly.
- Upload only the requested document and supporting records; review spellings, numbers and destination.
- Pay the amount shown in the official system and save the receipt and application ID.
- Track through the official application-status page.
- When issued, verify the apostille or attestation through the e-Register.
The document is apostilled or attested by MEA only after verification by the concerned issuing authority. A pending verification should therefore be followed up with the correct authority, not with an unauthorised agent.
Fees: verify the screen before payment
The e-Sanad FAQ reviewed for this update states an MEA fee of ₹50 per document for apostille, while normal attestation by MEA is free. It separately lists outsourced-agency and postal charges. Fees and delivery arrangements can change, so the amount displayed by the official portal at the time of application controls.
Never transfer money to a personal UPI ID for “MEA approval”. Preserve the portal receipt.
Common causes of delay or return
| Problem | Safer correction |
|---|---|
| Issuing authority not integrated | Use the physical route linked by MEA or ask the receiving body what alternative it accepts. |
| Name or document number mismatch | Correct the underlying issuing record; do not edit the certificate image. |
| Wrong service selected | Confirm apostille versus normal attestation with the foreign recipient. |
| Verification pending | Use the application ID to ask which issuing authority action is awaited. |
| Agent promises faster approval | Use only designated agencies and fees shown by MEA. |
For birth-certificate or identity mismatches involving a child's Aadhaar, see the child-record correction guide.
Complaint and record route
Use the e-Sanad contact or status channel first. State the application ID, document type, issuing authority, payment date and exact status. If a public authority's verification is stuck, ask that authority for its deficiency or action taken.
A narrow RTI can seek existing movement dates, the recorded deficiency, the authority to which verification was sent and the applicable procedure. It cannot compel a foreign government to accept the document.
Official sources
Does an apostille verify the document's contents?
No. It authenticates the origin, signature or seal and the signer's capacity, not the truth of the underlying content.
Can every Indian document be processed through e-Sanad?
Not necessarily. The issuing authority and document type must be supported by the digital route, otherwise the current physical process applies.
How do I verify an issued apostille?
Use the official e-Sanad e-Register with the apostille or attestation number.