Document Apostille from India
Apostille is an official authentication issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in India that certifies the legitimacy of your documents for use in Finland and all other Hague Convention countries. If you are applying for a visa, residence permit, employment, business setup, family reunification, or education abroad, apostille is mandatory to ensure that your Indian documents are accepted internationally without further legalization.
Fin Global Visas helps you complete the apostille process smoothly, ensuring your documents meet all international requirements.
Who Needs Apostille?
Apostille is required for applicants submitting Indian documents to Finnish authorities, including individuals applying for residence permits, students applying for educational programs, spouses and children applying for family reunification, employees seeking work permits, entrepreneurs applying for business permits, and anyone submitting legal or civil documents to Finland. The apostille confirms that the submitted document is genuine, originally issued by a recognized authority in India, and legally valid for use in Finland.
Birth Certificate
A birth certificate from a Municipal Corporation or authorized department must be apostilled for student residence permits, family reunification cases, or long-term residency procedures. Only original and accurate documents can be apostilled.
Marriage Certificate
A marriage certificate is required for spouse visas, family reunification, and long-term residency applications. It must be issued by a government registrar and apostilled before being submitted to Finnish authorities.
How Apostille Works in India
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) processes apostille in India. After verification and notarization (if needed), the document is submitted to MEA for the apostille stamp. Once apostilled, it is valid in Finland without any further legalisation.
List of Documents That Require Apostille
Birth Certificate
Student residence permits
Family reunification cases
Long-term residency and citizenship processes
Marriage Certificate
Spouse visa
Family reunification
Long-term residency applications
Police Clearance Certificate
Work permits
Business permits
Long-term residency
Important to know
Preparation
It is important to ensure that all documents requiring apostille are original, valid, and correctly issued before beginning the apostille process. Preparing a complete and accurate set of documents helps avoid delays and prevents rejections from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Properly verified and well-organized documents also make your visa or residence permit application smoother when submitting them to Finnish authorities.
Limitations
Not all documents can be apostilled. Only documents issued by recognized Indian authorities—such as government departments, universities, courts, or registrars—are eligible for apostille. Photocopies, improperly issued certificates, or digitally altered documents cannot be apostilled. If a document is damaged, incomplete, or contains incorrect information, the MEA may refuse to process it.
Verification
To complete the apostille process, you must provide clear and authentic documents that can be easily verified by government departments in India. This may include birth certificates, marriage certificates, PCC, educational degrees, or legal documents. Each document must be verified by the issuing authority and notarized if required before MEA can apply the apostille stamp.
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