Can Apostille Be Done Online in Bangalore?

Digitalization​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ of government services has led to many people in Bangalore asking if apostille can be done online. An apostille is a compulsory document legalization step for countries that are members of the Hague Convention, and it is generally required for education, employment, immigration, or business purposes. Although some sections of the process have been transferred online, the whole apostille procedure in Bangalore is not entirely ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌digital.

Understanding the Apostille Process in Bangalore

In​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ India, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is the only body that can provide people with apostille services. It is in fact, the apostille sticker physically affixed on the original documents, thus the last step entails submission of hard copies. People in Bangalore don't have to make a trip to New Delhi as their documents are picked up locally and sent to the MEA-authorized centers for ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌apostille.

This​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ is typically a process of verifying papers, getting them notarized (if necessary), authenticating at the state level (in case of some documents), and lastly, the MEA ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌apostille.

What Part of Apostille Can Be Done Online? 

Although apostille cannot be completed entirely online in Bangalore, some steps are digital:

• Online appointment booking for document submission (in certain cases)
• Digital tracking of application status
• Online consultation and document review by service providers
• Online payment options

However, physical submission of original documents remains mandatory, as the apostille is a tangible sticker issued by the MEA.

Why Apostille Cannot Be Fully Online 

Apostille​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ is a process by which original documents are verified and a physical apostille sticker with a unique identification number is issued. This process safeguards the genuineness of documents and avoids misuse or duplication. Due to such a stipulation, it is currently not possible to get the apostille service in Bangalore fully ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌online.

How Bangalore Residents Can Apply Conveniently 

Applicants​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ in Bangalore have the option to either self-apply with the help of authorized channels or go through professional document legalization agencies that take care of the whole process of collecting, verifying, and submitting the documents. Several agencies of apostille services in Bangalore provide the facility of door-to-door pickup and delivery, which reduces the number of times one has to visit the office personally and at the same time, stay compliant with the MEA ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌requirements.

Common Documents Apostilled in Bangalore

Documents frequently submitted for apostille in Bangalore include:

• Birth certificates
• Marriage certificates
• Degree and diploma certificates
• Police Clearance Certificates (PCC)
• Commercial documents such as invoices, MOA, and AOA

The exact process and verification requirements may vary depending on the document type. For example apostille marriage certificate process may differ from commercial documents.

Final Thoughts

In​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ short, one cannot entirely apostille online in Bangalore but the process only now with partial online support has somewhat been made more convenient. It is still a must to do physical verification and submission of original documents for a valid MEA apostille. Applicants should be clear about the document requirements beforehand to save their work from being delayed or ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌rejected.