2-5
Working Days (PHD + MEA)
124+
Hague Convention Countries
120+
Embassies & High Commisions Covered (New Delhi)
Express
Service Available (1-2 Days)
Free
Initial Document Review
Document Authentication

Apostille vs Legalisation: What You Need to Know

An apostille is an internationally recognised certificate issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of India that authenticates the origin of a public document for use in any of the 124+ member countries of the Hague Apostille Convention (1961). It confirms the signature, seal and capacity of the official who signed the document - without requiring further embassy or consulate verification.

Legalisation (also called consular legalisation or embassy attestation) is the equivalent process for countries that are not party to the Hague Convention. It involves authentication at MEA followed by attestation at the destination country's embassy or consulate in New Delhi.

For pharma and chemical exporters, both processes are regularly required for Certificate of Pharmaceutical Product (CoPP), Free Sale Certificates (FSC), Drug Master Files (DMF), WHO-GMP and GMP certificates, Manufacturing Licences, Agreements, company incorporation documents, Power of Attorney and Commercial Contracts when supplying to regulated or institutional buyers abroad.

Sumsahi Kemicals manages the complete authentication chain on your behalf - beginning with attestation through the PHD Chamber of Commerce & Industry (PHD) where required, through to Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) apostille or consular legalisation at the relevant embassy.

At a Glance

  • Apostille valid in 124+ Hague Convention countries
  • Consular legalisation for non-Hague countries
  • PHD Chamber of Commerce & Industry pre-attestation for commercial/pharma docs
  • MEA-recognised notary and document preparation
  • Typical turnaround: 2-5 working days (PHD + MEA)
  • Embassy attestation turnaround varies by country
  • Express service available for urgent requirements
  • Document pickup & delivery in Delhi NCR
  • Pan-India and international courier handling

Apostille vs Embassy Attestation

Feature Apostille Attestation
Countries 124+ Hague members Non-Hague countries
Process PHD Chamber + MEA PHD + MEA + Embassy
Typical Time 2-5 working days 5-15 working days
India joined 2005 Pre-2005 or non-members
Scope of Service

Documents We Handle

We specialise in pharmaceutical and chemical trade documents - the document types most apostille agents do not fully understand.

Pharmaceutical & Chemical Trade

  • Certificate of Pharmaceutical Product (CoPP)
  • Free Sale Certificate (FSC)
  • WHO-GMP & GMP Certificates
  • Drug Master File (DMF) support letters
  • USDMF / EU DMF documents
  • Manufacturing Licences
  • Certificate of Origin (CoO)
  • MSDS & technical dossiers
  • Agreements & Commercial Contracts

Corporate & Commercial Documents

  • Certificate of Incorporation
  • Memorandum & Articles of Association
  • Power of Attorney
  • Board resolutions
  • Authorisation letters for regulatory filings
  • Bank statements & solvency certificates
  • Company registration certificates
  • Import Export Code (IEC) documents
  • Commercial invoices & trade agreements

Educational & Personal Documents

  • Degree & academic certificates
  • Transcripts and mark sheets
  • Birth, marriage & death certificates
  • Police clearance certificates
  • Medical certificates
  • Affidavits and declarations
  • HRD-attested documents (where required)
  • Transfer certificates
How It Works

Our Process: Step by Step

A clear, managed process from first contact to authenticated documents in your hands.

1

Document Review

Free

Send us scanned copies of your documents along with the destination country and purpose. Our team reviews them to confirm they are in the correct format and condition for apostille or legalisation, identifies any pre-requirements (notarisation, HRD attestation, etc.) and provides a clear, fixed quote and timeline - no hidden charges, response within one business day.

2

Pre-Attestation

If Required

Many documents require pre-attestation before submission to MEA. For commercial and pharmaceutical trade documents (CoPP, FSC, GMP certificates, Manufacturing Licences, Agreements, Power of Attorney, Commercial Contracts), this means attestation by the PHD Chamber of Commerce & Industry (PHD). For personal and educational documents, this involves notarisation or state-level HRD/home department attestation. We coordinate all intermediate steps on your behalf - you do not need to manage multiple agencies.

3

MEA Submission

Core Step

Following PHD Chamber attestation (for commercial/pharma documents) or notarisation (for personal documents), we submit your documents directly to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), New Delhi for apostille stamping. For legalisation, this MEA attestation is the first stage before proceeding to the relevant embassy or consulate.

"The apostille certificate issued by MEA is the globally recognised mark that your document's origin and authenticity have been officially confirmed by the Government of India."
4

Embassy Legalisation

Non-Hague Only

For countries not party to the Hague Apostille Convention, post-MEA attestation at the relevant embassy or high commission in New Delhi is required. We handle the full embassy submission, follow-up and collection process. Common non-Hague destinations for Indian pharma exports include Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Malaysia - though this list changes as more countries join the Convention.

Common Non-Hague Countries

  • Saudi Arabia & Gulf States (select)
  • Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal
  • Malaysia & select SE Asian countries
  • Iraq, Iran, Yemen, Syria

Document Types Covered

  • Pharma trade documents
  • Corporate / company documents
  • Personal & educational documents
  • Commercial & trade contracts
5

Return & Delivery

Final Step

Once the apostille or legalisation stamp is affixed, your documents are returned by secure courier or in-person collection from our New Delhi office. We provide a status update at each stage so you always know exactly where your documents are.

  • In-person collection available from Janak Puri, New Delhi
  • Pan-India delivery via trusted courier partners
  • International document shipping on request
  • Digital confirmation of completion provided
Country Coverage

Embassies & High Commissions We Work With

Sumsahi Kemicals handles attestation with 120+ embassies and high commissions based in New Delhi.

Apostille or Embassy Attestation? Countries party to the Hague Convention (1961) accept the MEA apostille directly - no embassy visit required. For all other countries, attestation at the relevant embassy in New Delhi is required after MEA authentication. We confirm the correct route for your specific destination before starting. Contact us with your destination country and document type for a quick confirmation.

Important: We handle attestation exclusively through embassies and high commissions physically located in New Delhi, India.

Showing all 124 missions
Europe
38 missions
Embassy of Austria
Embassy of Belgium
Embassy of Bosnia & Herzegovina
Embassy of Finland
Embassy of France
Embassy of Georgia
Embassy of Greece
Embassy of Iceland
Embassy of Ireland
Embassy of Lithuania
Embassy of Luxembourg
Embassy of Portugal
Embassy of Romania
Embassy of Spain
Embassy of Sweden
Embassy of Ukraine
Embassy of the Czech Republic
Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany
Embassy of the Holy See
Embassy of the Kingdom of Norway
Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Embassy of the Republic of Belarus
Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria
Embassy of the Republic of Hungary
Embassy of the Republic of Latvia
Embassy of the Republic of North Macedonia
Embassy of the Republic of Poland
Embassy of the Republic of Serbia
Embassy of the Russian Federation
Embassy of the Slovak Republic
Embassy of the Swiss Confederation
Embassy of the United States of America
High Commission of Malta
High Commission of the Republic of Cyprus
High Commission of the United Kingdom
Italian Embassy
Royal Danish Embassy
Turkish Embassy
Middle East & Central Asia
14 missions
Embassy of Afghanistan
Embassy of Israel
Embassy of Lebanon
Embassy of Syria
Embassy of Tunisia
Embassy of Turkmenistan
Embassy of Uzbekistan
Embassy of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran
Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco
Embassy of the Republic of Iraq
Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Embassy of the Republic of Tajikistan
Embassy of the Republic of Yemen
Asia-Pacific
21 missions
Bangladesh High Commission
Brunei Darussalam High Commission
Embassy of Japan
Embassy of Mongolia
Embassy of Nepal
Embassy of Taiwan
Embassy of Vietnam
Embassy of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea
Embassy of the People's Republic of China
Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia
Embassy of the Republic of Korea
Embassy of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar
High Commission of Australia
High Commission of Fiji
High Commission of Maldives
High Commission of Mauritius
High Commission of New Zealand
High Commission of Sri Lanka
High Commission of the Republic of Singapore
Royal Embassy of Cambodia
Royal Thai Embassy
Americas
20 missions
Embassy of Chile
Embassy of Colombia
Embassy of Costa Rica
Embassy of Cuba
Embassy of Ecuador
Embassy of El Salvador
Embassy of Guatemala
Embassy of Guyana
Embassy of Mexico
Embassy of Panama
Embassy of Paraguay
Embassy of Peru
Embassy of Uruguay
Embassy of the Argentine Republic
Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
Embassy of the Dominican Republic
Embassy of the Plurinational State of Bolivia
Embassy of the Republic of Suriname
High Commission of Canada
High Commission of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
Africa
31 missions
Embassy of Angola
Embassy of Burkina Faso
Embassy of Burundi
Embassy of Congo (Democratic Republic)
Embassy of Congo (Republic)
Embassy of Gabon
Embassy of Guinea
Embassy of Madagascar
Embassy of Mali
Embassy of Senegal
Embassy of Somalia
Embassy of South Sudan
Embassy of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
Embassy of the Republic of Benin
Embassy of the Republic of Djibouti
Embassy of the Republic of Sudan
Embassy of the Republic of Togo
Embassy of the Republic of Zimbabwe
High Commission of Gambia
High Commission of Ghana
High Commission of Kenya
High Commission of Mozambique
High Commission of Nigeria
High Commission of Rwanda
High Commission of South Africa
High Commission of Tanzania
High Commission of Uganda
High Commission of the Kingdom of Lesotho
High Commission of the Republic of Botswana
High Commission of the Republic of Namibia
High Commission of the Republic of Zambia

Don't see your destination? We handle all countries with diplomatic representation in New Delhi. Contact us with your destination and we'll confirm the process and timeline within one business day.

Why Sumsahi

Why Use Sumsahi for Apostille & Legalisation?

Most apostille agents handle personal documents. We specialise in the pharmaceutical and chemical trade.

Pharma & Chemical Document Expertise

Our core business is the pharmaceutical and chemical trade. We understand the precise requirements for CoPP, FSC, WHO-GMP, GMP and regulatory documents - including which pre-attestation authority is required, what format buyers need and which destination markets require apostille vs full embassy legalisation.

Part of Your Broader Supply Chain

Because Sumsahi already handles sourcing, procurement, import/export and registration support for many clients, apostille and legalisation can be managed as part of the same shipment workflow. We coordinate document authentication alongside cargo movement so nothing delays your consignment.

Transparent Pricing, No Surprises

We provide a fixed quote after reviewing your documents. Our charge covers our service fee, government fees and courier - there are no surprise add-ons mid-process. Volume discounts are available for companies that require ongoing or batch apostille services.

New Delhi Location: PHD, MEA & Embassy Proximity

Our office in Janak Puri, New Delhi puts us close to the PHD Chamber of Commerce & Industry, the MEA processing centre and the embassy district. This geographic advantage means faster turnaround compared to agents who operate from other cities and must ship documents to Delhi for processing.

20+ Years of Trade Relationships

With over two decades in international pharma and chemical trade, Sumsahi Kemicals has established working relationships with the PHD Chamber, MEA offices and key embassies in New Delhi. This means faster turnaround, fewer rejections and confident navigation of document requirements across different destination markets.

End-to-End Handling - One Point of Contact

From the initial document review and pre-attestation through to MEA submission, embassy legalisation, courier and delivery confirmation - you deal with one team throughout. No chasing multiple agencies, no dropped handoffs, no delays caused by coordination gaps.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between apostille and attestation?

Apostille is a simplified single-step legalisation recognised by all 124+ Hague Convention countries. Attestation (or consular legalisation) is the multi-step process for non-Hague countries, typically involving notarisation, MEA attestation and then embassy attestation. India joined the Hague Convention in 2005.

How long does the apostille process take in India?

For documents already notarised or pre-attested by the relevant authority, PHD Chamber and MEA apostille typically takes 2-5 working days. Express processing (1-2 days) is available for urgent cases. If pre-attestation is needed, allow an additional 2-4 working days depending on the state authority involved. Embassy attestation turnaround varies by embassy - from 3 working days to several weeks for some destinations.

Does a Certificate of Pharmaceutical Product (CoPP) need apostille?

It depends on the destination country and the buyer's regulatory authority. Many national drug regulatory agencies in the Middle East, Africa and Southeast Asia require apostilled CoPPs as part of product registration or tender documentation. We advise based on your specific destination market.

Which countries require embassy attestation instead of apostille?

Countries not party to the Hague Apostille Convention require full embassy attestation after MEA. These typically include Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Malaysia and others. The list changes as countries accede to the Convention, so we always confirm the current process for your specific destination before starting work.

Can you handle apostille for documents issued in states other than Delhi?

Yes. For state-issued documents (such as educational certificates, HRD-attested documents or state commercial certificates), we coordinate pre-attestation with the relevant state authority before MEA submission. This is handled end-to-end - you send us the documents and we manage the state-to-MEA chain.

What is the authentication route for commercial/pharma trade documents?

For commercial and pharma trade documents, the standard authentication route is: PHD Chamber of Commerce & Industry (PHD) attestation first, then Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) apostille (for Hague countries), or MEA attestation followed by the relevant embassy (for non-Hague countries). We manage all three stages on your behalf.

Do you offer express or urgent apostille processing?

Yes. Express MEA apostille processing is available for urgent requirements, typically completing within 1-2 working days (subject to document readiness and current MEA workload). Express handling carries an additional service charge, which we include in your quote upfront. Contact us with your deadline and we will confirm feasibility.

Can you handle bulk or recurring apostille requirements?

Yes. Many of our clients are pharma exporters and trading companies that regularly need CoPP, FSC or GMP certificates apostilled for multiple markets. We offer volume pricing and can set up a managed process for recurring document batches - with a standard turnaround, regular status updates and fixed per-document pricing.

What documents do I need to provide to get started?

Send us scanned copies of the documents you need apostilled or legalised, along with the destination country and the intended purpose (product registration, regulatory filing, commercial transaction, etc.). We will review and respond within one business day with a process outline, required originals checklist and a fixed quote.

Need Documents Apostilled or Legalised?

Send us your documents for a free review. We'll confirm the process, timeline and cost - no commitment required. Express service available.

Based in Janak Puri, New Delhi - minutes from PHD Chamber, MEA & major embassies