Attestation of Certificates: A Guide for NRI’s

When it comes to the submission of Indian documents before a foreign authority, the certification of the said documents is mandatory. A major challenge that an NRI, PIO and OCI faces while they want to use their personal and educational documents abroad is the process of attesting these documents.

The attestation of certificates such as birth certificates, degree certificates, marriage certificates, POAs, company registration documents, invoices, agreements, etc. is done to verify the authenticity of personal and educational documents issued in one country for use in another. These are essential to meeting the requirements for foreign employers, educational institutions, and government agencies.

The attestation is essential for the following reasons:

• Attestation provides legal value to the document, ensuring that it is recognized by employers, educational institutions, and government officials.
• Attestation ensures and authenticates the background and qualifications of a person and is hence often considered an important prerequisite of visa processing.
• For the purpose of job placements and educational purposes abroad, attested professional documents and educational certificates are required.

A Quick Recap on NRI, OCI and PIO

NRI: An NRI, or Non-Resident Indian, is an individual who is an Indian citizen and retains citizenship while residing in a foreign country for work, education, or other reasons. For an individual to qualify as an NRI, they must possess an Indian passport and reside outside India for at least 182 days or more during a financial year.

PIO: A person who is a citizen of any country except Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal, China, and Afghanistan, but born in India or with Indian citizen parents or grandparents, is referred to as a PIO.

OCI: A form of permanent residency available to PIOs and their spouses, allowing them to live and work in India indefinitely. An OCI cardholder is allowed lifetime entry to India, along with the benefits of being able to own land and make other investments in the country.

Process of Certificate Attestation

1. Notarizing the document to confirm the authenticity of the signature of the NRI/POI, or OCI on the document.

2. Verification under the state home department to validate the authenticity of the document.

3. Attesting the documents under the Ministry of External Affairs, India, to certify the document for use in foreign countries.

4. Attestation of the documents under the corresponding Embassy or Consulate of the foreign country to ensure that the documents are in accordance with the legal standards of the foreign country.