Between India and Germany the apostille is not in force, because Germany objected to India's accession to the Convention. A document signed or issued in Germany for use in India is notarised, the notary's signature is pre-certified by the competent German court or authority, and the Embassy of India in Berlin or the relevant Consulate General then attests it. Indian registrars, banks and courts accept that attested document, subject to stamping in India where the law requires it.
- Document route
- German notary, pre-certification, then Indian mission attestation
- Time difference
- India is 3.5 hours (summer) to 4.5 hours (winter) ahead
- Treaty
- Hague Apostille Convention 1961
- Indian authority
- Ministry of External Affairs
Apostille & Attestation from Germany: how it works
Start with the purpose: a power of attorney for a property sale, an affidavit for a court, a board resolution for company filings or a German birth certificate for an Indian passport or OCI application. Each has a slightly different chain. For a private document you sign before a German Notar, who records your identity. The notary's signature is then confirmed, usually by the president of the Landgericht for that district or the authority designated by your federal state. Finally the document goes to the Indian mission that covers your state, either directly or through its outsourced service centre, with your passport copy, the fee and any form the mission specifies.
Once the attested original arrives in India, we check that the seals are complete, that the mission's attestation matches the notary's details and that the text suits the Indian office receiving it. Powers of attorney are stamped under the state stamp law within three months of arrival. Indian documents going to Germany face a separate problem: an MEA apostille is not accepted there either, and German authorities may instead ask for verification of the Indian document through the German missions in India. Ask the German office early, as verification can take weeks.
What clients in Germany should know
- German civil status documents such as birth and marriage certificates come from the Standesamt; ask for an international multilingual extract where available, which reduces translation needs in India.
- Bilingual German and English documents save time: Indian offices work in English, and a separate certified translation adds a further step to the chain.
- Commercial documents for company filings, such as a Handelsregister extract, may need pre-certification by a different authority than a notarised private signature, so confirm the route for each paper separately.
Step by step from Germany
Video consultation
A call at a time that suits Germany, after we have read your documents.
Documents signed in Germany
German notary, pre-certification, then Indian mission attestation
Work in India
Our team files, appears and follows up in India, and shares scans of everything filed.
Result and handover
Certified copies and originals are couriered to you in Germany where needed.
The full guide
This page covers what changes when you are in Germany. For the law, the documents and the step-by-step procedure, read our main page on Apostille & Attestation, or see all services for clients in Germany and the Inheritance & Documents practice area.
Questions from clients in Germany
Why do Indian officers keep asking me for an apostille from Germany?
Many forms in India are written with apostille countries in mind. When the document comes from Germany, the mission attestation replaces the apostille, and we explain this to the receiving office if needed.
How long does the German attestation route take?
It depends on the notary's availability, the pre-certifying authority and the mission's processing time. Allow several weeks overall and plan around holidays such as Christmas and Easter.
Can my parents in India get my Indian degree accepted in Germany with an apostille?
Not by apostille alone. German authorities apply their own verification or recognition procedures for Indian documents, so check the requirements of the German office or university first.