← Home

Attestation roadmap

Document attestation chain from India to your target Gulf country. Authorities, official fees, and realistic turnaround days at each step. No agent markup, no hidden surprises — links to government sources where available.

Key fact

UAE is NOT a Hague Apostille signatory. Full embassy attestation required, then MOFA attestation in UAE after document arrives.

SDM route — fastest

SDM route
Recommended
  1. 1
    Notary attestation
    Local notary
    ⏱ 1 day💰 ₹200–500
  2. 2
    SDM attestation
    Sub-Divisional Magistrate
    ⏱ 4 days💰 ₹500–1,500
  3. 3
    MEA attestation
    Ministry of External Affairs, GoI
    ⏱ 5 days💰 ₹50–500Official ↗
  4. 4
    UAE Embassy attestation
    UAE Embassy in India
    ⏱ 7 days💰 ₹4,000–6,000
  5. 5
    MOFA attestation
    UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (post-arrival)
    ⏱ 1 day💰 AED 150–250📍 After document arrives in UAE
Total time16 days
Total fees (India side)₹8,450
Alternative
HRD route
⏱ 30 days — HRD = State Education Dept. Slower than SDM but required for some states/universities.

Private agency markup (typical): ₹3,000–10,000. Going direct via SDM/MEA is the cheapest legitimate route.

Next step

Score your CV against a Gulf job →
Free ATS scan calibrated for United Arab Emirates hiring practices.
Translate ₹ CTC into a Gulf package →
Basic + housing + transport + EOSB. See what an offer is really worth.
India → UAE CV guide →
What changes between an Indian resume and a Gulf-ready CV.