Document Requirements

What You Send to Veritas —
What We Handle

You courier the original; we handle the authorities and ship it back. What "the original" has to be, and what has to travel with it, differs by service line — so both are set out below.

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India-issued · for use abroad

Documents Issued in India

For the MEA apostille via the SDM route. Processing is 3–7 working days once the document reaches us, at ₹2,100 per document with government fees included at cost.

The original document

Not a photocopy and not a scan. Where the issuing authority provides a certified copy, that works — but a plain photocopy cannot be apostilled. Government-issued certificates go straight to the SDM.

A passport copy of the document holder

Photo and address pages. The name on the document must match the passport. If the two already differ, tell us before you courier — the apostille cannot bridge a mismatch, and fixing it afterwards means a second full run.

Notarisation first, for private documents

Affidavits, powers of attorney, employer and experience letters, medical certificates from private practitioners, and certified ID copies must be attested by a Notary Public before the SDM will act. Bring stamp paper of the value your state requires.

The destination country in writing

An apostille is only valid for Hague Convention countries, and some receiving authorities specifically require State Home Department attestation rather than the SDM. Tell us where it is going and we will confirm the route before submitting.

Nothing laminated

The SDM stamp and the MEA sticker are physically affixed. A laminated document has to be replaced before it can be apostilled, and no office will peel it.

An authorisation letter, if you are abroad

If a relative is handing the documents over or collecting them back, send a short signed letter naming them plus ID copies for both of you. No stamp paper, no notary — we publish a format for it.

Requirements vary a little by document — a divorce decree needs the court seal, a degree needs the university route.See the exact requirements for your document, or send photos on WhatsApp and we will check them free before anything is couriered.

US-issued · for use in India

Documents Issued in the United States

For the US apostille, couriered to our US address and shipped back to you in India.

Original FBI Identity History Summary

Required

The physical document you received from the FBI (via mail or channeler). This must be the original — not a photocopy, not a scanned printout. It will be returned to you with the apostille attached.

Can be any year — the FBI PCC can be apostilled regardless of when it was issued.

Your name and India return address

Required

Write this clearly on paper or include a note in the envelope. We'll ship the apostilled document back to this address in India.

WhatsApp the same to us so we can confirm receipt.

A note with your WhatsApp number

Optional

So we can confirm when your document arrives and send you a photo before shipping it back. Highly recommended.

Do NOT send:

  • ×Photocopies or printed scans of the FBI PCC
  • ×Your passport or any other identity document (we don't need it)
  • ×Payment in cash or physical check — we invoice via WhatsApp
We Handle

What Veritas Does After We Receive It

1

Document inspection

We verify your FBI PCC is original and complete before proceeding. If something looks off, we contact you on WhatsApp before taking any action.

2

Notarization

A notary signs an affidavit attesting to the document's authenticity. This is required before submitting to the US Dept of State.

3

US Dept of State submission

We physically walk the document into the US Dept of State office in Washington DC (600 19th St NW). No mailing — personal drop-off for fastest turnaround.

4

Apostille attached

The US Dept of State issues a physical apostille certificate and attaches it to your original document. We photograph this and send you an update.

5

Express shipping to India

We ship the apostilled original via express courier to your India address. ~3 business days transit. Tracking number shared with you.

6

Delivery confirmation

Once you receive it, confirm on WhatsApp. Your apostilled document is ready for VFS Global, IRCC, your UAE employer PRO, or whoever needs it.

Shipping Guide

How to Ship Your Document from India

Use an express courier — not regular post

An express courier is trackable, fast (3 business days), and handles document-only shipments well. Avoid India Post or other untracked services for original documents.

Select 'Documents' as shipment type

At the courier counter, declare it as documents. No customs duty applies to documents.

Declare value accurately

Most customers declare ₹500–₹1,000 or per your courier's guidance. This doesn't affect delivery but affects the shipping invoice.

Use a padded envelope or stiff cardboard

Slide the FBI PCC between two pieces of stiff card to prevent creasing. A creased or bent apostille page causes problems at the US Dept of State.

WhatsApp us your tracking number

As soon as you've shipped, send us the tracking number on WhatsApp. We'll monitor the delivery and confirm once received.

Return shipping (optional add-on): We ship the apostilled document back to your India address by express courier. Shipping is quoted upfront before you pay — just ask us on WhatsApp and we'll confirm the exact cost for your address.

FBI Apostille Document Checklist (free PDF)

Everything on this page as a printable one-page PDF — tick each box before you courier, and nothing bounces.

FAQ

Document Requirements FAQ

Do I need to notarize my FBI PCC before sending it to you?
No — we handle notarization here in the US. Your only job is to courier us the original FBI Identity History Summary. We do the notarization and US Dept of State submission on our end.
What if my FBI PCC is 2 years old? Can it still be apostilled?
An apostille can be applied to a document regardless of when it was issued. However, the receiving country (India's VFS Global, Canada's IRCC, UAE, etc.) may have their own freshness requirements. OCI via VFS typically wants a PCC obtained after the most recent 12 months. We recommend getting a fresh FBI PCC if possible.
My FBI PCC arrived with multiple pages. Do I send all of them?
Yes — send all pages as they arrived from the FBI. The apostille is attached to the document set, so the complete set must be present. Never separate the pages.
What if I don't have the original — only a copy?
US Dept of State can only apostille original documents. Photocopies and PDFs cannot be apostilled. If you've lost the original, you'll need to request a new FBI Identity History Summary from the FBI (via a channeler).
How do I send my document securely from India?
Use an express courier — it's trackable, reliable, and has a good record for document delivery between India and the US. Write 'Personal Documents' as contents and declare value at ₹500 or per your courier's guidance. Avoid India Post for valuable original documents.

Ready to Send Your Document?

WhatsApp us first — we'll confirm your document is ready and give you our US mailing address.

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