Apostille driver’s license is a procedure for getting a stamp/sticker on your driver’s license. Driver’s license apostille is issued by the MEA (Ministry of External Affairs) India, the designated authority for giving an apostille in India.
Why Should You Get An Apostille Driver’s License?
Obtaining an apostille driver’s license is required if you are seeking employment or residency in a foreign country. Also, if you wish to apply for an international driving license, then you need to get an apostille from MEA.
Specifications of An Apostille Driver’s License Explained
An apostille is a computer-generated and square-shaped stamp/sticker that includes a unique identification code. Below are the specifications of an Apostille:
- Name of the Country
- Name of the person to whom the certificate is issued
- Name of the person signing the certificate
- Date and Place of Issue
- Type of document
- Seal/Stamp of the authority providing the apostille
- Signature of the authority providing the apostille,
Documents Required To Get An Apostille on Driver’s License
Here are the documents that are essential to get an apostille driver’s license:
- Original Driving License and Its Photocopy
- Your passport’s first and last page photocopies.
What Are the Procedures for Getting an Apostille on Your Driver’s License?
These are the 4 steps that are involved in the apostille attestation process:
- Local Verification
- Notary Attestation
- State/SDM attestation
- MEA (Ministry Of External Affairs)
Let’s examine each step closely:
Local verification – In this first step, your driver’s license will be verified locally. In India, the local verification of your driver’s license is done by the officials at RTO (Regional Transport Office).
Notary Attestation – Your driver’s license will be submitted to the Notary Public Office after local verification. In Notary attestation, every detail of your driver’s license is carefully analyzed. If every detail is correct, then a stamp or signature is placed by the Notary office.
State/SDM Attestation – State and SDM are mainly two organizations that are involved in the apostille attestation process of your driver’s license. However, according to your requirements, you can choose to go for either SDM attestation or State Attestation. Below we have discussed both procedures:
State Attestation – State attestation is a process in which your driver’s license is authenticated by the State or Provisional authority that issued your driving license. Here the secretariat of the district checks if your driving license is in compliance with the legal standards or not. This process is usually longer as it takes about 30 days to complete.
SDM Attestation – On the other hand, you can for the SDM (Sub Divisional Magistrate) attestation if you wish not to wait much longer for the process to complete. In this process, the administrative officer under state civil services ensures the authenticity of your driver’s license. SDM attestation is preferred by every Indian citizen as it is faster and less expensive than State attestation.
MEA Apostille – This is the last step of verification to get an apostille driver’s license. Upon authentication from various authorities, your driver’s license gets ready for verification at the central level. MEA India legalizes your driver’s license with an apostille stamp for foreign use.
It’s always better to talk to your Apostille helpline, they will guide you on which process you need.
Is the Above-Discussed Process Same For Non-Hague Countries?
No, the above-mentioned process is not enough to get a driver’s license apostille. An extra step of authentication which is embassy attestation is required to enter the non-hague country. For Non-Hague Nations, the embassy of that country authenticates your driver’s license and makes it acceptable and valid within the country.
For How Long Is the Driver’s License Apostille Valid?
Generally, the validity of an apostille depends on the country you are traveling to and the type of document you have submitted. However, a driver’s license apostille is typically valid for 6 months in India. In some countries, the validity of your apostille driver’s license can be more than a year.
Fees To Pay For Driver’s License Apostille
The charges for obtaining an apostille for your driver’s license depend from country to country. The price also depends on the urgency of the apostille requirement as well as the state from where the documents were issued. Moreover, the price of getting an apostille may increase if you are planning to go for State attestation or if you want any additional services.
Why Choose Apostille Service?
We offer apostille services in India that are fast, reliable, and secure. Our experienced professionals simplify complex procedures, making your overall experience smooth and hassle-free. Also, we maintain transparency at every step, ensuring that there are no hidden costs and you are fully informed about each process. So register with apostille services if you want to get an apostille for your Driver’s License as soon as possible and without any hassle.
