When intend to use educational or personal documents internationally, both attestation and apostille services are essential. Within India, there are two common and often misunderstood procedures, HRD and Apostille. Misunderstanding these two can result in taking the wrong steps when document verification is required. This blog post is aimed at clarifying the differences between HRD Attestation in Thrissur and Apostille Attestation in relation to the country you are traveling to.
What is HRD Attestation?
HRD attestation stands for Human Resource Development attestation. This form of HRD verification is performed for educational records such as degree certificates, diplomas, and transcripts and is performed at state level. It is performed by the state’s HRD department which specializes in confirming a certificate’s authenticity issued by a certain institution.
HRD Attestation in Thrissur : Procedure
- Document Verification: Authentication of the document by the university that issued it.
- HRD Attestation: The last step involves the HRD department of the respective state (in this case the state of Kerala for Thrissur).
- For additional attestation: The document may be forwarded for MEA (Ministry of External Affairs) attestation and embassy attestation if required after HRD attestation.
When is HRD Attestation Necessary?
- For pursuing advanced studies overseas.
- For working in foreign companies, predominantly in the Gulf Region.
- At times the embassies of the host countries may ask for this too.
What is Apostille Attestation?
An apostille is a type of authentication used for documents intended for countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention. Instead of going through several levels of attestation, an apostille stamp by the MEA is all that is needed for legalizing documents.
Apostille Attestation Process
- Document Verification: The document is checked for authenticity by the issuing authority.
- MEA Apostille Stamp: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in India uses a special apostille sticker for making the document valid for the Hague convention countries.
- No Embassy Attestation Required: Apostille documents, unlike the HRD attestation documents, do not require any additional embassy attestations.
When is Apostille Attestation Appropriate?
- If traveling to a Hague convention country like the USA, UK, Australia or Europe.
- For education, work permits, or residence applications in these nations.
Differences Between the HRD Attestation and Apostille Attestation
| Comparison | HRD Attestation | Apostille Attestation |
| Objectives | For Gulf states and other countries that are not part of Hague accord. | For countries who are part of the Hague Convention. |
| Who issues | HRD Department of the respective state | Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) |
| Procedure | Have to get attestation from the university first. | No state level confirmation is required |
| Further Steps | Attestation from the MEA and embassy is a must. | Embassy attestation is not required. |
| Document Format | Educational certificates only | Educational, personal, and trade documents |
Selecting the Correct Attestation in Thrissur and Kochi
In case of certificate attestation in Thrissur and Kochi or any other parts of India, it is essential to note that the type of attestation to be selected is dependent on the particular visited country.
- If your destination is a Hague Convention country, apostille attestation is preferred.
- If your destination is UAE, Qatar, Kuwait or any other non-Hague country, HRD followed by MEA and embassy attestation is the best option.
Helpline Group: Professionals That You Can Rely on for Attestation Services
Spectrum of HRD certificate attestation and apostille attestation is wide which means they involve multiple steps and processes that need to be followed in a sequential manner. Helpline Group is well known for certificate attestation services in Thrissur and Kochi for their outstanding work and delivers a high quality attestation of documents.
Why Pick Helpline Group?
- Efficient and trustworthy HRD attestation in Thrissur
- Apostille and embassy attestation for international trips
- Legalization of educational, private, and business documents
- Professional assistance for visa and employment documents
If you require your documents to be notarized in Kochi or Thrissur, Helpline Group is your comprehensive solution. Reach out to us now to begin swift and effortless attestation.
