Attestation by MEA (Ministry of External Affairs) Patiala house

Yesterday, I went to the Ministry of External Affairs, CPV Division, Patiala House, New Delhi for getting my Marriage Certificate and Birth Certificate attested. I am listing down a few details and tips that might help you in getting your documents attested in a timely and easy manner.

Pre-attestation:

My documents originated in New Delhi, hence I did not need any attestation prior to coming to MEA. For those whose documents originate outside New Delhi would need the attestation of their state's Home Department (or Foreign Affairs Department or General Administration department) before the MEA would attest the document(s). More information may be had from the MEA office (phone number mentioned later).

Office Rules:

I did not have a camera and my pen was not working (picked up a wrong one from home) so I could not write them down. Here they are form my memory

• No money is charged for any attestation. Those who require an Apostle sticker need to pay Rs 50 per document for which a receipt will be given.
• Documents may be submitted by anyone. The person(s) name don the document need not visit in person to deposit the documents. No passport or any other proof is necessary.
• Documents are accepted for submission twice a way. In the morning between 9 AM and 11:30 AM and in afternoon between 2:00 PM and 3:30 PM. The documents may be collected from the same office at 1 PM (for morning submissions) and 5 PM (for afternoon submissions)
• There is no need to contact any touts or agents. They may charge unnecessary money.

Tips n Tricks:

This is the information I have obtained from a friend and from the person ahead of me in the queue for documents submission. I hope they shall help you

• The office is officially known as MEA CPV division. CPV stands for Consular, Passport and Visa.
  
• The office is on Tilak Marg, very close to India gate.
  
• The queue for submitting the documents is longer in the morning than the one in the afternoon. My friend had suggested me to join the queue at 8 in the morning. But since I had some important work in the office, I chose to go in the afternoon. Lucky for me.
• The queue on Monday mornings is the longest while that on Friday afternoon is the shortest.
• There is separate queue for ladies. You may use it to your benefit. (In Delhi, ladies usually get separate queues at a lot of places, including railway reservation counters.)
• Since the documents are delivered on the same day, you may plan your trip for one day, in case you are coming from outside Delhi.
• A couple of touts may approach you with false promises. Avoid them at all costs.
• Carry one photocopy of each document. you wish to have attested.
• If you are visiting the office in the afternoon, you may have a couple of hours to spend. I chose to visit the Delhi Zoological Park (otherwise know as the Delhi Zoo) that is very close to the MEA office. A good hour and half spent.
• If you have to park your vehicle, you may use the Tilak Lane parking area. Parking here is free and is not difficult to find.

I hope this information would help you get your documents attested in a hassle free way.

I have the following number of the MEA division that attests the documents. The number is +91-11-2338-7931. The person who answered my call was courteous and helpful.

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