Document verification plays a vital role in enabling legal, educational and administrative processes to operate smoothly in the current globalised scenario. Candidates need to demonstrate document authenticity irrespective of whether they are applying for employment, securing admission abroad or planning to relocate internationally.
Two primary authentication methods are used in such cases – attestation and self-attestation. Both of these methods are used to prove the document’s authenticity, however, they differ significantly when it comes to authority, the attestation process and acceptance by concerned authorities worldwide.
The blog establishes an in-depth comparison between attestation and self-attestation by explaining their definitions, purposes, different types and their primary differences. Read this blog till the end to clearly understand when and where to use each method.
What is Attestation?
The verification process, known as Attestation, requires authorisation from either an individual or an institution to prove the authenticity of the document in question.
The verification process confirms the legality of documents so they may be used officially abroad. Attestation is often needed for official and international purposes. Without an attestation stamp, documents cannot be accepted for official use overseas.
Purpose of Attestation
The primary purpose of attestation includes the following;
- Prevents Fraud – Document attestation process helps avoid both forgery and document tampering as only the original documents are verified and attested based on the verification by various state and national authorities.
- Legal Compliance – An important purpose of document attestation is to make sure they are compliant with the attestation requirements of the destination country.
- Global Acceptance – Attestation ensures that the documents are globally recognised and accepted as legal and authentic for various official processes like visa applications, overseas employment, and higher education abroad.
- Smooth Administrative Processes – Proper document attestation ensures faster approvals and reduced delays in immigration procedures, university admissions, foreign company registration, employment abroad and so on.
- Authenticity Assurance – The most important purpose of attestation is to prove that the document in question is valid and is issued by a recognised authority. It makes the documents legal and valid for international use.
Types of Attestation
Candidates may need to obtain different types of attestation depending on the document type and its intended use. Listed below are the different types of attestation;
1. Notary Attestation
Standard verification under Notary attestation involves a certified notary public validating document authenticity before proceeding with other forms of attestation.
And although this is a basic procedure, it proves to be enough for local legal and administrative requirements. It may even be accepted in certain international destinations depending on their regulations.
2. Home Department Attestation
To verify personal documents such as birth or marriage certificates, people depend on the Home Department to perform its attestation duties at the state level. The Home Department verifies the documents, enabling them for higher-level verification for international usage.
3. HRD (Human Resource Development) Attestation
The Human Resource Development department conducts an essential state-level authorisation process known as HRD attestation for all academic documents, including degrees and transcripts. Educational document attestation by the HRD department ensures the said documents are ready for international usage, mainly used in higher education and employment.
4. MEA (Ministry of External Affairs) Attestation
For any document intended to be used for official purposes abroad, it requires attestation by the Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi. As a central authority, the MEA validates the authenticity of the previously attested documents (local and state levels), making them suitable for submission to foreign embassies for further attestation.
5. Embassy Attestation
For a document to be accepted as legal and valid, Embassy attestation is the final seal of approval. The embassy is performed by the embassy or consulate of the destination country to confirm that all the previous attestations are as per the requirement. Embassy attestation allows for a document to be used legally abroad.
Common Documents Requiring Attestation
The documents that require attestation can be easily divided into the following categories;
- Educational Documents – It generally includes documents such as degrees, diplomas, marksheets, transcripts and so on.
- Personal Documents – Birth certificates, marriage certificates, experience certificates, and police clearance certificates are some of the most common examples of personal documents being attested.
- Commercial Documents – Power of Attorney, Company Registration Certificates, Certificates of Origin, Packing Lists, Letters of Credit, Import/Export papers, etc.
What is Self-Attestation?
Self-attestation is a process where an individual verifies their own document by signing it. It is a much simpler process that is used to proclaim that the documents provided are legal and accurate, or the copies presented are true reproductions of the original. In self-attestation, the document, instead of being verified by an independent authority, is signed by the person submitting the document.
It is a commonly used method for submitting documents to Indian government departments, educational institutions and employers. Self-attestation reduces the time taken and eliminates effort while maintaining unhindered workflow, essential paperwork can proceed without delay.
This method, however, does not qualify as an official form of authentication when dealing with international processes or legal procedures requiring official authentication.
Purpose of Self-Attestation
- Simplifies Attestation – Since there is no need for external verification, the process of attestation is quite straightforward.
- Speeds Up Processes – The elimination of external verification naturally reduces the time taken for attestation. It proves mighty useful for quick submissions.
- Cost-Effective – Self-attestation eliminates the need for any notary or government attestation and any fees associated with them.
- Enhances Credibility – The basic yet most important function is to add authenticity and trust to the submitted documents.
Where is Self-Attestation Accepted?
While self-attestation is a quick, easy and cost-effective process, it may not be accepted widely for official purposes. Self-attested documents are generally accepted for;
- Educational Institutions – Various documents are needed to secure admission. These said documents can be self-attested upon submission.
- Government Schemes – For government work such as Aadhaar updates, pension claims, etc, self-attested documents can be submitted.
- Banking Procedures – Self-attested documents are also valid for banking-related tasks such as opening an account, applying for a loan, etc.
- Employment Verification – Many companies accept self-attested copies of various educational and personal documents.
How to Self-Attest a Document?
The steps to self-attest a document involve the following steps;
- Make a copy – The first step is to make a copy of the original document that needs to be submitted.
- Add a Statement – Write either “true copy” or “self-attested” on the copy of the original document.
- Sign the Document – Under the written statement, candidates are required to add their signature.
- Submit the Document – A document containing the statement and signed by the candidate can be submitted directly to the concerned authority.
Note: Additional verification steps, such as a thumbprint or a witness signature, are needed by certain organisations.
Main Difference Between Attestation vs Self-Attestation
| Feature | Attestation | Self-Attestation |
| Authority | External authorities like notaries, government authorities and officials. | It is done by the document holder themselves. |
| Legal Validity | It is widely accepted, even for international use. | Its acceptance is pretty limited and can only be submitted for certain domestic uses. |
| Process | Documents have to be submitted for verification, signature and stamping by the concerned authorities. | A simple self-declaration and a signature by the document holder. |
| Cost | Involves a fee for the notary, state authority and MEA attestation. | Free of cost, as no external authority is involved. |
| Documents | Educational, Personal, Commercial, Legal, etc. | Certificates, affidavits, ID copies, etc. |
| Acceptance | Widely accepted globally. In fact, it is a legal requirement for the documents to be used overseas. | Limited acceptability. Used for local applications, admissions,and jobs |
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is legal but for only selected domestic purposes like seeking admissions in school or college, opening a bank account and so on. It is not legally valid for international use.
It depends on the final use of the self-attested passport copy. It can be submitted for local use, like bank KYC, SIM card applications, etc. However, for visa and immigration, a self-attested copy cannot be used.
Attestation is widely accepted for document verification performed by concerned authorities. Self-attestation, on the other hand, has limited acceptability and requires only a signature by the holder of the document.
Attestations generally do not expire. However, certain countries may need re-attestation if the document concerned is old.
No, a signature along with a statement such as “self-attested” or “true copy” are mandatory for self-attestation to be valid. In some cases, candidates may even require a thumb impression.
