MEA Apostille
Degree Certificate Apostille for Portugal from India
A degree certificate for Portugal is an apostille file. Portugal has been a Hague country for decades, so no embassy stamp is needed on the Indian side. The chain is State HRD where your university is, then MEA apostille in Delhi, then certified Portuguese translation. Portuguese universities, employers, and AIMA (the residence authority) want the whole set before they will work with your degree.
Start with a scan and your destination
A degree certificate for Portugal is an apostille file. Portugal has been a Hague country for decades, so no embassy stamp is needed on the Indian side. The chain is State HRD where your university is, then MEA apostille in Delhi, then certified Portuguese translation. Portuguese universities, employers, and AIMA (the residence authority) want the whole set before they will work with your degree.
Most degree files for Portugal are for one of six visa lanes. The D2 entrepreneur visa, for Indian founders or self-employed professionals. The D3 highly qualified worker visa, for senior professionals with a Portuguese job offer. The D4 student visa, for admission to a Portuguese university. The D7 passive income or pensioner visa, where the degree is supporting evidence of professional background. The Job Seeker Visa, a newer route. And the Golden Visa, which was revised recently and is now mostly investment-fund-based rather than property-based.
For doctors, nurses, and other regulated professions, there is an extra Portuguese-side step called recognition by the relevant Ordem. Ordem dos Médicos handles doctor registration, Ordem dos Enfermeiros handles nurse registration, and there are similar bodies for pharmacists, dentists, and engineers. The Ordem step happens after the apostille and Portuguese translation are done, and the apostilled and translated documents are the input.
Send a scan of your degree on WhatsApp +91-9220161774. Tell us the Portugal lane (D2, D3, D4, D7, Job Seeker, Golden Visa) and the recipient (university, employer, Ordem). We will confirm the chain, the working-day timeline for your State HRD, the Portuguese translation page count, and a written quote.
Who this guide is for
- Indian entrepreneurs applying for the D2 visa to start or invest in a business in Portugal
- Indian highly qualified workers on the D3 visa with a Portuguese employer offer
- Indian students admitted to Portuguese universities (University of Lisbon, NOVA, University of Porto, University of Coimbra) on the D4 student visa
- D7 passive income or pensioner visa applicants whose degree supports the application as professional background
- Indian doctors, nurses, dentists, and pharmacists preparing Ordem dos Médicos, Ordem dos Enfermeiros, or other Ordem recognition
Documents typically needed
- Original degree from the issuing university
- Original transcript or marksheets
- Passport copy
- State HRD plus university verification reference
- Portugal lane paperwork (D2, D3, D4, D7, Job Seeker, Golden Visa, Ordem application)
How a SiZA file usually moves
WhatsApp scan review with Portugal lane and recipient (university, employer, Ordem)
State HRD plus MEA Delhi apostille plus certified Portuguese translation
Tracked return or direct handoff at the VFS Portugal Delhi appointment
Before any original leaves your hands
Standard scan-review checks
What typically affects timeline
- State HRD working-day pace (8 to 45 days)
- MEA Delhi apostille 2 to 3 working days
- Portuguese translation page count plus courier
Common mistakes we see
- Routing the degree through SDM instead of State HRD
- Using a translator the Portuguese recipient does not accept
- Translating before the apostille is placed
Why work with SiZA
- Certified Portuguese translation coordinated through translators accepted by the Portuguese Embassy Delhi, AIMA, and Ordem bodies
- State HRD plus MEA apostille plus Portuguese translation in one chain
- D2, D3, D4, D7, Job Seeker, Golden Visa, and Ordem recognition route familiarity
Completed Work Example
This is a completed MEA Apostille document. All customer names, reference numbers, and identifying details have been removed before publication.
Got a documentation question?
How SiZA Reviews a Document File
Before any original is couriered, SiZA reviews scans, confirms the correct India-side chain (HRD / SDM / Home / Chamber, MEA, Embassy where needed, translation), and shares a written quote and timeline.
What to send first
Review the requirement
Share the document scan, destination country, purpose, deadline, and where the original document is currently kept.
Confirm the right process
SiZA checks whether the file needs apostille, embassy attestation, HRD/Home, Chamber, translation, visa documentation, or a combined process.
Handle and update
Once the scope is clear, the file moves through the required steps with practical updates by WhatsApp or email.
Proof and return
After completion, SiZA shares completion proof, confirms payment and courier preference, then packs and dispatches the document safely.
Share scan
Process confirmed
Originals received if required
Completion proof
Payment and return
Original document safety
Trust, Custody And Safety
These documents are not ordinary papers. They may be your degree, birth certificate, marriage certificate, passport file, company resolution, or export paperwork. SiZA treats that responsibility seriously.
Original-Document Care
Original personal and company documents are handled with careful custody, privacy, and controlled handoff.
Clear Updates
Customers receive updates through WhatsApp or email as the file moves through review, submission, completion, and dispatch.
Completion Proof
When work is completed, SiZA can share photos or videos so the customer can verify the result before return dispatch.
Safe Return
Return delivery is packed carefully and sent through trusted courier options after address and courier preference are confirmed.
No Shortcut Claims
SiZA does not promise fake shortcuts, bypass personal appearance rules, or help with forged or non-genuine documents.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an apostille?
An apostille is a single official stamp issued by India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on the back of an Indian document. Once placed, the document is accepted in any country that is a member of the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention, about 125 countries today, including the USA, UK, Italy, Germany, France, Saudi Arabia (since 2022), and Canada (since 2024). For non-Hague destinations such as UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Libya, and Egypt, MEA apostille alone is not enough, the document needs MEA attestation plus the destination country's embassy attestation in India.
Is apostille required for Saudi Arabia?
Saudi Arabia joined the Hague Apostille Convention in December 2022. For Indian documents going to Saudi Arabia today, MEA apostille (after the relevant pre-step, State HRD for educational documents, SDM or Home Department for civil documents) is the standard India-side authentication. The previous Saudi Embassy + Cultural Attaché route was discontinued in December 2022; some Saudi employers still ask for QVP / Mosaddaqa qualification verification or SCFHS DataFlow PSV separately for licensed professions. SiZA Global confirms which parallel tracks apply to your specific Saudi file at scan review.
Stories from SiZA customers
“I needed both MEA apostille and Italian translation for my degree, marksheets, and birth certificate. SiZA handled the full package — apostille and empanelled Italian translation together. Everything was accepted by the Italian embassy without any queries.”
Priya Sharma
Student, Italy study visa
Bengaluru, India
“Canada PR requires degree apostille, marriage certificate apostille, and sometimes translation. SiZA handled all my documents — degree, marriage certificate, PCC — in a coordinated workflow. Doorstep pickup in Noida and courier back. No need to run around government offices.”
Deepak Verma
IT professional, Canada immigration
Noida, India
“Degree HRD from Maharashtra, then MEA apostille, then Qatar embassy attestation — a long chain. SiZA tracked every step and gave me realistic timelines for Maharashtra HRD before starting. All documents delivered before my Qatar joining date. I had no idea the process was this manageable with the right support.”
Arjun Mehta
Civil engineer, Qatar employment visa
Nagpur, India
“My UK university needed apostilled degree and marksheets. SiZA picked up documents from Chandigarh through their courier pickup process. Everything came back apostilled and on time. They also reviewed my checklist and confirmed I didn't need Punjab HRD for this particular submission — saved me extra time.”
Nisha Kaur
Student, UK university admission
Chandigarh, India
“Czech Blue Card required apostilled degree, work experience letters, and a certified Czech translation of my degree. SiZA arranged the Maharashtra HRD first — which they told me upfront is required for degrees from Pune University — then MEA apostille, then the Czech translation. The Czech embassy accepted everything first attempt.”
Kiran Bhatt
Software engineer, Czech Blue Card
Pune, India
“AHPRA skills assessment required apostilled pharmacy degree and internship certificate. I was confused about whether Tamil Nadu HRD attestation was needed first. SiZA clarified it clearly — TN HRD is required before MEA for degree apostille. They handled both steps. My documents reached AHPRA exactly as required.”
Sunita Krishnan
Pharmacist, Australia skills assessment
Coimbatore, India
Verify from official sources
Confirm the current checklist and requirements directly with the authority before sending originals.
MEA Apostille Office Addresses in India
MEA Apostille, CPV Division, New Delhi (Head Office)
Patiala House Annexe, Tilak Marg
New Delhi 110001
MEA Branch Secretariat, Mumbai
RPO Building, Bhavishya Nidhi Bhawan, 15 Bhulabhai Desai Road
Mumbai 400026