Birth Certificate Apostille in Lakshadweep from the Islands
Families on the islands can get a birth certificate apostille in Lakshadweep without leaving home, by sending the original to us on the mainland. Births are recorded on each island under the 1969 Act, with health staff working as local registrars and the Department of Medical and Health Services in Kavaratti as a key office. INFINITYGRO Attestation handles the Delhi route and the return courier.
By the INFINITYGRO documentation teamUpdated Facts checked against MEA and HCCH
Birth certificate apostille sample
Is there a state route for Lakshadweep documents? Lakshadweep does not appear in the MEA's list of state and UT authorities for document verification. So the Delhi route is the practical choice: notary, SDM verification in Delhi, then the MEA. Birth certificate apostille in Lakshadweep through us costs Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 per document. Check with the Collectorate, Kavaratti, if a foreign office asks for local verification.
How births are recorded on the islands
Lakshadweep follows the same national law as every state. Under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, each birth is recorded by a local registrar for the area where it happened. On the islands, this work falls to health staff posted to each inhabited island. The Department of Medical and Health Services at Kavaratti is the main office for enquiries.
When a child is born in a hospital or health centre, staff record the birth in the register. For a home birth, parents inform the local registrar in writing.
Ask the registrar on your island for a printed certificate with a clear seal before you send it for apostille.
Births should be reported within 21 days. A late report follows the delayed registration steps in the 1969 Act, and long delays need a magistrate's order. A child's name can also be added later, with a fee once the first year passes. Complete these steps on the island before any apostille work begins.
Key facts
| Governing law | Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 (amended 2023) |
|---|---|
| Local registrars | Health staff posted to each island act as registrars of births and deaths |
| Key office | Department of Medical and Health Services, Kavaratti |
| National records system | Civil Registration System (crsorgi.gov.in) |
| UT route | Not in the MEA list; Delhi route recommended |
| Local enquiries | Collectorate, Kavaratti |
| Apostille authority | MEA, CPV Division, New Delhi |
Why we use the Delhi route
The MEA keeps a list of state and Union Territory offices that verify documents before the apostille. Lakshadweep is not on it. That leaves the Delhi route as the clear path for personal documents.
On the Delhi route, a notary attests the original and an SDM in Delhi verifies it. The document then goes to the MEA through an authorised outsourced centre. The MEA does not take documents from individuals at its counter.
If a foreign office insists on verification by the Lakshadweep administration, contact the Collectorate in Kavaratti to ask how it handles such requests.
Birth certificate apostille in Lakshadweep, step by step
- Photograph both sides of the certificate and send them to us on WhatsApp at +91 85955 58517.
- Courier the original to our Delhi office, C-5 A/2 New Ashok Nagar, Delhi 110096.
- We get it notarised and verified by an SDM.
- We submit it to the MEA. The Rs 50 apostille sticker is fixed on the back.
- The finished certificate is couriered back to the island or a mainland address of your choice, by Blue Dart or a similar service.
Our side usually takes 2 to 3 working days. Courier to and from the islands takes longer than on the mainland, so plan ahead. Our MEA apostille guide explains how the stamp can be checked online.
Sending documents from Kavaratti
Kavaratti is the capital and has the main administrative offices, including the health department and the Collectorate. Families on Kavaratti can send their originals by a courier service available on the island, or through someone travelling to Kochi.
Families on Agatti, Minicoy, Andrott and the other islands often route documents through Kochi, the usual mainland link. A relative in Kerala can courier the certificate to us from there.
We do not offer pickup. Keep the tracking number and a copy of the certificate.
Pack the original flat in a stiff envelope, with a note giving your phone number and return address. Damp sea air can damage paper, so a plastic sleeve inside the envelope is a good idea.
Checks before the certificate leaves the island
- The child's name is printed on the certificate.
- Parents' names match their passports, or an affidavit is ready.
- The certificate is the original, not a photocopy.
- It is not laminated.
- Older handwritten certificates may need a fresh printed copy if the receiving office asks.
Fix any error with the registrar first. Getting a correction done after the certificate reaches Delhi means another round trip by sea or air.
Why a family might need it
The most common reason is a child joining a parent who works abroad. The child's passport, dependent visa or residence permit often needs an apostilled birth certificate. Others need it for school admission overseas, citizenship by descent or OCI-related work done abroad.
Since 1 October 2023, the digital birth certificate counts as single proof of date of birth within India. Foreign offices make their own rules, so most still want the paper original with a seal. A birth certificate apostille in Lakshadweep is fixed to that paper original.
Where island families use the apostille
Many Lakshadweep families have links with the Gulf. The apostille has no standing in the UAE, Qatar or Kuwait. A certificate for those countries needs MEA attestation and embassy legalisation, which we handle through our embassy attestation service.
Saudi Arabia, Oman and Bahrain accept the apostille, as do the UK, Canada and Australia. Certificates in Malayalam or another regional language may need a certified translation.
Real birth certificate apostille samples
Click any sample to enlarge. Personal details are masked.
Lakshadweep birth certificate apostille FAQs
Can I send the certificate from Kochi?
Yes. Many island families pass the original to a relative in Kochi, who couriers it to us. We can return it to any Indian address.
Does the apostille prove my child's date of birth abroad?
The apostille confirms the registrar's signature. The certificate itself proves the date of birth. The receiving office decides what else it needs.
How much does it cost?
Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 per document, covering notary, SDM, the MEA fee and our service. Courier is extra.
Can you apostille other documents from Lakshadweep?
Yes. See our Lakshadweep marriage certificate page or the general birth certificate apostille page.
How long should I allow in total?
Our part takes about 2 to 3 working days. Add courier time from the islands to Delhi and back, which is longer than from the mainland.
Does Germany accept this apostille?
No. Germany does not accept India's apostille and verifies documents through its embassy. China also does not accept it.
Other documents from Lakshadweep
- Marriage Certificate apostille
- Birth Certificate apostille
- Degree Certificate apostille
- Diploma Certificate apostille
- PCC apostille
Birth Certificate apostille in other states
Getting a Lakshadweep birth certificate ready for abroad?
WhatsApp a photo of the document and the destination country. We reply with the route, the timeline and one total price.