Apostille and document attestation between India and Malaysia

Document route

High Commission of India attestation

Time difference

2.5 hours ahead of IST

Handled in India at

State authority, MEA and missions

Travel to India

None

How it works from Malaysia

Indian passport holders in Malaysia have a shorter route for documents they sign themselves. A power of attorney, affidavit or declaration can be signed in person before the consular officer at the High Commission, which attests the signature directly. Malaysian citizens, including OCI cardholders, use the three-step chain. We draft the document in the form the Indian sub-registrar, court or bank will accept, and tell you which route applies, how many witnesses and photographs are needed, and what the receiving office will ask for.

For Indian documents going to Malaysia, such as degree certificates for an employment pass, birth and marriage certificates for dependant passes, or police clearance certificates, we handle the chain in India. Educational documents go through the state education department, personal documents through the state home or general administration department, and commercial documents through the chamber of commerce. The Ministry of External Affairs then attests, and the document is submitted to the Malaysian High Commission or consulate.

What is different for NRIs in Malaysia

• A power of attorney executed in Malaysia must be stamped in India within three months of arriving there, or it attracts penalty and may be refused.
• Documents in Malay need a certified English translation attested along with the original.
• The Ministry of External Affairs issues an apostille sticker by default for many documents. For Malaysia, ask for attestation with embassy legalisation, since the apostille by itself is not enough.

Step by step from Malaysia

1. Free review call

   Malaysia is two and a half hours ahead, so calls are held from late morning onwards. We read your papers on document legalisation first, so the call is about your options and not a repeat of the facts.

2. Authority from Malaysia

   Where a representative must act for you in India on document legalisation, you sign at the High Commission of India in Kuala Lumpur, or use a notary, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then the High Commission. We draft the document and send signing instructions.

3. Work in India

   In India, we obtain state authentication and the Ministry of External Affairs stamp, and re-issue or correct the underlying certificate where needed. Updates for clients in Malaysia go by email and WhatsApp with scans of whatever is filed.

4. Result and handover

   At the end you receive the legalised originals by courier, with scans in advance. Originals are couriered to your address in Malaysia if you need them.

The law in full

This page covers what changes when you handle document legalisation from Malaysia. For the Indian law, the complete document checklist, common mistakes and more questions, read our main page on Apostille & Document Attestation. For other matters, see all legal services for NRIs in Malaysia or the Inheritance, Wills & Documents practice area.

Questions from NRIs in Malaysia