All documents should be first authenticated by the designated agencies in the state from where the documents have been issued. In case of personal documents, Home Department/General Administration Department (GAD) are the designated authorities.

In case of educational documents, State Governments have now opened Regional Authentication Centers (RACs) in various states from where the document should be first attested. Documents attested by these authorities then need to be presented to MEA (Ministry of External Affairs) and after the MEA attestation, the required Embassy Attestation is carried out.