Getting Your Indian Documents Ready for Australian Immigration

MEA apostille — how Indian document authentication works

The MEA attests original documents or true copies for use abroad, and it offers two different services depending on the destination country. Because both India and Australia are members of the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention, documents going to Australia use the MEA's apostille service; "normal attestation" (no apostille) is what the MEA does instead for documents headed to countries that aren't Convention members. This is a multi-step process for most documents.

Step one: authentication before the MEA. Personal documents (birth, marriage, affidavits) generally need authentication first, from your state's Home Department or the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) depending on the state; educational documents generally go through the state's HRD (education) department first. The MEA lists Regional Authentication Centres for this step on its own site.

Step two: apostille through an outsourced agency. Since the MEA doesn't accept documents directly from individuals, you lodge the authenticated document, a photocopy of it, and a photocopy of your passport with one of the MEA's outsourced service providers (currently BLS International, Superb Enterprises, IVS Global Services, or Alhind Tours & Travels) at one of 16 decentralised Branch Secretariats/Regional Passport Offices around India. The MEA's own fee is Rs 50 per apostille sticker, on top of the outsourced agency's service charge (Rs 84 per document) and a scanning charge (Rs 3 per page); the MEA does not publish a standard turnaround time, so ask the outsourced agency for their current processing estimate.

When is an apostille actually needed? The Department of Home Affairs accepts certified copies for most visa applications. Some skills assessment bodies request an apostille or attestation on specific documents. Check with your specific assessing authority before paying for one, and start with certified copies unless it's specifically required.

Police clearance certificates

The Department of Home Affairs requires a police certificate from every country where you've lived for 12 or more months in the past 10 years. For India, this means a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) from the Passport Seva Kendra or Regional Passport Office.

How to apply. Visit your nearest Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) or Regional Passport Office with your current passport, proof of address, and an application for PCC. You must apply from the jurisdiction where you currently reside. Processing takes approximately 1 to 3 weeks. If police verification is required, this may take longer.

Multiple states. If you have lived in different Indian states during the past 10 years, you may need PCCs from each state. The passport office PCC covers your current address. For previous addresses, contact the relevant state police authority.

Timing. Home Affairs generally wants a police certificate that's recent by the time your visa is decided, not one obtained years earlier. Since skilled visa processing can take several months, consider the likely gap between applying for the PCC and your expected grant date.

To upload, scan the original and submit it through ImmiAccount as a colour PDF or JPEG. You don't need to get the PCC apostilled or attested by the MEA for immigration purposes.

Health examinations — Bupa panel clinics in India

Australian immigration health assessments must be completed at a panel-approved clinic. In India, these are operated by Bupa Medical Visa Services, with clinics in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and several other cities.

How to book. Generate a HAP (Health Assessment Portal) referral through your ImmiAccount, then book directly with a Bupa clinic using your HAP ID. You cannot walk in without a referral.

What to expect. The exam covers a medical history review, physical examination, and chest X-ray (for applicants aged 11 and over). Some visa subclasses also require blood tests. Bring your passport, HAP ID letter, and any prescription glasses you use. Bupa sends results directly to Home Affairs electronically — you don't upload anything yourself.

Cost. Approximately AUD 350 to AUD 500 (roughly INR 19,000 to INR 27,500) depending on the tests your visa subclass requires. For a full breakdown of immigration-related expenses, see our India-to-Australia cost guide.

Identity documents

Birth certificates

For Australian immigration, you need a birth certificate issued by the municipal corporation or registrar of births in the city or district where you were born. If you don't have your original, apply to the local municipal authority for a certified copy.

Some states issue birth certificates online through state portals. Processing time varies from a few days to several weeks depending on your state and whether the records are digitised. For immigration purposes, a certified copy is accepted — you don't typically need MEA attestation on your birth certificate.

Passport

Upload clear colour scans of your passport's biographical page and any pages with observations through ImmiAccount.

Biometrics. If requested by Home Affairs, you will provide biometrics at a VFS Global centre. VFS Global operates centres in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, and several other Indian cities. Biometrics include fingerprints and a photograph.

Marriage certificates

If your application involves a spouse or partner, you need your marriage certificate. For Hindu marriages registered under the Hindu Marriage Act, obtain the certificate from the Sub-Registrar's office in the district where the marriage was registered. For other marriages, contact the relevant registrar. A certified copy is accepted. For partner visa applications, see our list of migration agents who specialise in partner visas.

Educational documents — degrees and transcripts

Indian degrees are recognised in Australia, but you need to present them in the correct format for your skills assessment body.

University transcripts. Request official transcripts (mark sheets and consolidated mark sheet) directly from your university. Transcripts should be sealed in the university's official envelope if being posted to an assessment body. Some universities now offer digital transcripts with QR codes for verification — check whether your assessing body accepts these.

Degree certificate. You need certified copies of your degree certificate (also called the provisional certificate if your final certificate has not been issued). If your university has changed its name since you graduated, provide documentation showing the name change.

What to provide. At minimum, you need certified copies of your degree certificate, semester-wise mark sheets, and consolidated mark sheet. Some assessment bodies also request course syllabi or unit outlines. Get these from your university examination branch while you still have access.

Skills assessments by profession

A skills assessment is required for most skilled visa applications (subclasses 189, 190, 491, and 482). The assessing body depends on your nominated occupation. Each body has its own document requirements.

Engineers Australia — CDR

Only engineering degrees accredited under the Washington Accord — for India, that means programs accredited by the National Board of Accreditation — qualify for Engineers Australia's faster Accord pathway. Most Indian-qualified engineers instead prepare a full Competency Demonstration Report (CDR). This includes three career episodes demonstrating your engineering competency, a summary statement mapping your experience to competency elements, and a continuing professional development list.

You'll also need certified copies of your degree certificate and academic transcripts. If your degree was completed in a language other than English, provide certified translations.

Cost. The standard CDR assessment is AUD 1,034 including GST; the Accord-only pathway, for those who qualify, is AUD 555.50.

Processing time. Standard CDR applications generally take 15 weeks to be assigned to an assessor; a paid fast-track guarantees assignment within 20 business days (for an extra AUD 396 including GST) but not a faster outcome after that. Submit your CDR well before you plan to lodge your visa application.

ACS (Australian Computer Society)

ACS assesses ICT occupations including software engineers, developers, and analysts. You need certified copies of your degree certificate and transcript, plus employer references on company letterhead confirming your job title, duties performed, and dates of employment.

If your degree title does not clearly indicate an ICT focus, provide unit outlines showing the ICT content so ACS can assess how much of your study counts.

Cost. AUD 1,498 excluding GST, under ACS's model since 3 November 2025. Priority processing is free and takes 4 to 6 weeks.

VETASSESS

VETASSESS assesses a wide range of professional, managerial, and trade occupations. Requirements vary by occupation group but generally include certified copies of your qualification, transcript, and employment references. Some groups require minimum post-qualification experience. The standard fee is AUD 1,146 for offshore applicants and AUD 1,260.60 onshore; VETASSESS publishes a 7-week processing time and a 90-day review window.

ANMAC and Ahpra — nurses and midwives

An Indian nursing or midwifery qualification isn't on ANMAC's list of countries eligible for its Full skills assessment (Canada, Hong Kong, Ireland, Singapore, Spain, the UK and the US), and ANMAC's cheaper Modified assessment requires you to already hold current registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (Ahpra), NCNZ or MCNZ — which an Indian-trained applicant won't yet have. So the route runs through Ahpra first: complete the internationally qualified nurse and midwife (IQNM) Self-check, which places you in Stream A (Orientation Part 1 only) or Stream B (Orientation plus an outcomes-based assessment — a multiple-choice exam and an Objective Structured Clinical Exam). Only once Ahpra grants NMBA registration can you apply to ANMAC for the Modified assessment (AUD 395) for migration-points purposes. Ahpra and ANMAC both describe this as a recommended pathway rather than a guarantee either step will succeed — check the current requirements on nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au and anmac.org.au before you start.

For eligibility estimates, try the Migratio points calculator or speak with a migration agent who specialises in skilled visas.

Employment references

Strong employment references matter for most skills assessments. Each reference should be on company letterhead and include your full name, job title, dates of employment (start and end), hours worked per week, and a detailed description of duties performed.

Getting references from Indian employers. If your employer's HR department uses a standard format that does not include duty descriptions, ask your manager or department head to write a separate detailed reference. Some assessment bodies reject generic HR confirmation letters that only state your job title and dates.

If a former employer has closed down, provide a statutory declaration (affidavit sworn before a notary) explaining the situation, along with any supporting evidence such as appointment letters, pay slips, or Form 16 tax certificates.

Keep multiple certified copies of your references so you can submit to different bodies at the same time.

Common mistakes Indian applicants make

Asking the MEA for the wrong service. "Attestation" and "apostille" are two different MEA services, and since Australia is a Hague Apostille Convention member, documents headed here should be apostilled, not put through the MEA's plain attestation service (that's for non-member countries). Confirm which one your outsourced agency has actually lodged.

Applying for PCC too early relative to your visa timeline. There's no fixed expiry printed on the certificate itself, but if a lot of time passes before your visa is decided, Home Affairs may want a more recent one. Think about the likely gap before you apply.

Submitting semester mark sheets without the consolidated mark sheet. Assessment bodies expect both individual semester mark sheets and the consolidated mark sheet. Missing either can delay your assessment.

Using personal email references instead of company letterhead. Skills assessment bodies require employment references on official company letterhead. A reference sent from your manager's personal Gmail account will likely be rejected, even if the content is correct.

Not keeping enough certified copies. You may need to submit documents to Home Affairs, your skills assessment body, ANMAC or AHPRA, and your employer at the same time. Get at least four certified copies of each key document.

Forgetting to mention all addresses for PCC. If you've lived in multiple Indian states, you may need police clearance from each jurisdiction. Failing to disclose all addresses can cause character assessment delays.

Next steps

Documents are one part of a larger process. For help deciding which visa pathway suits you, see our India visa options guide. To estimate costs in INR and AUD, use the visa cost calculator. For what life looks like after you arrive, read our settling in Australia guide.

If you want professional help, Migratio connects you with MARA-registered migration agents who specialise in India-to-Australia moves. You can search by visa type or read our guide on how to choose a migration agent. To see where you stand on the points test, try the points calculator.

Related resources

• India to Australia — 2026 Overview
• Visa Options for Indian Citizens Moving to Australia
• Cost of Moving to Australia from India
• Settling in Australia from India
• How to Choose a Migration Agent
• What Is a Skills Assessment?
• Find a Skilled Visa Agent

Do Indian documents need apostille or MEA attestation for Australia?

Apostille. India has been a member of the Hague Apostille Convention since 2005, and so has Australia, so the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) apostilles documents headed here rather than using its separate attestation service (which is for countries outside the Convention). Some documents first need state-level authentication — through the Home Department, an SDM, or the state's HRD department — before the MEA apostille step.

How do I get a police clearance certificate from India?

Apply through your local Passport Seva Kendra or Regional Passport Office. You need a PCC from the jurisdiction where you currently reside. Processing takes approximately 1 to 3 weeks. If you have lived in multiple states, you may need certificates from each.

What documents does Engineers Australia need from Indian applicants?

Engineers Australia requires a CDR (Competency Demonstration Report) from Indian applicants. This includes three career episodes demonstrating your engineering competency, a summary statement mapping your experience to competency elements, and certified copies of your academic transcripts and degree certificate.

Where are the Bupa panel clinics in India?

Bupa Medical Visa Services operates panel clinics in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and several other Indian cities. Book your health assessment through the HAP (Health Assessment Portal) referral in your ImmiAccount.