e-Sanad: Streamlining Document Attestation for a Digital Age

e-Sanad revolutionizes document attestation in India, offering a contactless, faceless, cashless, and paperless experience. Learn everything about this initiative and how it simplifies the process for you.

Introduction

Gone are the days of tedious paperwork and long queues for document attestation. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has ushered in a new era of convenience with e-Sanad, an online platform for document verification and attestation. This initiative streamlines the process for Indian citizens and foreigners alike, promoting a contactless, faceless, cashless, and paperless approach.

What is e-Sanad?

e-Sanad is a government project designed to provide a centralized platform for online document verification, attestation, and apostille services. It caters to both Indian citizens and foreigners who have obtained documents from authorized document issuing authorities (DIAs) in India. The platform encompasses various document types, including:

Personal documents (birth certificates, marriage certificates, etc.)
Educational certificates (school leaving certificates, degree certificates, etc.)
Commercial documents (invoices, certificates of origin, etc.)

Benefits

e-Sanad offers a multitude of advantages over traditional attestation methods:

Convenience: Apply for attestation from the comfort of your home or office, eliminating the need for physical visits to government offices.
Transparency: Track the progress of your application in real-time and receive updates electronically.
Efficiency: The online process significantly reduces processing times compared to traditional methods.
Cost-Effectiveness: Eliminate expenses associated with travel, photocopying, and courier services.
Security: Digital verification ensures the authenticity of documents, minimizing the risk of fraud.
Environment-Friendly: The paperless system reduces reliance on physical documents, contributing to a greener environment.

How Does e-Sanad Work?

The e-Sanad process is designed for user-friendliness. Here’s a simplified breakdown:

Registration: Create an account on the e-Sanad portal (https://esanad.nic.in/).
Document Upload: Upload scanned copies of the documents requiring attestation.
Application Submission: Fill out the online application form, selecting the type of attestation needed (apostille or normal).
Fee Payment: Securely pay the applicable fee through the integrated payment gateway.
Verification and Approval: The MEA verifies the documents with issuing authorities electronically.
Download Attested Document: Once approved, download the digitally signed and attested document.

Current Status

e-Sanad is currently in a phased rollout. While initially launched in five passport offices and the MEA’s Attestation Section in New Delhi, plans are underway for nationwide expansion. The service will eventually be extended to Indian citizens residing abroad, offering a truly global solution.

Eligibility

To utilize e-Sanad, you must meet the following criteria:

Be an Indian citizen or a foreigner with documents issued by Indian DIAs.
Possess digital copies of the documents requiring attestation.
Have a valid mode of online payment.

Documents Supported by e-Sanad

e-Sanad caters to a wide range of documents, including but not limited to:

Educational certificates (school leaving certificates, degree certificates, transcripts, etc.)
Personal documents (birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates, etc.)
Commercial documents (invoices, certificates of origin, power of attorney, etc.)

FAQs

What is the difference between apostille and normal attestation?

An apostille is a simplified verification process used for documents intended for countries that are signatories to the Hague Convention. Normal attestation is a more comprehensive verification process required for countries not part of the Hague Convention.

What documents cannot be attested through e-Sanad?

Currently, e-Sanad does not support certain documents like commercial invoices with a declared value exceeding a specific limit. It’s advisable to check the e-Sanad portal for the latest list of exceptions.

How long does the e-Sanad process take?

Processing times can vary depending on document verification with issuing authorities. However, e-Sanad significantly reduces processing time compared to traditional methods.

What are the fees associated with e-Sanad?

The applicable fees depend on the type of document and attestation required. You can find the fee structure on the e-Sanad portal.

Additional Features of e-Sanad

Integration with Document Issuing Authorities: e-Sanad boasts seamless integration with various document issuing authorities in India. This enables faster verification of document authenticity, eliminating the need for manual verification processes.
Secure Document Storage: The platform provides a secure repository for storing your digitally attested documents. You can access them anytime for future use, eliminating the need for physical copies.
Multilingual Support: While the primary interface is in English, e-Sanad offers support for multiple regional languages, making the platform accessible to a wider audience across India.

how does e-sanad compare to traditional sanad

To compare e-Sanad to the traditional concept of Sanad, we need to understand the key differences between the two systems.

e-Sanad:

Purpose: e-Sanad is an online platform designed for the submission and verification of various documents, aiming to provide contactless, cashless, faceless, and paperless attestation services for individuals in India and abroad.
Authentication Process: Documents are digitized and stored in a digital repository for online verification. The platform allows for the authentication of personal, educational, and commercial documents through a centralized system.
Implementation: e-Sanad is developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) and involves collaboration with document issuing authorities (DIAs) to ensure the availability of digital depositories for document verification.
Verification: The verification process is conducted online, with the Ministry of External Affairs attesting/apostilling digital copies of documents and dispatching them to applicants.

Traditional Sanad:

Concept: The traditional Sanad is a concept in Islamic scholarship that represents a chain of scholars through which knowledge is passed down over generations.
Purpose: Sanad is crucial in Islamic jurisprudence for verifying the authenticity and reliability of transmitted knowledge, particularly in the context of religious teachings and legal interpretations.
Transmission of Knowledge: Sanad emphasizes the importance of direct teacher-student relationships and the preservation of oral traditions in passing down religious and scholarly knowledge.
Ethical Significance: Sanad is linked to Islamic ethics, emphasizing the value of companionship, trust, and the preservation of authentic teachings through a structured chain of transmission.

Comparison:

Nature of Documents: While e-Sanad focuses on the digitization and verification of various personal, educational, and commercial documents, traditional Sanad pertains to the transmission of scholarly and religious knowledge through a chain of scholars.
Authentication Process: e-Sanad streamlines the document verification process through digital repositories and online attestation, whereas traditional Sanad relies on personal relationships, oral transmission, and scholarly authority for knowledge validation.
Scope: e-Sanad caters to a wide range of document types and aims for efficiency and accessibility, while traditional Sanad is specific to the Islamic scholarly tradition and emphasizes the authenticity and lineage of transmitted knowledge.

In essence, e-Sanad revolutionizes document verification through digitalization and online processes, offering a modern, efficient, and secure way to authenticate various documents. In contrast, traditional Sanad holds a unique place in Islamic scholarship, emphasizing the lineage and authenticity of transmitted knowledge through a structured chain of scholars.

Conclusion

e-Sanad represents a significant step forward in streamlining document attestation procedures in India. By embracing a digital approach, the initiative promotes efficiency, transparency, and convenience for users. As e-Sanad expands its reach and functionalities, it is poised to become the preferred method for document attestation, not just in India but potentially on a global scale.

Looking Ahead

The future of e-Sanad holds immense promise. We can expect to see:

Expansion of Supported Documents: The platform is likely to integrate support for a broader range of document types, catering to diverse needs.
Global Reach: As the service extends to Indian citizens abroad, e-Sanad will simplify the process for those seeking document verification for international purposes.
Advanced Features: Integration with digital locker services and further automation of document verification processes are potential future advancements.

Embracing e-Sanad

With its user-friendly interface and secure online platform, e-Sanad empowers individuals to navigate the document attestation process with ease. By leveraging this initiative, you can save time, money, and effort while ensuring the authenticity of your documents for international use.