When you present a legal document in a foreign country, it is often very difficult to determine whether the document is genuine and legal and therefore overseas governments sometimes need proof that the Indian documents which you hold is a genuine and not fake, or the signatures of Indian officials on documents, are genuine before they will accept them. Attested documents then can be used to procure jobs or to get admission in various courses etc. Attestation is universal whether you come from Srilanka or America or India. It is the verification of the document. In the attestation / legalization process your documents passes through various levels of department to confirm that this document is genuine. The attestation process first starts from state level from where the document has been issued (such as Home department/ HRD/ GAD of states) and after that Central Govt level, Ministry of External affairs (MEA) and at last Certificate attestation has to be completed from the Embassy/Consulate in India of the Country where the purpose of the document lies.