NORKA Attestation and Apostille for MBBS Abroad: Centres, Fees and Steps

Prepared by the Edumapple admissions team, Kakkanad, Kerala· Updated 15 October 2026· How we check facts

A Kerala student going to Russia for MBBS needs the Class 10 and Class 12 certificates apostilled by the Ministry of External Affairs. For certificates issued in Kerala, the first step is authentication at a NORKA Roots centre. This guide explains the route, the fees NORKA publishes and how to book the appointment.

What NORKA attestation is

NORKA Roots is the Kerala government agency for non-resident Keralites. Among other services it runs three certificate authentication centres, in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Kozhikode. Authentication Officers from the General Education Department check educational certificates there under the Union education ministry's guidelines. This check is what people call "HRD attestation" or "state attestation".

A certificate authenticated by the state can then be legalised for use abroad. For Gulf countries this means embassy attestation, which is what most visitors to the NORKA centres need. For a country that has joined the Hague Apostille Convention, such as Russia, it means an apostille from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) instead. NORKA forwards the authenticated certificates to its office in New Delhi for the MEA step, so a student does not deal with the MEA directly.

Do you need NORKA attestation for MBBS in Russia?

Yes, if your Class 10 and Class 12 certificates were issued by the Kerala board or another educational institution in Kerala. A Russian university checks that a foreign school certificate is genuine and equivalent to Russian secondary education, and it accepts an Indian certificate legalised with an apostille. Without the apostille the university cannot complete your enrolment, even if it accepted scanned documents for the admission letter.

Because both countries are parties to the Apostille Convention, there is no Russian embassy or consulate attestation on top. Anyone who tells you that the Russian consulate in Chennai must also stamp your certificates is describing the old legalisation route, which does not apply between India and Russia.

Which documents to apostille

Each university sets its own list, so ask for it in writing before you book the NORKA slot. Adding a certificate later means a second visit and a second set of charges.

NORKA Roots attestation centres

All three centres handle educational certificates for the apostille. You choose the centre when you book online, and you can choose the one nearest to you whatever your district.

NORKA says attestation is usually done Monday to Friday, from 10 am to 2:30 pm. Check the address and the current hours on norkaroots.org before you travel; offices move and public holidays close them.

How to book NORKA attestation online

NORKA asks applicants to register on its portal before they come. The steps below follow NORKA's own applicant manual.

1. Register

   Create an account on the NORKA Roots portal at norkaroots.org and log in.

2. Open the attestation application

   Choose Certificate Attestation from the menu, then "Go to the Application". Select Educational as the certificate type and read the instructions on the next page.

3. Enter the holder's details

   Name, gender, nationality and parents' names exactly as in the SSLC book, the passport number and a photograph. Then the communication and permanent addresses, mobile number and email. The form also asks about jobs abroad; a student has none to enter.

4. Add each certificate

   Add the SSLC, the Plus Two certificate and the mark list one by one, and choose HRD attestation with the apostille. A certificate that already carries HRD attestation can be sent for the next step alone, with its existing HRD number.

5. Choose the office and a token

   Select the centre, the month, a date and a time slot. If a parent or another relative will go instead of you, tick the nominee box and enter their details. Tick "Send by speed post" if you want the certificates posted back.

6. Submit and print

   Review the form, submit it and download the application. Bring the printout to the centre with the originals.

Documents to bring to the centre

• Original passport. If the student is already abroad, a copy of the photo, address and validity pages and a valid visa.
• A copy of the passport's photo, address and validity pages.
• Two recent passport-size photographs.
• Original and copy of the SSLC (Class 10) certificate. NORKA treats this as mandatory even if you only need the Plus Two certificate.
• Original and copy of every certificate to be attested, with all mark lists including improvement and supplementary ones.
• The printed online application.

The certificate holder, a parent, a brother or sister, or a spouse may submit the certificates. NORKA does not attest consolidated mark lists or transcripts, and it attests a provisional certificate only within six months of its date of issue.

NORKA attestation fees

NORKA Roots publishes its charges per certificate. Cash has not been accepted at the three regional centres since 1 October 2023; pay by card or UPI such as Google Pay.

Example: if all three charges apply to each certificate, as NORKA's list reads, three certificates cost 3 × (₹75 + ₹708 + ₹50) = ₹2,499. Ask at the counter whether the service charge is per certificate or per application, because that changes the total for a family with several documents. Parts of NORKA's page have not been updated for some years, so confirm the current figures on norkaroots.org before you go.

Private agents in Kochi and elsewhere offer to do the whole process for a fee. That is legal, but the NORKA route itself is not complicated and the government charges are the same either way. If you use an agent, ask for the government receipts.

CBSE, ICSE and certificates from outside Kerala

NORKA states that it attests only certificates issued by educational institutions in Kerala. Kerala board (SSLC and Higher Secondary) certificates qualify. Many Kerala students, however, finish Class 12 under CBSE or ICSE, whose certificates are issued by the board rather than by a Kerala institution, and students who studied in another state have that state's certificates.

In those cases ask NORKA first, by phone or at the counter, whether it will take your certificate. If it will not, the MEA accepts apostille applications only through its authorised collection agencies, which have a centre in Thiruvananthapuram; the agency tells you which authentication your board's certificate needs before the apostille. The MEA's own apostille fee is ₹50 per document, and the agency charges a service fee on top. Start early: this route can take longer than the NORKA one.

Birth certificate and other personal documents

Some Russian universities and visa centres ask for an apostilled birth certificate. A birth certificate is a non-educational document, so in Kerala it goes through Home Department attestation, which NORKA also handles. Register online for Home attestation, then submit the printout and the application form at a NORKA office. Ask your university whether it needs the birth certificate before you pay for it.

After the apostille: translation into Russian

The apostille makes your certificate valid in Russia, but the university works in Russian. It will ask for a notarised Russian translation of each apostilled certificate, including the apostille page. Most universities arrange the translation through a notary in their city after you arrive, which avoids mistakes in names. Do not translate in India unless the university asks you to.

Scan every page of the apostilled certificates as soon as you get them back. The university may ask for the scans before it issues the invitation, and you carry the originals to Russia in your hand luggage.

When to start: a timeline for NEET students

NORKA does not publish a processing time. Plan for several weeks between the centre visit and getting the apostilled certificates back, longer in the busy months. The full sequence of admission, invitation and visa is on the admission process page, and the costs of the whole course on the fees page.

Common mistakes

• Different spellings. Your name must match across the SSLC book, the Plus Two certificate, the passport and the NEET score card. Fix differences before attestation; a Russian notary translates exactly what is written.
• Asking for embassy attestation. Russia does not need Russian embassy attestation. Choose the apostille.
• Attesting only the certificate, not the mark list. Russian universities check subjects and marks, especially Physics, Chemistry and Biology. Attest the mark list too.
• Waiting for the admission letter. Attestation takes weeks; start as soon as the certificates exist.
• Paying cash to an unknown middleman. NORKA takes only card or UPI at its centres. Pay government charges there, not to someone outside.

NORKA Attestation and Apostille: Frequently Asked Questions

Is NORKA attestation required for MBBS in Russia?

For certificates issued in Kerala, yes: NORKA Roots authenticates them for the state and forwards them for the MEA apostille. Russia accepts Indian certificates with an apostille; no Russian embassy attestation is needed.

What is the NORKA attestation fee?

NORKA Roots lists a ₹75 state attestation fee per certificate, a ₹708 service charge and ₹50 for each apostille, plus ₹200 postage outside Kerala. Payment is by card or UPI; cash is not accepted at the centres. Confirm current figures on norkaroots.org.

Where are the NORKA attestation centres?

In Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Kozhikode. You choose the centre and a time slot when you apply online on norkaroots.org. Attestation is usually done Monday to Friday from 10 am to 2:30 pm.

Can my parents submit the certificates for me?

Yes. NORKA accepts submission by the certificate holder, a parent, a brother or sister, or a spouse. Mark the nominee option in the online application and bring proof of identity and of the relation.

Does NORKA attest CBSE certificates?

NORKA says it attests only certificates issued by educational institutions in Kerala, so ask NORKA before booking. If it will not take your CBSE certificate, apply for the apostille through the MEA's authorised collection agency, which has a centre in Thiruvananthapuram.

How long does NORKA attestation take?

NORKA does not publish a processing time. Allow several weeks between the centre visit and receiving the apostilled certificates, and start as soon as your Class 12 certificate is issued.

Sources: NORKA Roots certificate attestation page and applicant user manual (centres, procedure, documents, fee list, cash rule from 1 October 2023); Ministry of External Affairs attestation and apostille pages (₹50 apostille fee, authorised collection agencies); Hague Conference status table for the Apostille Convention (India and Russia as parties). Checked October 2026.