How to Self Attest a Document
What to write, where to sign and which date format to use, on paper and on your phone, plus the extra rules for OCI and consulate applications.
You need three things: a copy of the document, your usual signature, and the date. The whole job takes a minute per page once you know where each mark goes.
On a paper photocopy
- Make a clear photocopyCopy the full page, edges included. Keep the original with you; you may be asked to show it.
- Write “Self Attested”In a blank area near the bottom, write “Self Attested” (or “True Copy” if the form says so) by hand.
- Sign below itUse the same signature as on your application. Blue ink is the usual choice.
- Add the dateWrite the date in DD-MM-YYYY. Some offices also want your name in capitals under the signature.
- Repeat on every pageEach page of a multi-page copy gets its own signature and date.
On your phone, for an online form
- Photograph the originalFlat on a table, in daylight, from straight above.
- Open it in the right toolA single page or ID card: the self attested photocopy. A PDF or several pages: self attested document. A passport size photo: the self attested photo maker.
- Add signature, words and dateDraw your signature with a finger, or photograph it on white paper.
- Download at the size the form needsCheck the KB limit in the form before you export.
What the finished copy looks like
The words, the signature and the date sit together, in the same ink, without covering anything printed on the page.
Common mistakes that get copies rejected
- Signature covers the photo, seal or the issuing officer’s signature.
- Only the first page of a multi-page certificate is signed.
- A different signature from the one on the application form.
- No date, or a date after the form’s last date.
- Blurry phone photo where the signature is legible but the document text is not.
OCI and Indian consulate applications
OCI card and passport services handled through Indian missions abroad usually ask for self attested copies of every supporting document. Requirements vary by mission and outsourcing agency, but these points come up repeatedly:
- Sign every page, including blank-looking back pages of passports that are part of the set.
- Some missions want “True Copy” written above the signature; follow your checklist’s wording.
- For a minor, both parents may need to sign the child’s copies.
- The signature should match the one on your application form and passport.
Not sure whether self attestation is enough, or whether you need a notary? See self attested meaning for the difference.
Questions
Where exactly should I sign?
On a blank part of the page, usually the bottom right, without covering any printed text, photo, seal or the issuing officer’s signature. On a stuck-on photo, sign across the lower edge so half the signature is on the photo and half on the form.
Do I sign the original or the photocopy?
Only the photocopy. Never write on original certificates or ID cards.
Can someone else self attest my documents?
No. Self attestation means the person the document belongs to signs it. For a minor, the parent or guardian usually signs and writes their relation, but check the form’s instructions.
Is a signature in pencil or gel pen acceptable?
Use a ball pen. Pencil can be erased and gel ink can smudge on photocopy toner.
How do I self attest on my phone without a printer?
Photograph the original, open it in a self attesting tool, add your signature, “Self Attested” and the date, and download the file for upload. The steps are below.