Document Attestation at Pakistan Embassies — 2026 Guide

Pakistan embassies and consulates attest educational certificates, personal documents and commercial papers for use in Pakistan or for Pakistani documents to be used abroad. This guide covers every type of attestation, required steps, fees and processing times.

Attestation vs Legalisation vs Apostille

Attestation is the embassy stamp confirming a document's authenticity. Legalisation is the broader process including notarisation and government authentication. Apostille is used between Hague Convention member countries. Pakistan is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, so documents for use in Pakistan generally require full embassy attestation rather than an apostille alone.

Educational Certificate Attestation

Educational attestation is required for Pakistanis who studied abroad and need their degrees recognised in Pakistan, or for Pakistani degrees that need to be used overseas. Common scenarios include employment in Pakistan, higher education admissions, and professional licence applications.

Documents That Can Be Attested

Educational
  • University degrees (BSc, MSc, PhD, MBA)
  • College diplomas and certificates
  • Academic transcripts
  • Professional qualifications (ACCA, CFA, etc.)
  • School leaving certificates (O-Level, A-Level, Matric, FSc)
  • HEC equivalence certificates
Personal
  • Marriage certificates (Nikah Nama and civil)
  • Birth certificates
  • Death certificates
  • Divorce decrees
  • Medical certificates and fitness reports
  • Police clearance certificates
Legal
  • General Power of Attorney
  • Special Power of Attorney
  • Affidavits and statutory declarations
  • Court orders and judgements
  • Adoption papers
Commercial
  • Company registration documents
  • Trade licences and certificates of origin
  • Commercial invoices for export/import
  • Board resolutions
  • Agency and distribution agreements

Step-by-Step Attestation Process

1
Get the Document Notarised

Have a licensed notary public in the issuing country certify a true copy of the document. For educational certificates, some countries require verification by the issuing institution first. In the UK, use a solicitor or notary public. In the US, use a notary public followed by county clerk authentication.

2
Government Authentication

After notarisation, the document must be authenticated by the relevant government authority:
• UK: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) legalisation service
• US: US Department of State, Office of Authentications
• Canada: Global Affairs Canada
• UAE: Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA)
• Saudi Arabia: Saudi MOFA

3
Submit to Pakistan Embassy

Bring the notarised and government-authenticated document to the Pakistan embassy with: the original document, photocopies, your valid passport or NICOP, completed attestation request form, and the attestation fee.

4
Collect the Attested Document

Standard processing takes 3-5 working days. The embassy stamps and signs the document to certify its authenticity. Some missions offer same-day or next-day express service at an additional fee. Collect with your receipt and valid ID.

Attestation Fees — 2026

Document TypeStandard Fee (USD)Express/Same-DayProcessing Time
Educational Certificate / Degree$15 - $30$30 - $603-5 working days
Marriage Certificate (Nikah Nama)$15 - $25$30 - $503-5 working days
Birth / Death Certificate$10 - $20$25 - $403-5 working days
General Power of Attorney$30 - $50$60 - $1003-5 working days
Special Power of Attorney$20 - $40$40 - $803-5 working days
Affidavit / Declaration$15 - $30$30 - $603-5 working days
Commercial Document$25 - $50$50 - $1003-5 working days
Certificate of Origin$20 - $40$40 - $803-5 working days

* Fees vary by embassy and are paid in local currency. Some missions charge per page for multi-page documents. Contact your nearest embassy for exact fees.

Country-Specific Requirements

  1. Notarise the document with a UK solicitor or notary public
  2. Submit to FCDO Legalisation Office (online at gov.uk or by post)
  3. Once FCDO stamped, submit to Pakistan High Commission London (or consulates in Birmingham, Manchester, Bradford, Glasgow)

FCDO fee: £30 (standard, 2 weeks) or £75 (premium, next day). Pakistan embassy fee: £15-£40 per document.

  1. Notarise the document with a US notary public
  2. Get county clerk certification (if required by your state)
  3. Submit to US Department of State, Office of Authentications
  4. Submit the authenticated document to Pakistan Embassy Washington DC (or consulates in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Houston)

State Dept fee: $8 per document. Pakistan embassy fee: $15-$50 per document.

  1. Notarise the document with a local notary or court
  2. Get MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) attestation
  3. Submit to Pakistan Embassy Abu Dhabi, Consulate Dubai, or relevant Saudi mission

Note: In the UAE and Saudi Arabia, many third-party typing centres and attestation service providers can handle the full chain on your behalf for a service fee of AED 200-500 / SAR 200-400.

  1. Notarise with a Canadian notary public or Commissioner for Oaths
  2. Submit to Global Affairs Canada for authentication
  3. Submit to Pakistan High Commission Ottawa (or consulates in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal)

Global Affairs fee: CAD $35 per document. Pakistan embassy fee: CAD $20-$60 per document.

Special Case: HEC Degree Attestation

If you are attesting a Pakistani degree for use abroad, the process is different:

  1. Get your degree attested by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) in Islamabad or at regional HEC offices
  2. Get it attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in Islamabad
  3. Get it attested by the embassy of the destination country in Pakistan

For foreign degrees to be used in Pakistan, you need the embassy attestation chain described above, followed by HEC equivalence verification if needed for employment or further education in Pakistan.

HEC Equivalence: If you studied abroad and want to work in Pakistan's public sector or continue education in Pakistan, you may also need an HEC equivalence certificate. This is separate from attestation and involves evaluation of your foreign qualification against Pakistani standards.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Skipping notarisation: The embassy will not attest a document that has not been notarised first
  • Wrong order: The chain must be: Notary → Government → Embassy. Skipping a step invalidates the attestation
  • Photocopies only: You must bring the original document — the embassy stamps the original
  • Expired ID: Your passport or NICOP must be valid when you submit the attestation request
  • Wrong embassy: You must attest at the Pakistan mission in the country where the document was issued or notarised
  • Unsigned documents: All documents must be properly signed and dated by the issuing authority
Quick Facts
  • Processing: 3-5 working days
  • Fees: $10-$50 per document
  • Express: Same-day available
  • Originals: Required
  • Chain: Notary → Govt → Embassy
Related Pages
Important Note

Pakistan is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention. Documents bearing only an apostille stamp (without embassy attestation) may not be accepted by Pakistani authorities. Always complete the full attestation chain through the Pakistan embassy.