ZAFAR & ASSOCIATES - LLP | Attestation & Legalization - Pakistan

Attestation & Legalization

Attestation is the process of providing a witness to a signature whereas the legalization validates the capacity in which the signatory has signed the document.

Attestation is the process of providing a witness to a signature on a document by another signature to verify the document has been duly signed by the entities bound by the document’s contents whereas the legalization process validates the capacity in which the signatory entity has signed the document, on the other hand, confirmation of the genuineness of a seal or stamp or signature on a document by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is considered as legalized document.

Furthermore, authentication would be referred as the procedure of verification as to official nature of a document or certificate. Authentication of a document ensures acceptance at its face value on a foreign land.

Authentication or attestation frequently involves several bureaucratic barriers, making it a tiresome and confusing process. Our experts have dealt with more than thousands authentication cases in different parts of the country and use their expertise to review the requirements of each document. They undertake authentication of documents on behalf of the clients, significantly reducing the turnaround time and making the entire process quick, efficient and effortless. Our experts are specialised in the legalization of a wide variety of documents inclusive of educational degrees, diplomas, transcripts, personal and court documents.

Attestation & Legalization Services in Pakistan

ZA-LLP provides professional attestation and legalization services in Pakistan, since we have our branches in all major cities throughout the country. We provide professional document authentication, attestation and legalization services. Our legalization services help our clients in obtaining an apostille or an embassy legalization for their documents covering more than 100 jurisdictions across the globe. An apostille, attestation or embassy legalization certifies the authenticity of documents issued in one country, before they can be accepted by government and overseas corporate establishments. We provide finest document legalization services as well as the procurment of civil and commercial documents like police clearance certificate, single status certificate, duplicate degree certificate, marriage certificate from concerned authorties. We provide complete assistance to attest your documents quickly with affordable cost.

We provide our clients, the guidelines on the Attestation / Legalization procedures involved for verification of documents. We help them to attest their personal, educational, commercial documents from notary, state home department, embassy, consulate and other related departments. We aim to assist everyone with one stop solution for all their problems with minimal risk.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, however, provided the following guidelines in each category:

Educational Documents

Educational certificates issued by Boards of Intermediate & Secondary Education are required to be countersigned by Inter Board Committee of Chairman (IBCC). Degrees issued by various universities should be attested from Higher Education Commission (HEC). Certificates of technical skills should be attested by the local technical board and National Vocational & Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC).

In case of Educational documents issued from abroad, their equivalence issued from concerned departments i.e. Inter board Committee of Chairman (IBCC) and Higher Education Commission (HEC) are also attested.

Association of Certified Chartered Accountants (ACCA) certificates are required to be attested by British Council & ACCA. Result cards and certificates of Institute of Chartered Accountant of Pakistan are required to be attested by the concerned authorized officer of the Institute of Chartered Accountant of Pakistan (ICAP).

Result cards and certificates of Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Pakistan are required to be attested by the concerned authorized officer of the Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Pakistan (ICMAP).

Certificate(s) issued from Madaris is/are required to be attested by Wafaqul Madaris and subsequently by IBCC and HEC, as required for each certificate.

Hifzul-Quran certificates can only be attested after prior attestation by Wafaqul Madaris Arabia Multan.

Banafide Certificate issued by Universities is required to be attested from Registrar / Deputy Registrar of the University. In case of regular students, photocopy of student's card shall be provided by the applicant or in case of ex-student copy of the certificate / degree duly attested by HEC.

Bonafide Certificate issued by Schools / Colleges is required to be attested from District / Area Education Officer / Director School & Colleges. In case of regular students, photocopy of student's card is required to be provided by the applicant or copy of the certificate (IBCC attested).

School leaving certificates issued from Government and Private schools are required to be attested from IBCC or District Education Officer / Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (PEIRA).

School leaving certificates from educational institutions of Defence Forces (Army, Air force, Navy) should be attested by Commanding Officer of their Educational Directorate or authorized office/officer.

Educational degrees and Experience certificates issued from authorities abroad should be attested by the Pakistan's Missions abroad.

Attestation of Nikkah Nama / Marriage Registration Certificate

Original Nikkah Nama issued by Nikkah Registrar with his signature / stamp along with Marriage Registration Certificate (MRC) and Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC) of bride with husband name is required or Family Registration Certificate (FRC) or Children Registration Certificate from NADRA (in case of children after the wedlock).

Nikah Nama of Azad Jammu and Kashmir should be signed and stamped by Tehsil Mufti can be attested after presenting Computerized National Identity Card of bride with Husband name or Family Registration Certificate (FRC) issued by National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA).

Nikkah nama & Marriage Certificate of wedding with foreign national must be supported with copy of Passport of foreign spouse, Pakistani visa and date of entry in Pakistan. No Nikkah nama & marriage Certificate will be attested without the provision of above mentioned documentary evidence.

In case, a Marriage took place abroad then Nikkah Nama / Marriage Certificate must be attested by the local Foreign Office and countersigned by the concerned Pakistani Diplomatic Mission in that country.

Divorce Certificate

Divorce certificates are required to be issued by Chairman of Arbitration Council / Secretary Union Council. Incase of photocopy it is to be attested by either issuing authority.

In case of Divorce deed, Computerized Divorce Certificate is mandatory.

Divorce papers can only get attested by the individuals themselves (anyone of both spouses), no blood relative, friend can get attested divorce certificate, except in the case of those who are residing abroad they can send their Power of Attorney in the name of blood relative / friend duly signed by the authorised officer of Pakistan Embassy / Consulate in that country.

Divorce proceeding papers must be attested by the Arbitration Council concerned.

Unmarried Certificate

Unmarried Certificate / single marital status certificate is required to be issued by the Secretary of the concerned Union Council.

Un-married certificate may please be got issued on the official letter head of the Union Council and signed / stamped by the Secretary of the Union Council. In future un-married certificate will not be attested by the Ministry which is on plain paper or letter head in the name of Chairman / Member of the Union Council.

Death Certificate

Such certificates if issued by NADRA, Union council or hospitals are required to be signed by MS / DMS of a Government Hospital. (Death certificates should have ID card cancellation certificate).

Birth Certificate

In case of issuance from a hospital it should be duly signed and stamped by Medical Superintendent / Deputy Medical Superintendent (MS / DMS) and, in case of Union Council, by the concerned Secretary of the Union Council.

Police Clearance / Character Certificate

It is required to be issued by local District Police Officer (DPO) or, in case of tribal areas, by the concerned Political Agent.

Medical Documents

Papers regarding MBBS / PMDC / Experience Certificates of doctors, Pharmacists and Paramedics are required to be attested by Ministry of National Health Services. Nursing Diplomas and other health related diplomas / certificates are also required to be signed by Ministry of National Health Services.

Medical fitness certificates are required to be signed by MS / DMS / Civil Surgeon / Director Medical Board, District Health Officer.

Certificates for Bed rest on medical grounds are required to be signed by MS / DMS / Civil Surgeon / Director Medical Board or District Health Officer. Bed rest should not have medicine.

Driving License Attestation

Original driving license, along with No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the concerned licensing authority. In cases where original license is not available, a copy of license duly attested by the concerned licensing authority is required. (License without NOC shall not be attested).

Bank Papers

Duly signed and stamped from the concerned Bank Officer. All such documents are also required to be re-verified from Islamabad branches of the respective Banks.

Commercial & Business Documents

Business / Commercial agreements or any other document on trade etc. are required to be signed by the company executives and countersigned by the local Chamber of Commerce & Industry. If there is any legal document like Power of Attorney etc. or documents mentioned above, it is required to be executed on stamp paper / Chamber / Company letter head, thereafter conditions of Power of Attorney will be applied i.e. the Executants are required to come in person for attestation.

Power of Attorneys, Agreement deeds and Authorization letter (Authority letters) of all kinds either on stamp papers' Company's letter heads or Chamber's letter head should have the personal appearance of the Owner / MD / CEO of the firm / Company / Business enterprise.

The documents pertaining to International Air Transport Association (IATA) / Hajj-Umrah agreements are required to be attested by Department of Tourist Services (PTDC) from its regional offices and main office. The photocopies of these documents shall follow the same procedure.

The documents related to Protector of Immigration should also be attested by the same office before countersigned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Islamabad.

License of overseas promoters are required to be attested by Protector of Emigration and photo copy is also required to be attested by the same.

License of manufacture, invoice, certificate of origin etc. should be attested or issued by concerned Chamber of Commerce on the letter head of the Company / business firm.

Commercial documents related to Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) and Registrar of Firms are attested in original and the photocopies are required to be attested by the issuing authorities.

Experiences of Companies and firms involved in assignments across Pakistan are not attested until unless they are attested by the government agencies to which the enterprise is registered.

Attestation of Membership / License of Bar Council needs attestation by the President of Bar Council.

Experience Certificate

Experience certificates (Beautician, Cooking / Chef, Bus Hostess / Stewart) are required to be attested from Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC)

Experience certificates (Electrician / Technician, Workshop / Mechanic) are required to be attested from National Vocational and Technical Training Center (NAVTTC) / National Training Bureau (NTB)

Experience certificates (Teaching) are required to be attested from District Education Officer / Director Schools & Colleges or Registrar of University concerned.

Experience certificate (Pilot, Air hostess / Stewart) are required to be attested from Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

Any experience certificate issued outside Pakistan alongwith Birth Certificate / Death Certificate / Nikah Nama, Divorce Certificate etc. are required to be attested from the Embassy / High Commission of Pakistan that Country.

Experience certificate of Accountant etc. is required to be attested from ACCA Pakistan.

Engineering Diplomas, certificates, experience certificates are required to be attested from Pakistan Engineering Council, Islamabad.

Experience certificates of Rescue (EMT, Pre-hospital treatment, emergency preparedness etc.) and other relevant documents should be attested by both District and Provincial emergency services.

Experience certificates related to sports, coaching etc. should be attested from Pakistan Sports Board or its regional offices.

Power of Attorney from Abroad

Power of Attorney from abroad is required to be attested by Pakistan Embassy / Consulate in that country. After obtaining the confirmation of its genuineness from the concerned Embassy / Consulate, the Ministry will attest it. For this purpose, attorney appointed in Pakistan is required to come in person with original Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC).

The validity of Power of Attorneys is 120 days from the date of attestation of Pakistan's Missions abroad and re-attestation/verification by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Islamabad or its Camp offices in Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta.

Power of Attorney for Abroad

Power of Attorney for abroad regarding sale purchase of property collection of dues etc. is required to be attested by local District Registrar and the executant is required to come in person with original identity card and passport size picture. In case of death case, the succession certificate / Guardian Certificate issued by Civil Judge / Judicial Magistrate, is essential for attestation of Power of Attorney.

All Powers of Attorneys being submitted abroad are required to be prepared on stamp paper along with passport size photographs of the Executant.

Documents from Abroad

Other documents i.e. Educational Certificates, Experience Certificates, Birth Certificate, Death Certificate, Life Certificate, Marriage Certificate and other Bank related documents (application for opening of dormant account) etc. issued from different authorities in abroad are required to be attested by Pakistan Embassy / Consulate in that country.

In case of Educational documents their equivalence issued from concerned departments i.e. Inter board Committee of Chairman (IBCC) and Higher Education Commission (HEC) are also attested.

Affidavits

Only three types of affidavits are attested by the Ministry i.e. family re-union (children visas), financial support, un-married status (by parents, incase parents are deceased then by close blood relatives).

The above-mentioned affidavits are required to be made on stamp papers. Attestation of a magistrate is compulsory and the signatory is required to come in person.

Affidavit(s) regarding no Government service, low pension and salary in favor of scholarship are required to be either attested by Federal Board of Revenue or their certificate is mandatory.

Miscellaneous Documents

Documents issued by Defense Organizations are required to be attested by designated officer of the Ministry of Defense.

Certificates regarding import of no-prohibited arms of yester years are required to be referred to Ministry of Commerce for verification their genuineness before their attestation by the Ministry.

This Ministry will only attest the documents in Urdu/English. Translations are required to have English in one column on the same page along with the language required i.e. Arabic, French, German, Italian etc.

Attestation of the documents of permanent nature i.e. birth certificate, nikkah nama, educational certificates, death certificates and all the documents issued by NADRA will always remain valid.

Documents attested by our Camp Offices in Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta are treated at par with those attested by the Ministry. Specimen stamps and signatures of all authorized officials in Camp Offices are routinely provided to all Pakistan Missions abroad as well as to all Diplomatic Missions in Pakistan. Accordingly, these attestations have authenticity as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Islamabad and are not required to be re-attested.

Documents issued by NADRA are required to be directly attested from this office.

Documents issued by FBR will be sent to the respective offices for verification before their subsequent attestation by Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Islamabad and its Camp Offices. Only online FBR Tax Payer Certificate will be attested on the same day, provided it is either directly submitted by the applicant or his/her blood relative.

FIR relating to loss of passport will only be attested after the original verification by the concerned police station.

Photocopies of Pakistani passport will only be attested after verification by the concerned Passport Office.

Illiteracy certificate can be attested after attestation by NADRA or issuance of such certificate by NADRA.

Non Attestable Documents

Identity cards and its translation, criminal Judgments / FIRs, Political / Criminal Disputes, domicile, photographs, invitation letters, visa notes, insurance papers, charity documents of NGO's and papers of registry and sale / purchase of land etc. will not be attested.

Halal Certificate, Slaughter Certificate, IELTS / TOEFEL etc. certificates, ISO standardization and all international certificates, Applications of all kinds will not be attested.

Reference letters from professors etc. both from abroad as well as national educational institutions and character certificates from educational institutions are not attested.

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