Attest documents at MOFA (attestation and Apostille)
وزارت خارجہ سے دستاویزات کی تصدیق (اٹیسٹیشن اور اپوسٹل)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad and its camp/liaison offices attest Pakistani documents for use abroad. Regular attestation is free apart from revenue stamps; Apostille certification is a separate paid service (Rs 3,000–12,000 per document) that now requires online registration at apostille.mofa.gov.pk. Documents usually need prior verification by the issuing body (e.g. HEC, IBCC, NADRA).
وزارت خارجہ اسلام آباد اور اس کے کیمپ/رابطہ دفاتر بیرون ملک استعمال کے لیے پاکستانی دستاویزات کی تصدیق کرتے ہیں۔ عام تصدیق مفت ہے، صرف ریونیو اسٹامپ لگانے ہوتے ہیں؛ اپوسٹل سرٹیفکیشن الگ فیس والی سروس ہے (فی دستاویز 3,000 سے 12,000 روپے) جس کے لیے اب apostille.mofa.gov.pk پر آن لائن رجسٹریشن لازمی ہے۔ عام طور پر دستاویز کی پہلے متعلقہ ادارے (مثلاً ایچ ای سی، آئی بی سی سی، نادرا) سے تصدیق ضروری ہوتی ہے۔
- Fee
- Rs 3,000 – Rs 12,000
- Processing time
- General documents (except Power of Attorney and affidavits) are processed or attested within two hours at the MOFA Consular Services Hall, as stated by MOFA
- Offices
- 5 listed
Who can apply
- Anyone needing Pakistani documents legalised for use abroad
- Applicants may come in person or send a blood relative (who must prove the relation); a person abroad can authorise a non-relative through an authority letter attested by the Pakistan Embassy
- Power of Attorney and affidavits need the executant to appear in person
Documents you need
Steps
- 1Get the document verified first by the body that issued or oversees it (e.g. HEC for degrees, IBCC for Matric/Inter certificates, NADRA documents directly at MOFA).پہلے دستاویز کی تصدیق اس ادارے سے کروائیں جس نے اسے جاری کیا یا جو اس کا ذمہ دار ہے (مثلاً ڈگری کے لیے ایچ ای سی، میٹرک/انٹر کے لیے آئی بی سی سی؛ نادرا کی دستاویزات براہ راست وزارت خارجہ سے)۔
- 2Regular attestation: paste the prescribed revenue stamps and visit MOFA Islamabad or a camp office with your original CNIC, the original document and a photocopy, or send it through an authorised courier company (TCS, Gerry's, Leopards, ECS, M&P).عام تصدیق: مقررہ ریونیو اسٹامپ لگائیں اور اصل شناختی کارڈ، اصل دستاویز اور اس کی کاپی کے ساتھ وزارت خارجہ اسلام آباد یا کسی کیمپ آفس جائیں، یا مجاز کوریئر کمپنی (ٹی سی ایس، جیریز، لیپرڈز، ای سی ایس، ایم اینڈ پی) کے ذریعے بھیجیں۔
- 3Apostille: create an account at apostille.mofa.gov.pk, attach both sides of your CNIC, create a new application, upload the documents and submit.اپوسٹل: apostille.mofa.gov.pk پر اکاؤنٹ بنائیں، شناختی کارڈ کے دونوں رخ لگائیں، نئی درخواست بنائیں، دستاویزات اپ لوڈ کریں اور جمع کروائیں۔
- 4Apostille: wait for the approval email, then pay the challan you receive by email online, through Easypaisa or at a bank.اپوسٹل: منظوری کی ای میل کا انتظار کریں، پھر ای میل پر ملنے والا چالان آن لائن، ایزی پیسہ یا بینک کے ذریعے ادا کریں۔
- 5Apostille: visit the selected office (Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta or Gujrat) on the given date and time with your original documents.اپوسٹل: مقررہ تاریخ اور وقت پر اپنی اصل دستاویزات کے ساتھ منتخب دفتر (اسلام آباد، لاہور، کراچی، پشاور، کوئٹہ یا گجرات) جائیں۔
Fees
| Category | Amount | Effective from |
|---|---|---|
| Apostille certificate, personal document (per document) | Rs 3,000 | 2024-07-08 |
| Apostille certificate, educational document (per document) | Rs 3,000 | 2024-07-08 |
| Apostille certificate, legal document (per document) | Rs 4,500 | 2024-07-08 |
| Apostille certificate, commercial document (per document) | Rs 12,000 | 2024-07-08 |
| Apostille certificate, experience certificate (per document) | Rs 3,000 | — |
Good to know
- • Regular attestation is free: no fee is charged for any type of attestation by the Ministry or its Camp Offices; only prescribed-value revenue stamps are required. The Rs 3,000/4,500/12,000 amounts are Apostille fees only.
- • From Monday 27 July 2026, Apostille requests are not entertained without prior online registration at apostille.mofa.gov.pk; visit only after you receive approval by email. Walk-in Apostille is only for legal documents.
- • A MOFA public notice of 5 March 2026 said the Apostille online portal was temporarily suspended due to cybersecurity threats; check the portal or WhatsApp help desk +92 307 1339682 for current status.
- • Authorised courier companies charge their own service charges in addition to the Apostille fee.
- • Documents attested by the camp offices in Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta are treated at par with those attested by the Ministry.
- • Non-attestable documents include domicile, photographs, invitation letters, visa notes, land registry/sale papers and applications of all kinds.
- • MOFA attests documents only in Urdu/English; translations must have English in one column on the same page.
- • Power of Attorney validity is 120 days from attestation by the Pakistan Mission abroad and re-attestation by MOFA.
- • Unmarried certificates must be issued on the Union Council's official letterhead and signed/stamped by its Secretary.
- • MOFA and camp offices are open Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm; Saturday and Sunday closed.
Where to go
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Consular Services Hall
Consular Services Hall, Constitution Avenue, G-5, Islamabad.
Monday to Friday – 8:30 am to 4:30 pm; Saturday and Sunday closed
- Foreign Affairs Liaison Office (Camp Office), Karachi
Main Shahrah-e-faisal, Adjacent To Ftc Building, Karachi
Monday to Friday – 8:30 am to 4:30 pm; Saturday and Sunday closed
- Foreign Affairs Liaison Office (Camp Office), Lahore
43-N,Gulberg-III, Lahore
Monday to Friday – 8:30 am to 4:30 pm; Saturday and Sunday closed
- Foreign Affairs Liaison Office (Camp Office), Peshawar
House No. 18-c/2, Gul Mohar Lane, University Town Peshawar
Monday to Friday – 8:30 am to 4:30 pm; Saturday and Sunday closed
- Foreign Affairs Liaison Office (Camp Office), Quetta
Room 28, 2nd Floor, Block 07, Civil Secretariat Baluchistan, Quetta
Monday to Friday – 8:30 am to 4:30 pm; Saturday and Sunday closed
Questions people ask
›Is MOFA attestation free?
Yes, regular attestation by the Ministry or its Camp Offices is free; you only paste the prescribed revenue stamps. Apostille certification is a separate service with fees of Rs 3,000 (personal/educational), Rs 4,500 (legal) and Rs 12,000 (commercial) per document.
›Do I need to get my degree attested by HEC first?
Yes. Degrees from universities must be attested by HEC, and BISE certificates countersigned by IBCC, before MOFA attestation.
›Can someone else attest my documents for me?
A blood relative can, after proving the relation. Someone abroad can authorise a non-relative through an authority letter attested by the Pakistan Embassy. Power of Attorney and affidavits require personal appearance.
›Where can I get help with the Apostille portal?
Contact the Consular Section's help desk on WhatsApp +92 307 1339682, or call 051-90569524 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm).