Apostille in Pakistan Services - Apostille Convention

In Pakistan, Apostille refers to the process of certifying documents for use in foreign countries that are members of the Hague Convention of 1961. However, as Pakistan is not a signatory to the Hague Apostille Convention, it follows a different document legalization process to authenticate official papers for international use.
Here's an overview of the document legalization process in Pakistan:
1. Document Attestation:
In Pakistan, before a document can be used abroad, it needs to go through a multi-step attestation process. This typically involves:
Notarization: First, documents are notarized by a notary public or a relevant authority to verify their authenticity.
Attestation by Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA): After notarization, the documents are submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) for official attestation. This step is crucial, as MoFA verifies that the document has been issued by a recognized authority in Pakistan.

2. Foreign Embassies/Consulates:
Once the documents have been attested by MoFA, they may need further authentication from the embassy or consulate of the country where the document will be used. This is particularly necessary for countries that are not part of the Apostille system.
3. Types of Documents:
Common documents that require attestation in Pakistan include:
Educational certificates (degrees, diplomas)
Marriage certificates
Birth certificates
Business documents (contracts, trade licenses)
Police clearance certificates

4. Purpose:
This legalization process ensures that Pakistani documents are accepted abroad for purposes such as immigration, employment, education, or business transactions.
While Pakistan doesn't provide Apostille certification, its document attestation process serves a similar purpose by ensuring the legitimacy of documents for international use through diplomatic channels.