How to Get your Educational Certificates Attested in Qatar

As one of the most lucrative environments to expand your career in or to pursue further studies, Qatar boasts of a thriving economy and investment landscape where both locals and foreigners can enhance their credentials for a better and brighter future. The State of Qatar always ensures that all procedures and documents are in order, for the protection of the rights of all individuals as well as to encourage a more sustainable development in all fields for generations to come.

As such, it is crucial for you to have the right documents that are not only accurate but also duly verified no matter what your official business in the country may be. Whether you are looking to give your professional career a significant boost or you are in pursuit of higher learning to achieve more skills in life, you will need to undergo a verification process to make sure that your documents are genuine and authentic.

What is document attestation and why do you need it?

In Qatar, there are many procedures involved in Educational Certificate attestation. Having your official documents attested by the right professionals is key—after all, you wouldn’t want to leave your important paperwork in the hands of untrustworthy amateurs.

Legitimate certificate attestation begins with attaining an attestation stamp from the Qatar embassy or consulate. This legal procedure is essential and is a major requirement for many requests and submissions in Qatar. For instance, you will need a duly attested educational certificate in order to conduct official business in the country, to apply for employment, or to obtain a work visa, student visa, or residence visa. Only authorized individuals or relevant institutions are officially allowed to attest documents, and only these are acceptable to the necessary bodies of government you will need to submit your paperwork to.

More importantly, attestation of your educational certificate reassures the government that you are who you say you are. It is proof that all of the details and personal information stated in the certificate are legitimate, accurate, and true, and that you have no malicious intent as you are conducting your affairs in the country.

What are the requirements for education certificate attestation?

Attestation of educational certificates can be a long and arduous process. There can be multiple back-and-forths needed, as well as trips to government offices, long lines and unnecessary queues, and even costly penalties should there be any misrepresentation or data inaccuracy on the forms.

For example, if you are applying for a job in the country, you will need to submit a signed letter from the university (Enrolment Verification Letter) that is addressed to the Consulate General of Qatar with an ink signature. You will also need to submit an offer letter as signed by both you and your employer—all these must be verified for authenticity as well.

To begin with, you will need the following requirements when trying to have your education certificates attested:

1. Original Degree Certificate – This should be printed by the educational institution and notarized by the school registrar.
2. Original Transcript of Records
3. Original Bonafide/Verification Letter – This should include the following details:
   1. Name of the person to whom the certificate or testamur has been granted (a testamur is a certificate or an award that is given to the students when they graduate from the institution; it will also include your full legal name and your degree or award)
   2. Name of the degree or qualification (Bachelors, Masters, Doctorate Program, etc.)
   3. Confirmation of the status of the institution (governmental or private)
   4. Confirmation of the mode of study (full-time or part-time)
   5. Face-to-face learning (on-campus) or distance learning (online)
   6. The campus where the study was undertaken
   7. The campus where examinations were held
   8. The duration of the education program
   9. The actual time taken by the person to complete the study and obtain the degree or qualification, including the start date and the end date of the study

You can also provide other supporting documents such as a copy of your passport in order to speed things up should more information be required.

Are there any specific processes for each country?

While the procedures for educational certificate attestation in Qatar have the same basic concept, there will be special procedures depending on the rules and regulations from your own home country. You can refer to the details as follows:

1. Philippines
   1. Attestation at the Commission on Higher Education (CHED)
   2. Attestation at the Department of Foreign Affairs
   3. Attestation at the Qatar Embassy
   4. Attestation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Qatar
2. India
   1. Attestation at the Human Resources Department (HRD)
   2. Attestation at the Ministry of External Affairs
   3. Attestation at the Qatar Embassy
   4. Attestation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Qatar
3. United Kingdom
   1. Notarisation by the Solicitor/Notary Public
   2. Attestation at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
   3. Attestation at the Qatar Embassy
   4. Attestation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Qatar
4. United States
   1. Notarisation by the University/ Custodial Notarisation by the Solictor/Notary Public
   2. Attestation at the Secretary of State
   3. Attestation at the US State Department
   4. Attestation at the Qatar Embassy
   5. Attestation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Qatar
5. Pakistan
   1. Attestation at the Higher Education Commission
   2. Attestation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
   3. Attestation at the Qatar Embassy
   4. Attestation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Qatar
6. Australia
   1. Notarisation by the Notary Public
   2. Attestation at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
   3. Attestation at the Qatar Embassy
   4. Attestation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

How long does educational certificate attestation take?

Depending on the accuracy and completion of the documents that you submit, the processing time normally takes 20 to 30 working days. It is important for you to submit all of the required documents completely and with all the right information to make sure that you won’t experience any unwanted delays during the processing of your certificate.

Additional information

Currently, the MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) has updated regulations for the attestation of educational certificates in Qatar. While initially, a simple Bonafide letter from your educational institute would suffice as long as you confirm that you had studied there and had successfully completed the requisite course, today, you will need a significant amount of other supporting documents in order to ensure that your educational credentials are valid.

It’s important to enlist the services of a professional business consultant that has been in the industry for a significant and reliable amount of years with a solid and trustworthy reputation. Having such a business liaison will not only facilitate matters for you, but it will also ensure that no amount of time and effort is wasted, providing you with the advantage of getting all of your affairs in order in the most hassle-free and stress-free way possible.

The reason why the MOFA employs a strict no-tolerance policy when it comes to compliance with these document attestations is because as the economy and the business landscape of Qatar thrives, so does the sheer number of foreign workforce that comes in droves into the country. While this certainly strengthens the overall development of Qatar as a whole, it also opens up a can of worms, so to speak, in that plenty of fake documents and counterfeit credentials may slip through the cracks.

As such, the government wants to impose a strict implementation of the attestation of documents for the protection of employees and employers alike. Forged signatures and false claims should be a thing of the past, hence, the standardized format for educational certification. Moreover, there should be an official college stamp or seal that also includes the signature of the official that is responsible for the certificate. This is because education institutions may change their names or may shut down altogether, so the government needs assurance that the establishment or educational entity is a genuine place of learning.

Afreno provides reliable services not only for educational certificates attestation but for a plethora of other documents from financial statements to commercial approvals. Our pool of expert professionals takes pride in solid years of experience in the industry to know the ins and outs of the business for your peace of mind.