Attestation and legalization are the same terms. Brief guidelines are given as follow:-
It is very important to note that each and every document issued from a particular country must be first attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of that country if you need to present that documents to another country. For example, if a Pakistani citizen need to submit his/her marriage certificate in Sweden or Finland, the procedure for that document is, that the marriage certificate must be attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, then the Embassy of Pakistan in Sweden will countersign/attest that certificate. Then it will be presented to the Swedish or Finnish authorities, wherever it is required. This procedure apply to all documents whether issued by the Pakistani authorities or by Swedish/Finnish authorities so on so forth. Similarly, documents issued by the Swedish or Finnish authorities must be first attested by the Swedish or Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then by the Pakistan Embassy in Sweden. The documents should be in English language if required to be presented in Pakistan.
1.Education Certificates/degrees
All education certificates/degrees issued from Pakistan must be attested by the Inter Board Committee of Chairman (IBCC) and Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan and then from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan.
For HEC attestation Click here
After completing the above process, the same should be attested from the Embassy/High Commission or Consulate General of Pakistan in that country or State or City. For Example, if a person living in UK, and want to get his educational certificate/degree attested after completing the above procedure, he/she can get that documents attested either form the High Commission of Pakistan, London or any of the Consulate General of Pakistan in UK where the person is residing. In short, the above procedure will also apply to all Documents Originating from Pakistan such as Marriage Certificate / Unmarried Certificate / Divorce Certificate / Police Character Certificate etc.
2. Similarly, if any document issued from any country abroad, such document must be first attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of that country. For example, if a divorce document is issued by a family Court of Finland to a Pakistani national who wants to submit that document in Pakistan, he/she must get that divorce certificate first attested/legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland. Then it can be got attested from the Embassy of Pakistan Stockholm, Sweden. This procedure applies to all documents issued abroad which are required to be submitted in Pakistan.
2.Police Character Certificate
A Police Character Certificate is always issued by the concerned District Police Officer (DPO) of the district of which the applicant is permanent resident of Pakistan. Thus it can be obtained from the concerned District Police Officer (DPO) office where the person is permanently residing, or resided in the past in Pakistan. In case, personal appearance of the applicant is required. The applicant may give an authority letter to a family member or friend to obtain the Police Character Certficate or any other documents for the applicant from the concerned authority of Pakistan.
Moreover, some of the Provincial Governments have started online police character certificate and driving license online.
Government of Baluchistan Police Khidmat Markaz Global has the following link for such online services:
https://pkm.balochistanpolice.gov.pk/
For Police Character Certficate in Balochistan Province Click Here.
For renewal of driving license in Bloachistan Province Click Here
For obtaining International Driving License from Bloachistan Province Click Here
KPK Province
For inform regarding Renewal of KPK Driving License Click Here
For information about how to obtain Police Character Certficate in KPK Click Here
Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Pakistan
For Islamabad Capital Terriroty Police information Click Here
For online verification of driving license issued by Islamabad Capital Terriroty Police Click Here
Punjab Province
For renewal of driving license in Punjab Province Click Here
For International Driving License in Punjab Province Click Here
For obtaining Police Character Certificate in Punjab Province Click Here
For obtaining Police Character Certficate in Lahore Punjab Click Here
Sindh Privince
For inforamtion regarding Sindh Police Click Here
Gilgit Baltistan Police
For information of Gilgit Baltistan Police Click Here
AJK
For verification of AJK driving license Click Here
If a Pakistani national is living abroad and needs a Police Character Certificate of that country, he should get such certificate from the Police Station of that Commune/Union Council/County where he/she is residing. For example, if a Pakistani citizen living in Sweden and needs a police Character Certificate to be submitted to the Canadian Embassy in Stockholm, Sweden, such person should first get the Police Character Certificate from the Municipality/Kommun/Police Station, and then should get it attested from the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then from the Embassy of Pakistan Stockholm, Sweden.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Stockholm Sweden, legalization Office Phone number: (+46) 08-4055100 Phones hour are Tuesday and Wednesday 1300 to 1500 hours.
Click Here for Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs Attestation/Legalisation link
Click Here for Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs Attestation /Legalisation
3.Unmarried Certificate or Single Status Certficate
Un-married certificate or Single Status Certficate should be issued either by the relevant Union Council of the applicant or by Nikah Registrar of that area or by one of his parents in form of affidavit declaring that his/her son or daughter is unmarried and that unmarried certificate should then be attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan.
In fact there is neither hard and fast rules nor specific form or specimen of un-married certificate. Every district/Union Council has different procedure to issue unmarried or Single Status certifiate. It depends on the country where un-married certificate is to be submitted.
However, once the Unmarried or Single Status certificate is obtained from the concerned authority, it must be attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan before presnting to the Pakistani Embassy abroad.
4. General or Special Power of Attorney / Affidavit/ Undertaking – (Instructions/Procedure for those who hold CNIC/NICOP/POC).
This is extremely sensitive matter and need to be given special care while preparing and signing Power of Attorney. The applicant must prepare it himself/herself or through a qualified Lawyer/Solicitor. The signing person(applicant) of Power of Attorney is called Executant or Deponent. The person who is authorized to act on behalf of the Executant/Deponent(applicant) is called Attorney. For example, Anwer is giving power of attorney to Rashid, so Anwer is called an Executant or Deponent and Rashid is called Attoney. There are several types of Power of Attorneys:-
i. General Power of Attorney:
This type of Attorney is the one that allows/authorizes the Attorney with absolute irrevocable power to make all personal and business decisions on behalf of the Executant. This means that by General Power of Attorney, all the legal and lawful authority is given to the attorney.
ii. Special Power of Attorney:
The Special Power of Attorney is the one that allows/authorizes the Attorney with specific and defined power to exercise specific business decisions on behalf of the Executant. This Special Power of Attorney stands dissolved after completion of the specific task. Procedure for the attestation of the above Power of Attorney is that the person who is giving the power of attorney must be present in person with one of the valid Pakistani documents, that is, CNIC/NICOP/POC/MRP etc. and must sign the document in presence of the Consular Officer of the Embassy. Two colour pictures are also required for such attestation. As far as witnesses are concerned, the Embassies attest the signature of the Executant only, therefore, you may not require to take witness with you to the Embassy. However, you may first ask by email the concerned Embassy or visit their website for detail information. However, if someone living in far flung city of the country where Embassy of Pakistan is located very far or there is no Embassy of Pakistan at all, then the applicant has the option to get his Power of Attorney attested from the Notary Public and then from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of that country and then he/she can send by post such power of attorney for counter-attestation to the concerned Embassy of Pakistan. For Example, if a Pakistani citizen living in Finland wants to give his power of attorney to any of his relative in Pakistan and he cannot come in person to Stockholm, Sweden. In such cases, he/she first should get the power of attorney attested from the Notary Public in Finland and then from the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and then send it by post to the Embassy of Pakistan, Stockholm, Sweden. If the applicant want to have affixed his/her pcitures on the Power of Attorney, he/she must also get that picture affixed and stamped from Notary Public. However, always follow the website of the concerned Embassy for updated information.
Required Documents:
- Applicant must bring Original Valid Pakistani CNIC or NICOP or Pakistani Passport or POC, if the applicant visit in person to the Embassy;
- Identity, he/she must get such authority letter first attested from the Ministry of Foreign Affais of Sweden or Finland whichever is applicable.
- In case if the applicant does not appear in person to the Embassy and want to send by post, then he must follow the following steps:-
a) First get attested the Specail Power of Attorney from the Notary Public and the from the Ministry of the Foreign Affairs of the country where he/she is residing. For example, a person living in Finland should first get the Power of Attorney attested from the Notary Public and then from the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then send it by post to the Embassy of Pakistan in Sweden for counter attestation.
b) Similarly if someone does not have none of the original Valid Pakistani CNIC or NICOP or Pakistani Passport or POC, then follow the above procedure mention in (a) above.
5. General or Special Power of Attorney / Affidavit/ Undertaking (Instructions for Foreign Citizens who do not hold any Pakistani NICOP or POC)
All Foreign Citizens must get their documents first legalize/attest from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of their own country before presenting their documents for attestation/legalization to any of the Embassy of Pakistan. For example, a if a Business Company of Finland wants to attest/legalize any of the commercial documents from the Embassy of Pakistan, Stockholm, Sweden, so first that Commercial document must be attested by the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. However, for final and updated instructions, visit the website of the concerned Embassy of Pakistan where you want to attest/legalise your document.
Required Documents:
- Applicant must bring Original Valid Pakistani CNIC or NICOP or Pakistani Passport or POC, if the applicant visit in person to the Embassy;
- Identity, he/she must get such authority letter first attested from the Ministry of Foreign Affais of Sweden or Finland whichever is applicable.
- In case if the applicant does not appear in person to the Embassy and want to send by post, then he must follow the following steps:-
a) First get attested the Power of Attorney from the Notary Public and the from the Ministry of the Foreign Affairs of the country where he/she is residing. For example, a person living in Finland should first get the Power of Attorney attested from the Notary Public and then from the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then send it by post to the Embassy of Pakistan in Sweden for counter attestation.
b) Similarly if someone does not have none of the original Valid Pakistani CNIC or NICOP or Pakistani Passport or POC, then follow the above procedure mention in (a) above.
Important Note: KEEP IN MIND THAT THE DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION OF THE POWER OF ATTORNEY BY THE CONCERNED ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER / ADDITIONAL COLLECTOR / SUB REGISTER MEANT FOR ATTORNEY/NOMINEE IN PAKISTAN IS OF FOUR MONTHS. IT MEANS THAT WHEN YOU GET ATTESTED YOUR POWER OF ATTORNEY FROM ANY EMBASSY OF PAKISTAN ABROAD, YOU MUST REGISTER IT WITHIN FOUR MONTHS WITH THE CONCERNED REGISTRAR OF THE DISTRICT, IF THE POWER OF ATTORNEY IS OLDER THAN FOUR MONTHS, THEN THE REGISTRAR OFFICE DOES NOT REGISTER SUCH POWER OF ATTORNEY.
6. Authority Letter
If a person living in Sweden/Finland or abroad and want to get his document attested or submitted in Pakistan and cannot go in person to Pakistan. In such case, the person should write an authority letter in favour of a relative or frined giving him or her the authority to carry out the task on behalf of that person. Such authority letter should be given for collection of Police Character Certficate, obtaining Single Status Certificae / Un-married certficate / Collection of Education certificate or degree or renewal of driving licens or getting attested the documents from the concerned authorities of Pakistan. The person should visit the Embassy or High Commission or Consulate of Pakistan in the country of his/her resident and sign before the officer his/her authority letter and get that attested and then send the same to Pakistan to his/her relative or friend. That authority letter must be got attested from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, which have offices in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta.
Required Documents:
- Applicant must bring Original Valid Pakistani CNIC or NICOP or Pakistani Passport or POC, if the applicant visit in person to the Embassy;
- Also note if a person is a foreginer and does not have any Pakistani Identity, he/she must get such authority letter first attested from the Ministry of Foreign Affais of Sweden or Finland whichever is applicable.
- In case if the applicant does not appear in person to the Embassy and want to send by post, then he must follow the following steps:-
a) First get attested the Power of Attorney from the Notary Public and the from the Ministry of the Foreign Affairs of the country where he/she is residing. For example, a person living in Finland should first get the Power of Attorney attested from the Notary Public and then from the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then send it by post to the Embassy of Pakistan in Sweden for counter attestation.
b) Similarly if someone does not have none of the original Valid Pakistani CNIC or NICOP or Pakistani Passport or POC, then follow the above procedure mention in (a) above.
Click Here to see the detail of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan
7.Commercial Documents
All commercial documents must be legalized/attested from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of their respective country before presenting for attestation/legalization to any of the Embassy of Pakistan . For example, if a Business Company of Finland wants to attest/legalize any of the commercial documents from the Embassy of Pakistan, Stockholm, Sweden, so first that Commercial document must be attested by the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. However, for final and updated instructions, visit the website of the concerned Embassy of Pakistan where you want to attest/legalise your document.
Important Points:
1. Visit the website of the concerned Embassy where you want to attest your documents and read the instructions carefully, in case you do not understand or want to ask any question, please contact that Embassy by email. Because now a days, all the embassies have digitize and displayed all information at their websites and telephone calls are not responded. E-mail is the best and easy communication so use email for contact. Also ask the concerned Embassy, for example if you have a question from the Embassy of Pakistan in UAE, do not ask the Embassy of Pakistan in Qatar.
2. Write brief, polite and proper email to the Consular Section of the Embassy: Start your email with Sir/Madam and in subject mentioned your main issue, for example, write in subject: information about Power of Attorney. Always write your contact phone number, and end your email with regards and thanks. If you write a brief and polite email, you will always get quick and immediate reply. E-mail addresses are always available at all Embassies websites.
3. Follow the instructions of the concerned Embassy posted on its website.
4. Be very careful before signing your power of attorney. If you do not understand the content of the power of attorney yourself; always show it to another person to read it out to you so that somebody do not defraud or cheat you.
5. It has been tried to explain briefly in the above post all the relevant topics of attestation/legalization. However, if still you do not understand or want to ask any question, click on top left side menu and contact us by email. You can also subscribe our website for updated and accurate free information regarding consular matters. The subscription button is available on top main page under the Heading.
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7. Keep in mind that always communicate with the embassies either in English language or in the national language of the Embassy. For example, if you want send an email to French Embassy, write that in English or in French language.
8. Make sure that the documents you want to present in a country must be either in English or in the language of that country.
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Click Here for Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs Attestation/Legalisation link
Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Click Here to see the detail of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan
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