Attestation and legalization are the same terms. In some country, it is called legalization and in some country attestation.
There is universal procedure for attestation/legalization of all documents of various countries. Brief guidelines are given as follow:-
1. 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 attest that certificate. Then it will be presented to the Swedish or Finnish authorities, whichever is applicable. This procedure apply to all documents.
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 document first attested/legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland. Then it can be attested from the Embassy of Pakistan Stockholm, Sweden. This procedure applies to all documents issued abroad which are required to be submitted in Pakistan.
A. Education certificates/degrees:
All education certificates/degrees issued from Pakistan must be attested by Inter Board Committee of Chairman (IBCC) and Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan and then from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan.
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.
B. Police Character Certificate
A Police Character certificate is always issued by the District Police Officer (DPO) of the district of which the applicant is permanent resident of.
If someone 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, and then should get it attested from the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then from the Embassy of Pakistan Stockholm, Sweden.
C. Unmarried certificate
Un-married certificate should be issued by either 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 no specific form or specimen of un-married certificate. It depends on the country where un-married certificate is to be submitted.
D. General or Special Power of Attorney / Affidavit/ Undertaking - (Instructions for CNIC/NICOP/POC holders)
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 of Power of Attorney is called Executant or Deponent. The person who is authorized to act on behalf of the Executant/Deponent is called Attorney. 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: This type of Attorney is the one that allows/authorizes the Attorney with specific and defined power to make 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 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 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 and then send it with two colour pictures by post to the Embassy of Pakistan, Stockholm, Sweden. However, always follow the website of the concerned Embassy for updated information.
E. General or Special Power of Attorney / Affidavit/ Undertaking (Instructions for Foreign Citizens who do not hold any Pakistani ID)
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.
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.
F. 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 written on the concerned Embassy 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 does 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 communicate with the embassies either in English language or in the national language of the Embassy. For example, when writing an email to French Embassy, write it in English or in French language.
8. Make sure that the documents you want to present in country must be either in English or in the language of that country.
7. Keep in mind that communicate with the embassies either in English language or in the national language of the Embassy. For example, when writing an email to French Embassy, write it in English or in French language.
8. Make sure that the documents you want to present in country must be either in English or in the language of that country.
9. In the last, kindly share this post for the benefit of the public at large.
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