Attesting Certificates

Hi Guys,

For guys who are looking forward to get their Certificates attested on getting a job offer from Qatar, here comes the big bundle of pain. Please note that the below procedure is applicable only for Indians and not for any other nationals. The type of Certificate which requires attestation depends on the purpose. If you have received a job offer from Qatar and you also intend to bring your family along then the below procedure applies.

You will require your Degree Certificates (UG/PG), Final year mark sheets, Marriage Certificate and Children Birth Certificates all in original. If you have obtained your PG Degree from abroad then the attestation cannot be done by the procedure below and you may have to get help from some specialized agencies. Please do not use consolidated mark sheets for attestation.

Step1 – Take all the above mentioned documents to the Public Department Foreign Affairs which normally is within the Secretariat of the respective State along with the original Offer Letter from Qatar.

You will be given forms to fill on arrival at the Public Department Foreign Affairs after verifying the Offer Letter. You can get as many forms based on the number of Certificates which requires attestation. It’s better to use separate forms for each Certificate. The reason being Certificates are sent to the respective offices from where they are issued whether within the state or outside the state. Separate forms will help you track them easily. If one single form is used for all the Certificates then you have to wait till all the Certificates return from authentication.

The forms have to be filled, signed and also attached with stamps. Instructions will be given at the Secretariat as to what stamps to buy. Stamps are usually available within the premises. You might want to carry some stationary with you such as glue, stapler, pen, etc. Please also ensure that the Certificates are not laminated. Otherwise they will not accept applications. Also carry two sets of photocopies for all Certificates requiring attestation.

Fortunately for graduates who have obtained their Degrees in the recent years have their Certificates published online by the respective Institutions. For those who have graduated earlier you may have to do a little bit of running around.

Some Institutions/Organizations require a fee for authentication. Instructions will be given at the time of submission of application depending on the Institution or Organization.

On submission of the application comes the post painful part. Sadly certain things in India don’t happen fast especially when you are desperate. The first thing to do is to list the Institutions which requires a fee to be paid for authentication. If a fee was not collected at the time of submission of application the next step follows.

Step2 – Take copies of the application submitted (copies of application must be taken before submission) and go to the Institution where the UG/PG or any other degree was issued the very next day. Check with the information counter the fee for authentication and pay the fee (usually in DD) along with a covering letter and copy of the application submitted at the Secretariat. Do the same for all other Certificates such as Marriage Certificate, Birth Certificates, etc. Some Institutions/Organizations don’t require a fee for authentication.

Step3 – After paying the fees wait for 4 to 5 days for the fees to be processed and also the application to reach the respective places from the Secretariat. Remember the copies you submitted along with the originals? The Secretariat will send the copies of the Certificates to the respective places for authentication. After waiting for 4 to 5 days it is your responsibility to check with the respective offices whether they received the request for authentication from the Secretariat (Public Department Foreign Affairs). If Yes you may request the concerned officer to do the needful at the earliest. Trust me guys this can be really painful. You may require several visits in some cases or paying a good tip to speed up the process. If you don’t follow up then you can be sure that the authentication can take weeks to months. Public Department Foreign Affairs will not help you as far as this follow up is concerned.

Step4 – When you are sure that all the Certificates have been dispatched from the respective offices on authentication. Wait for another 2 to 3 days and then make a visit to the Secretariat (Public Department Foreign Affairs) to collect the Certificates. This can also be done progressively since you have submitted separate forms. The Public Department Foreign Affairs will stamp all the originals which have been authenticated at the rear of the Certificates.

Step5- Certificates which have been attested from the State Public Department Foreign Affairs should be attested by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs at Delhi and also the Embassy of Qatar at Delhi. This can take two days to less than a week if you are going through an agent.

If you afford it then this can be done through authorized agents who are located across India. This can save you a visit to Delhi. The cost will be very nominal since you have already completed the painful job yourself. If you are very rich you can get the whole thing done including the authentication of Certificates from the State Govt. through agents who can charge you a fortune. Beware of fake agents and fake authentication. You definitely don’t want to lose your Certificates.

Well the attestation from the Embassy of Qatar is the final stage and on receipt of the Certificates you can apply for the RP and family visa. Please note it’s not mandatory that the candidate should be present to get the authentication and attestation done. You can authorize anyone to submit the application at the Public Department Foreign Affairs on your behalf with a covering letter and a copy of your passport. This applies if you are already in Qatar. It is suggested you buy some time from the Employer and complete this work before moving to Qatar. The whole process can take a month or two, maybe more in worst cases.

Well enjoy the running around guys…Cheers…:)