US Attestation (Apostille Route) US Attestation from Pakistan on the Apostille Route
Federal MOFA apostille authentication for Pakistani degrees, civil records, and commercial papers required by US universities, employers, and state boards.
Request a Quote
Leave your details and our team will contact you shortly.
How US documents are legalised from Pakistan
The United States is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention. A Pakistani document headed to the US is legalised by the MOFA apostille, and there is no US embassy attestation step in that chain. The apostille issued by the US Secretary of State applies to documents issued in the US for use abroad, so it is not part of a Pakistan to US file.
The apostille follows the issuing body’s verification, so the degree goes through HEC first, a school certificate through IBCC, and a personal record through NADRA or the civil registry. MOFA then issues the apostille.
Some applicants search for the old embassy route because older notices still mention it. This page exists to set out the current route in plain terms. The route is the MOFA apostille, not a US embassy step.
The order runs from collection of the pre-verified document through the MOFA apostille filing to the return of the apostilled document at your address with tracking.
Who needs the US apostille
Handled through
Turnaround
Standard: 2-4 business days
Express options available
Where it is used
Pickup and delivery
Collection and return by courier in Islamabad-rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Faisalabad.
How we file the apostille for the US
We file the apostille at MOFA for your pre-verified document and return it to your door with tracking.
Prior attestation confirmed
US files follow the same Pakistan-side rule, with the issuing body verification first and then the apostille. We arrange collection of the attested original from your address.
Apostille filed at MOFA
We submit the apostille application through the MOFA portal and pay the applicable fee.
MOFA issues the apostille
MOFA verifies the record and issues the apostille certificate, attached to the document.
Delivered with tracking
The apostilled document is returned to your address, with the tracking number shared on WhatsApp.
What we need from you
Have these documents ready before you order. Missing papers usually add time.
How we handle your personal documents Request a QuoteDocument with prior attestation (HEC, IBCC, or NADRA)
CNIC copy
Passport copy
Check the latest recorded stage of your order.
Original degrees and certificates can be hard to replace. The order record shows collection, authority submission, completion, and return, with a note if another paper is requested.
WhatsApp updates when the stage changes
We send a message after a recorded submission or completion, so you do not need to call for the same update.
We send you scans before we ship
Before we hand your attested documents back to the courier, we upload high-resolution scans so you know the job is done.
BSc Computer Science
Order #AT-8892
What US file customers told us
Feedback from US-file applicants who used the apostille.
"My US employer wanted my degree apostilled before the H-1B filing. Attestdone did HEC verification, then the MOFA apostille, and couriered the originals to my US address. The whole sequence took nine days."
Waleed Anwar
Karachi
"The US Embassy in Islamabad does not attest documents for general use, and Attestdone told me that upfront. They ran the MOFA apostille route instead and my university in Texas accepted the degree."
Sana Javed
Lahore
Do Pakistani documents need US embassy attestation?
What is the US Secretary of State apostille?
What needs to happen before the apostille?
Is the apostille accepted for US immigration files?
Steps around the US apostille
The prior attestation comes first, and a certified translation is added where the receiving office asks for it.
Apostille Attestation (Hague Convention)
Apostille Pakistan applicants obtain from MOFA is a single certificate that makes a Pakistani document valid in accepting Hague Convention member states. It replaces the embassy step that used to be required for every destination. Pakistan acceded to the Hague Apostille Convention, and it entered into force on 9 March 2023. For member states like Saudi Arabia, the UK, Australia, Turkey, Italy, and others, the apostille is now the final step. For non-member states like the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, and Malaysia, the traditional MOFA attestation followed by the embassy stamp is still required. Germany, the Netherlands, and Poland are members but objected to Pakistan's accession, so a Pakistani apostille is not accepted there and we confirm the route per case. The apostille applies to documents that have already been verified by their issuing body. A degree needs HEC attestation first. A birth certificate needs NADRA verification first. Once the issuing body has stamped the document, MOFA issues the apostille. Pre-verified documents run 1 to 3 working days, and files that need fresh verification 3 to 7. We handle the filing and track the certificate until it is issued.
MOFA Attestation
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the second stamp on any Pakistani document heading overseas. After the issuing body confirms the document (HEC for degrees, IBCC for school certificates, NADRA for personal documents), MOFA adds its own stamp that confirms the prior verification. MOFA runs two routes. The traditional attestation feeds into the embassy step for non-Hague destinations like the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, and Malaysia. The apostille route is a single stamp valid in Hague Convention member states that accept Pakistani apostilles, including Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, China, the UK, Australia, and others. Germany, the Netherlands, and Poland are members but objected to Pakistan's accession, so the apostille is not accepted there and we verify each case with the receiving office. Pakistan acceded to the Hague Convention, and the apostille route entered into force on 9 March 2023. Our main office is in Lahore, where we coordinate intake, customer support, and nationwide dispatch. MOFA operates from offices in Lahore and Islamabad, so we file at the location that fits your document and route. Legal documents such as power of attorney, court orders, and affidavits, and commercial documents such as board resolutions, certificates of origin, and export invoices, run separate tracks at MOFA with their own fees and timelines. Legal papers must be notarised first. Commercial papers must be verified by the Chamber of Commerce or SECP before MOFA will accept them. Both classes are covered on this page. Personal and educational documents run 2 to 3 working days at MOFA, and legal and commercial files 3 to 5. Express service can finish in about a day for eligible files.
Certified Translation
A certified translation is a translation accompanied by a statement from the translator that the rendering is accurate, signed and dated, and usually confirmed by a notary public. Embassies, foreign universities, and employers ask for this form rather than a plain translation because they need to know who stands behind the accuracy. The most common jobs we handle are Urdu to English (nikah nama, educational documents, CNIC and domicile records), English to Arabic (for Saudi and Gulf employer files), and Urdu to Arabic (for marriage and family documents used in the Gulf). For Saudi and UAE files the translated document usually goes through MOFA and the embassy after the notary step. The translator attaches a signed statement to the translated pages. The notary then confirms the translator signed in their presence, which is what gives the package its official character. Some destinations also want the translation typed on their embassy letterhead format. We check the receiving office requirement before starting. We collect the original or a legible copy, confirm the target language and the receiving office, and return the certified translation with the notary seal ready for the next step in the file.
The US route in context
The US accepts the apostille. The destination details are covered on the United States country page.
United States
Submitting civil records to the National Visa Center (NVC), preparing USCIS immigration petitions, or enrolling at an American university requires domestic verification and the federal MOFA apostille. There is no US Embassy legalisation step in Pakistan for these documents. We collect your academic degrees, NADRA certificates, and police clearances, complete the required verifications, and deliver your apostilled file.
Attestation Chain
Embassy
Embassy of the United States, Diplomatic Enclave, Islamabad
Hours and requirements change. Confirm on the official mission website.
Visit the United States mission websiteTimeline and route notes
2 to 3 working days after HEC or NADRA
Route-specific quote confirmed before filing.
US attestation from your city
The pre-verified document is collected and lodged at MOFA for the apostille. Your city page covers the MOFA route and the dispatch from your area.
📍 Islamabad & Rawalpindi
Free PickupLiving in the twin cities gives you direct geographic proximity to federal attestation infrastructure.
✓ No transit delay to the main government offices
Pickup Areas
📍 Lahore
Free PickupWith Punjab University, UET, and dozens of chartered colleges producing thousands of graduates each semester, Lahore represents Pakistan heaviest regional attestation demand.
📦 Lahore intake, then overnight courier to Islamabad for government filing
Pickup Areas
📍 Karachi
Free PickupBridging the 1,400-kilometre distance between Sindh commercial capital and federal ministries in Islamabad requires a disciplined courier chain.
📦 Lahore intake, then overnight courier to Islamabad for government filing
Pickup Areas
📍 Peshawar
IntercityKhyber Pakhtunkhwa extensive workforce in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar creates high demand for verified diplomas and police clearances in Peshawar.
📦 Lahore intake, then overnight courier to Islamabad for government filing
Pickup Areas
📍 Faisalabad
IntercityAs Pakistan textile capital, Faisalabad generates a unique mix of overseas technical employment visas and commercial export legalisation files.
📦 Lahore intake, then overnight courier to Islamabad for government filing
Pickup Areas
Trusted for official attestation across
Get started with US Attestation (Apostille Route)
We will confirm the required stamps, the papers to send, and the quote before you book collection.
Why trust Attestdone?
Government Filing Team
We manage all HEC, MOFA, and embassy requirements and procedures on your behalf.
Fast Turnaround
Skip the long queues. Expedited processing options are available for urgent needs.
Upfront Pricing & Security
Track your documents live with a written scope and insured handling.
Custom quote
After document review