HEC degree attestation, IBCC and MOFA apostille (Pakistan)

What it is

Employers, recognition bodies and embassies abroad need to know your documents are genuine. In Pakistan that usually takes three steps:

1. HEC attestation for university documents: degrees, transcripts, provisional certificates and HEC equivalence letters.
2. IBCC attestation for school certificates: SSC (matric) and HSSC (intermediate) from Pakistani boards, and foreign school qualifications that IBCC has already made equivalent.
3. Apostille from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), so the document is accepted in countries that are party to the Hague Apostille Convention.

The HEC step (as of 2026)

HEC's Degree Attestation System is online and paperless: you do not visit an office or hand over originals. You apply at eservices.hec.gov.pk, upload scans of both sides of your CNIC and your documents, HEC scrutinises the application, your university verifies the documents against its records, and HEC issues an e-Attestation Certificate you download from your account. The fee is Rs 3,000 per document.

The IBCC step

IBCC attests secondary and higher secondary certificates. Its rules say to get your certificate verified by your board before applying, and that certificates attested before 2010 need fresh verification from the board. Apply through IBCC's online attestation portal.

The apostille step

According to the Hague Conference's status table, Pakistan joined the Apostille Convention on 8 July 2022 and it entered into force for Pakistan on 9 March 2023. For documents going to another member country, an apostille from MOFA replaces the older chain of legalisation through that country's embassy. Countries that are not members may still ask for embassy legalisation, so check what your destination asks for.

As of 2026, MOFA charges Rs 3,000 per personal or educational document (fees revised from 8 July 2024). From 27 July 2026, MOFA says it will not handle apostille requests without online registration first, at apostille.mofa.gov.pk. The ministry also posted a notice in March 2026 that the portal was temporarily suspended for security reasons, so read the latest notices before you book.

India and Bangladesh

Both have their own routes, run through their education authorities and foreign ministries. Both are also listed as Apostille Convention members on the HCCH status table (India since 2005, Bangladesh since 30 March 2025). Follow your own government's official pages.

Common mistakes and scams

• Waiting until you have a job offer. Verification by your university can take time.
• Paying agents who promise "same day" attestation. HEC's process is online and you can do it yourself.
• Submitting a doubtful document: HEC and IBCC warn that fake ones are refused, and IBCC forfeits them.
• Never pay anyone for a job abroad, a visa, or a "guaranteed" attestation.

Where to go next on Sefism

• Plan the move step by step with the Tech jobs abroad roadmap and keep its cheat sheet open while you apply.
• Next, check how Germany sees your degree with anabin.
• Read How to get a software job abroad from Pakistan.