Stage 3 · Lesson 5 of 6

The Gulf attestation chain

For the UAE and Qatar, degree certificates used for a work permit usually need legalisation: in your home country (for Pakistanis, HEC and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs), then a stamp from the UAE or Qatar embassy in your country, then attestation by the destination's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which in the UAE you can do after arrival.

Some job titles and visa categories do not require a degree at all, but engineering, IT specialist and applications often do, and the job title on your permit can depend on it. Saudi Arabia has accepted since December 2022, which shortens the chain. Ask your employer exactly which documents they need attested before you start.

Common trappaying a "fast attestation" agent who sends fake stamps; a forged attestation can get you banned.

A question to check yourself, an AI practice session and 2 cheat sheet entries come when you add the roadmap to your account. Add it

Resources for this stage

Start with

GuidePaid
HEC degree attestation, IBCC and MOFA apostille (Pakistan)
Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan · Government fees per document
How Pakistani degrees are attested by HEC, IBCC and the Foreign Office, step by step

Practise

Notion
Track each document, the office that handles it, its status and its expiry date

Keep handy

UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE)
Check which documents your UAE work permit needs before you start attestation
Qiwa (Saudi Ministry of Human Resources platform)
See what a Saudi employer needs from you to issue a permit

Also worth your time

Apostille Convention status table (opens in a new tab)Read
Check whether your home country and destination are members, and since when
Sefism 1:1 MentorshipGo deeper
Ask someone who did the attestation chain recently what slowed them down