Expats who need to use their diploma, university degree or other educational records for work in Qatar can have the documents attested through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Attestation gives a document legal recognition for official use in Qatar.
Qatar MOFA accepts several types of educational documents, including university, vocational and medical education certificates issued outside the country.
Which Educational Documents Can Be Attested?
For certificates issued outside Qatar, MOFA accepts university, vocational and medical education documents that have completed the required authentication process in their country of origin.
Bachelor’s degrees issued abroad must also be submitted with a transcript.
For university qualifications, Qatar also requires the degree to come from an accredited and recognized institution when using its overseas completion service.
This can be useful for expat workers applying for jobs that require proof of education, changing employers, or completing professional licensing requirements.
What Expats Should Prepare
MOFA says the document must contain the required seals and signatures.
For foreign-issued documents, the authentication chain must end with the appropriate Qatari diplomatic mission abroad or an accredited foreign mission in Qatar, depending on the process being used.
For Philippine-issued documents, workers should also check the required authentication steps before sending or bringing records to Qatar.
The Philippine DFA notes that Apostille rules only fully replace embassy legalization when both countries are covered by the Apostille Convention. For destinations where the Convention does not apply, additional embassy or consular legalization may still be required.
How to Apply Through Qatar MOFA
Applicants can submit a request through the official Qatar MOFA website.
MOFA’s online process generally involves:
- Logging in through the National Authentication System.
- Submitting a new attestation request.
- Uploading copies of the documents for review.
- Paying the required fee once approved.
- Arranging document collection and delivery through Qatar Post when applicable.
The standard fee listed for academic certificate attestation is QAR100.
What If Authentication Was Not Completed Abroad?
Qatar MOFA also offers a Complete Attestation Outside Qatar service for documents that still need part of the overseas authentication process.
Under this service, MOFA can send the document to the appropriate Qatari mission overseas to complete the required legalization.
The listed fees include QAR150 for the attestation completion service, around QAR120 for the Qatari mission, plus any charges imposed by the foreign country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Where to Get Help
Residents can contact Qatar’s Government Contact Center at 109, available 24/7.
The MOFA Attestation Department can also be reached at 4011 1188.
Applications can be made online or through the Department of Consular Affairs and selected government service centers.
