Apostille vs Embassy Attestation for Documents Used in Pakistan

What changed when Pakistan joined the Apostille Convention?

Before 2023, a foreign document had to be legalised in a chain — local notary, that country's foreign ministry, then the Pakistani embassy. Since 9 March 2023, a document from another member country can instead carry a single apostille certificate issued by that country's competent authority. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the competent authority for apostilles issued in Pakistan.

Which documents should I apostille and which need embassy attestation?

Practice can vary between offices, and published guidance is not always consistent. Before you start, tell us which office in Karachi will receive the document and we will confirm the route it accepts.

I am a dual national. Which route applies to me?

If you hold a valid CNIC or NICOP, you are treated as a Pakistani citizen and can use mission attestation or NADRA's online route. If you only hold a foreign passport, the document generally has to be legalised by your country's foreign ministry first — for example the FCDO in the UK or the State Department in the USA — and then attested by the Pakistani mission in person. Renewing a NICOP is often the simpler path.

Which countries' apostilles don't work with Pakistan?

• •Austria
• •Czech Republic
• •Denmark
• •Finland
• •Germany
• •Greece
• •Netherlands
• •Poland

These states objected to Pakistan's accession, so the Convention does not operate between them and Pakistan. Pakistan also does not accept apostilles issued by India.