09/03/2025
Apostille and General attestation from Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA)
I hope you are all doing well, Recently, I went through the general attestation and apostille process from Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and I wanted to share the details of how I got this done in less than 2 weeks. I will share all the options and also the method I chose.
If you need to apostille or general attest your documents through MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), you have three options
1. Appointment (Visit MOFA Office) (Walk In)
2. Courier Service
3. Using an Agent
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General Attestation from MOFA (Walk In)
There is no need for appointment for general attestation. Take all the original documents and CNIC + 1 set of photocopies of all these documents
* Visit MOFA early to avoid long queue. (around 6-6:30 am)
* They will give tickets and take payment (25Rs per ticket) and will give you token (Do not lose this at any cost)
* Paste the tickets and submit your documents with photocopies
* Collect the documents at around 2pm or when they say.
You can take family member's documents along with their CNIC copy and all documents will be processed in one go.
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1. Apostille Through MOFA Appointment (In-Person Visit)
Create an Account
* Visit the MOFA apostille website.
* Register using your CNIC and upload a formal profile picture.
* Complete your profile with accurate details.
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Submit Your Application
* Log in to your MOFA account and select the nearest MOFA office.
* Choose the country for which you need the apostille.
* Select the document type (personal, educational, business, etc.).
* Upload a clear image of the document.
* If you have multiple documents, repeat the process for each.
* Upload your CNIC copy.
Application Verification
* Submit your application and wait 2-3 days for MOFA verification.
* Check your email or log into the MOFA website to see if your application is approved.
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Book an Appointment
* Once your application is verified, book an appointment date and time slot (15 minutes per slot).
* Pay the challan fee via Easypaisa, JazzCash, HBL, or OneLink.
* Print both the paid challan receipt and Unpaid Challan form (if paid online).
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Visit MOFA on Your Appointment Day
* Arrive early at your chosen MOFA office.
* Bring the following documents:
o Original documents
o CNIC copy
o Paid challan receipt (printed or screenshot)
o Appointment confirmation email
o Unpaid challan print (if paid online)
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2. Apostille and general attestation through Courier Service (We chose this and got our documents within 2 weeks from Gerry’s visa center)
The following courier services are authorized by MOFA:
* Leopards
* ECS
* Gerry’s Visa Center
* M&P
* TCS
To apply through a courier service, visit the nearest branch and provide your original documents along with a copy of your CNIC. Pay the required MOFA fee along with the courier charges. After submitting your documents, you will receive a tracking receipt, which you can use to check the status of your application.
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Fees and Processing Time for apostille.
* In-city courier fee: Approximately PKR 1,000 + MOFA fee (3000 per page)
* Out-of-city courier fee: Approximately PKR 1,500 for up to 1-5 documents and 300 per document after that + MOFA fee (3000 per page)
* Processing time: Usually 7-10 days (may vary)
For faster processing, it is recommended to submit documents at the main or regional branch of the courier service. Gerry’s Visa Center charges PKR 1500 for up to 1-5 documents and 300 per document after that + MOFA fee and typically processes applications more quickly.
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3. Apostille Through an Agent
Agents offer same-day or fast-track apostille services, but they charge high fees:
* Same-day apostille: PKR 20,000 - 30,000 or more
* 3-4 days apostille: PKR 10,000 - 15,000 or more
Avoid using agents unless absolutely necessary.
