The process to get foreign public documents accepted abroad for Pakistanis has just become easier after the Apostille ordinance has been signed.

Pakistan had initially acceded to the Hague Convention abolishing the requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (Apostille Convention) of 1961 in March 2022. However, it took another year for it to become applicable in Pakistan.

Now Pakistan’s commitment has become law after President Arif Alvi signed the Apostille Ordinance on Friday.

The ordinance says that the process of determining whether a public document is authentic should be made easier. For this purpose, a single document, known as the Apostille Certificate, can be submitted to tell a foreign country that the document is verified.

The certificate applies to public documents such as marriage, birth and death certificates as well as adoption documents. It can also cover court records.

Apostille certificates essentially help remove the obstacle of attestation which is often cumbersome and time consuming.

The ordinance will help both Pakistanis going abroad, as well as foreigners arriving into Pakistan. Earlier foreigners coming to Pakistan needed to get their documents attested by the embassy, now a single certificate will do the trick.

Once abroad, they will not need to prove the authenticity of their documents individually on the basis of getting an Apostille certificate made.

For Pakistanis, the Apostle certificate will help documents including degrees to get accepted abroad more easily. However, the certificate will only be issued after competent authorities confirm the authenticity of the documents.

For Pakistani students who studied abroad and are returning to Pakistan, the need to get a degree attested from a Pakistani Mission abroad has now been eliminated. If their degree carries a Apostille certificate, it will be accepted by Pakistan’s authorities.