Qatar Embassy Attestation: All you need to know

Author: Deep Bhong

Qatar has shown exemplary economic growth over the years. The discovery of oil and other natural resources has provided indefinitely to Qatar and its people. Therefore, it has become an ideal country for education, enterprise as well as accommodation. And among the plenty of requirements and formalities, Qatar attestation is mandatory to fulfill. In this article, you can find out about all the information that you need to know about certificate attestation for Qatar and every other essential detail that you must know.

What exactly is Qatar Attestation?

In simple terms, attestation just means legalization. When it comes to specifically about Qatar attestation, it is a process that is carried for different reasons generally for a long term stay in the country or for doing business with enterprises based in the country. It is a document verification process that is carried out at multiple levels of government. The purpose of the Qatar embassy attestation is to know whether the documents that are to be provided are original or fake. Obtaining these attestation stamps will assure the concerned authorities in Qatar that the documents and certificates are genuine and are verified by the officials of the Government of India.

Documents are of different kinds and can be classified as personal, educational and commercial. A set of personal and/or educational documents are attested when the purpose is either personal, studies related or for work. When it comes to business purposes, commercial documents are attested.

Importance of Certificate Attestation for Qatar

A Qatar visa is undoubtedly the first requirement. Although, there are several other things that are required in the process when it is a long term stay. Qatar attestation of certificates is done at the time when someone is traveling to Qatar for education, living in the country, or even when doing business in Qatar.

Attestation of documents is required when you are acquiring an investor visa or when you are doing business involving import and export or any such kind. It is not required when you are traveling to Qatar for a business visit, for attending meetings and conferences or exhibitions.

Qatar Embassy Attestation Procedure

As mentioned previously, there are different levels of government organizations that are involved in the process of getting the documents and certificates attested. Qatar attestation procedure for different kind of documents can be understood in detail as follows:

  • Regional Level

    This is the most basic and the initial level of certificate attestation for Qatar. The departments will vary as per the type of documents that are to be attested.

    • Notary

      Personal documents are attested by the local notary and a stamp is provided on the backside of the document. When not for international purposes, this is generally a sufficient kind of document certification.

    • Board/University

      For educational documents, the issuing Board or the University is responsible for the regional level authentication of the certificates.

    • Chamber of Commerce

      The Chamber of Commerce is an organization that is specific to regions and is formed by the businessmen in that particular region as well. The commercial documents are attested by the Chamber of Commerce and the Chairman generally signs or stamps the documents confirming their genuineness.

  • State Level

    There are different organizations here as well and the duties of each of these will differ for Qatar attestation as well. The departments are Home Department, Human Resource Department, also called as HRD Ministry, and Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM). Personal and educational documents are attested at the state level; commercial documents do not mandate any kind of state-level authentication.

    • Home Department

      Generally, the personal documents are attested by the Home Department. At times, educational documents issued by certain boards or universities are attested here as well.

    • Human Resource Department (HRD)

      HRD attestation is done mainly for educational documents. When attesting educational documents for Qatar, HRD attestation is mandatory and Home Department Attestation may not be accepted. Also, there are different HRD Ministries that vary as per the states, for instance, GAD Attestation for Telangana and NORKA attestation for Kerala issued educational documents.

    • Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM)

      The Sub Divisional Magistrate, SDM is independent of the state government. Although the attestation is done here is still considered as state-level authentication. Educational, as well as personal documents, can be attested by the SDM. However, when it comes to certificate attestation for Qatar, SDM attestation may not be accepted.

  • Central Level

    The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is the main department here that will all the three kinds of documents - personal, educational and commercial. The MEA deals with all kinds of foreign matters in India.

    • Ministry of External Affairs

      MEA attestation is the central and final level of attestation done by the Government of India. A stamp on the back of the respective document is provided by the MEA.

  • Embassy Level

    This is the part where the Embassy of Qatar plays its role in certificate attestation for Qatar. Even the Embassy will attest personal, educational and commercial documents.

    • Qatar Embassy Attestation

      After being stamped by the MEA, the documents will be verified and stamped by the Qatar embassy completing the process of Qatar embassy attestation in India.

  • Gulf Attestation

    There is an additional level of authentication of all kinds of documents which is done for the countries that are a part of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). It is done by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).

    • Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA)

      The department of MOFA deals with the foreign matters of that particular GCC country. MOFA attestation for Qatar is done in Qatar itself and there are certain requirements for the same as well. A final stamp from the MOFA on your document will get you your long term visa or a permit to do business with Qatar.

Where to Get Qatar Attestation Services?

Before getting to the Qatar Embassy attestation procedure, you must note that the Embassy of Qatar and the Ministry of External Affairs do NOT accept individual applications from the civilians. In order to get Qatar attestation done properly with minimal errors, you may have to acquire assistance from the professional Qatar attestation services. An additional benefit that you will have expert attestation services is that there will be minimal chances of errors in the process and you can get the documents attested in the comfort of your home, except if there is personal appearance is requested by the Embassy of Qatar.