Document attestation for Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Countries: Procedures and Requirements
The GCC is a trade alliance of six Arab countries with similar agendas like economic and security, among others. Whenever it is necessary to use certificates in the territory of GCC countries the documents must be through the process of legalization. It includes guidelines and processes that are followed to get Document attestation in the GCC.
Purpose of Document Attestation
Document attestation as a process is used to authenticate such documents that are issued from countries other than the GCC countries, which means that it is one of the methods of document recognition. In this regard, the GCC authorities help affirm the genuineness of the documents to be used in any of the member countries of the GCC.
To undergo document attestation, individuals or businesses must submit the following documents:
Original documents: These documents have to be the original and they must be issued by the appropriate issuing authorities in the home country or country of origin of the document. These documents must be clear and clean with no signs of scratching, tearing or even folding.
Photocopies of the documents: For reference purposes, photocopies of the said documents are necessary but they should not contain stamps, seals, or signatures.
Completed application forms: Every GCC country has its application form, which has to be filled out properly and to the point. These forms are rather easily acquired at the relevant authorities or the consulates.
Identity proof: The applicant has to produce an identification number which will be in the form of a passport, driver’s license, or national identification card.
Payment of fees: Fees for the Document attestation of any document may differ depending on the country in which it is to be done and it is advised that one should consult the authorities to know the amount chargeable.
The process for Document attestation may vary depending on the GCC country, but the following general steps are commonly followed:
It is important for the applicant to drop the required documents to the concerned authority or embassy in the country of the application.
These documents undergo checks by the consular staff to determine whether they are genuine and whether or not they meet the set conditions of the GCC.
If the documents are considered acceptable, they are legalized or apostilled by the consulate or similar body. This includes applying an official seal or signature to the documents using impressing the seal or embedding a symbol into the document.
The documents are then signed and forwarded to the applicant who is also given other details that may be required to complete the process.
The applicant then needs to take the authenticated documents to the authorities concerned in the desired GCC country where the document is to be utilized.
The receiving authorities will consider and decide whether such documents are acceptable as per attestations.
Additional Information
Timeframe: The duration of time taken in the processing of Document attestation also varies, depending on the country where the documents will be attested from and the types of documents to be attested. It is advised to check with the respective organizations to get the specific durations right.
Multiple Attestations: At times, documents may be called for document attestation more than once from the different countries in the GCC. This is especially the case regarding documents that are planned for use in several GCC nations.
Renewal and Update: Some of the documents that are renewed or updated may undergo additional document attestation processes depending on the country where the certificate is to be used. One should thereafter seek the actual requirements from the authorities in the respective GCC countries.
Document attestation is therefore a very critical process for anyone or any entity that wants to legalize documents for use in GCC countries. Thus, by adhering to all the necessary procedures and submitting the necessary documents, an individual can guarantee the compliance of documents with the requirements and their acceptance by the GCC authorities. As for the regulations, it is necessary to seek advice from the authorities of each country to know the local legislation.