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HEC Attestation for Pakistani Degrees — Complete Guide for Saudi Arabia

If you have a Pakistani degree and want to work in Saudi Arabia, your educational certificates must be attested through a specific chain: HEC (Higher Education Commission) → Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) → Saudi Embassy in Pakistan → Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This process is required before your employer can register your qualifications and before you can work in regulated professions. This guide explains every step.

Highlights

  • ★HEC attestation is mandatory for all Pakistani degrees being used in Saudi Arabia — without it, your employer cannot verify your qualifications with Saudi authorities.
  • ★The attestation chain is: HEC → Pakistan MOFA → Saudi Embassy in Pakistan → Saudi MOFA (after arrival in Saudi Arabia).
  • ★HEC attestation can be done online via the HEC e-Services portal or in person at HEC offices in Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi.
  • ★The full process typically takes 3–6 weeks depending on document type and whether you use courier services or visit offices in person.
  • ★Medical professionals (doctors, nurses, pharmacists) need additional attestation from PMDC or the relevant Pakistani council before HEC.
  • ★Keep multiple attested copies — Saudi employers, the Saudi MOFA, and licensing bodies each require original attested copies.

Who Is This For?

Pakistani nationals who need to get their degree or educational certificates attested for use in Saudi Arabia — whether for a new job offer, Iqama processing, or professional licensing.

What You Need Before Starting

  • ✓Original degree certificate (and transcript if required by employer)
  • ✓Valid Pakistani passport
  • ✓CNIC (Computerised National Identity Card)
  • ✓For medical/professional degrees: attestation from the relevant council (PMDC, PEC, etc.) before HEC

Step-by-Step Process

  1. 1Step 1 — HEC Attestation: Register on the HEC e-Services portal (services.hec.gov.pk). Submit your degree for attestation online. You will need to courier or submit your original degree to the nearest HEC office (Islamabad H-9, Lahore, or Karachi). HEC verifies with the issuing university and stamps the document. Fee: PKR 600–1,500 per document. Processing time: 5–15 working days.
  2. 2Step 2 — Pakistan MOFA Attestation: Take your HEC-attested degree to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs attestation counter. MOFA offices are in Islamabad (Constitution Avenue), Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, and other cities. They stamp the document confirming HEC's attestation. Fee: PKR 1,000–2,000 per document. Processing time: 1–3 working days (same-day in some offices).
  3. 3Step 3 — Saudi Embassy Attestation: Visit the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Islamabad (or the Consulate in Karachi/Lahore). Submit your MOFA-attested degree for Embassy attestation. The Embassy confirms the document is authentic and adds its stamp. Book an appointment in advance via the Embassy's official portal. Fee: PKR 5,000–8,000 per document. Processing time: 3–7 working days.
  4. 4Step 4 — Saudi MOFA Attestation (after arrival in Saudi Arabia): Once you arrive in Saudi Arabia, take your Saudi Embassy-attested documents to the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) for final attestation. This can be done through Absher (mofa.gov.sa services) or at a MOFA service centre. Fee: SAR 200–400 per document. Processing time: 3–7 working days.
  5. 5Your fully attested degree is now ready for submission to your Saudi employer, Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS), Saudi Council of Engineers (SCE), or other professional licensing body.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • ✗Going to MOFA or the Saudi Embassy without HEC attestation first — the chain must be followed in order. MOFA will not attest a degree that is not already HEC-attested.
  • ✗Submitting photocopies instead of originals — each step in the attestation chain requires original documents. Keep originals safe and make certified copies before starting.
  • ✗Not getting enough copies attested — your Saudi employer, the Saudi MOFA, and a professional licensing body (e.g. SCFHS, SCE) may each need a separate attested original. Attest 3–4 copies at once to avoid repeating the process.
  • ✗Forgetting the transcript — many Saudi employers and licensing bodies require the official transcript in addition to the degree certificate. Both need full attestation.
  • ✗Not checking if your profession needs additional council attestation before HEC — doctors need PMDC attestation, engineers need PEC attestation, nurses need PNC attestation. Missing this step means HEC will not process your degree.

Timing & Fees

HEC attestation: PKR 600–1,500 per document, 5–15 working days. Pakistan MOFA: PKR 1,000–2,000, 1–3 days. Saudi Embassy Pakistan: PKR 5,000–8,000, 3–7 days. Saudi MOFA (in Saudi Arabia): SAR 200–400, 3–7 days. Total timeline: 3–6 weeks if done efficiently. Using courier services for HEC adds 3–5 days each way.

Practical Tips

  • 💡Start the attestation process before you receive your job offer if possible — waiting until you have an offer adds weeks of delay and can cause your Saudi employer's visa slot to lapse.
  • 💡HEC has an online tracking system — save your application number and check status at services.hec.gov.pk.
  • 💡For the Saudi Embassy appointment, slots fill up quickly. Book as early as possible. The Embassy in Islamabad is generally faster than the consulates for degree attestation.
  • 💡Some private attestation agencies in Islamabad and Karachi offer to handle the full chain on your behalf for a service fee of PKR 15,000–30,000. Useful if you are outside Pakistan or cannot take time off work.
  • 💡After completing Saudi MOFA attestation in Saudi Arabia, your employer's PRO usually handles submission to professional licensing bodies (SCFHS, SCE, etc.). Confirm with your employer what they need from you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my degree need to be attested if my employer does not ask for it?

For most regulated professions (healthcare, engineering, education, law) in Saudi Arabia, attestation is mandatory regardless of whether your employer mentions it. Saudi professional licensing bodies (SCFHS, SCE, etc.) will not issue a license without attested credentials. Even for non-regulated roles, many employers require it as part of Iqama processing.

I graduated from a private Pakistani university — is my degree eligible for HEC attestation?

Yes, provided your university is HEC-recognised. Check the HEC website (hec.gov.pk) for the list of recognised institutions. Degrees from unrecognised institutions cannot be attested and are not valid for use in Saudi Arabia.

I am already in Saudi Arabia and my degree is not attested — what can I do?

You need to send your original degree to Pakistan for the HEC and MOFA steps, then have it attested by the Saudi Embassy in Pakistan before it can be used. Some attestation agencies offer a courier-based service where you send them the original and they process all steps. Alternatively, travel to Pakistan during a vacation to complete the process in person. After Pakistan steps are done, you complete Saudi MOFA attestation yourself in Saudi Arabia.

What is the difference between attestation and apostille?

Saudi Arabia does not accept apostille — it uses a bilateral attestation chain requiring Embassy stamps. Apostille (used by countries in the Hague Convention) does not apply to documents being used in Saudi Arabia. Always follow the HEC → MOFA → Saudi Embassy → Saudi MOFA chain.