Corporate & Commercial8 min read
MOFA Attestation in Qatar: How to Attest and Legalise Documents
Faysel Al-MohannadiLawyer admitted before the Court of Cassation · Reviewed on
Short answer
To use a foreign document in Qatar, have it attested in the issuing country, then by the Qatari embassy there, then by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in Qatar. Qatar is not party to the Apostille Convention, so an apostille alone is not enough. MOFA's fee is QAR 100 for most documents and QAR 150 for commercial ones.
What do attestation and legalisation mean in Qatar?
MOFA attestation, or legalisation, is how MOFA's Department of Consular Affairs gives a document legal standing for use in Qatar or abroad. It checks the seals and signatures before it, not the content.
MOFA says it is not responsible for content. If the earlier seals, signatures or content prove invalid, the attestation is void and may be referred to the security authorities.
| Step | Who does it | What it proves |
|---|---|---|
| Notarisation | A Ministry of Justice notary | Records the parties' intentions in an official document (Notarisation Law, Article 1) |
| Signature authentication | A Ministry of Justice notary | That the signatures are genuine (Article 1) |
| MOFA attestation | Department of Consular Affairs | That the earlier seals and signatures are genuine, not the content |
How do you attest a foreign document for use in Qatar?
MOFA requires a chain of live seals and signatures ending with a Qatari mission abroad or a foreign mission accredited to MOFA. The usual order:
The issuing body, such as the university, court or notary, certifies it.
That country's foreign ministry, or an agency acting for it, attests it.
The Qatari embassy or mission in that country attests it.
MOFA in Qatar gives the final attestation.
A certified Arabic translation is added if the receiving body asks for one.
If stamps are missing, MOFA's "Complete Attestation Outside Qatar" service sends the document by DHL to the Qatari mission abroad, then approves it in Qatar. It covers all foreign documents; a degree must come from a university on the Ministry of Education and Higher Education's accredited list.
Is Qatar part of the Hague Apostille Convention?
No. The 1961 Apostille Convention has 130 contracting parties, and Qatar is not one of them, according to the status table on hcch.net. We checked it on 8 November 2026; it was last updated on 30 June 2026.
Qatar became the Hague Conference's 95th Member on 17 September 2026, which the HCCH called its first formal connection with Qatar. Membership is not accession to the Convention.
- An apostille alone does not replace the Qatari embassy and MOFA stamps.
- Qatar does not issue apostilles, so a Qatari document bound for a Convention country usually needs legalisation at that country's embassy.
- If Qatar accedes later, the change will not apply at once, so check the status table first.
What does each common document need, and do you need a translation?
| Document | Before MOFA in Qatar | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Degree issued abroad | Foreign ministry or its authorised agency, then the Qatari mission | Submit a bachelor's degree with its transcript |
| Foreign marriage or birth certificate | Issuing body and foreign ministry, then the Qatari mission | A personal status document for MOFA |
| Foreign company documents | Competent authority in the head-office country, then MOFA | Required for non-Qatari investment (Decision No. 44 of 2020, Article 2) |
| Power of attorney signed abroad | Notarised there, then the chain | The Ministry of Justice deposits it only with MOFA attestation and a certified Arabic translation |
| Foreign judgment or court papers | Competent authorities there, then the Qatari mission or that country's mission in Qatar | Attestation does not make it enforceable |
For the next steps, see marriage contracts, powers of attorney, registering a company and enforcing foreign judgments.
MOFA accepts originals in Arabic or English, or with a certified translation. But Arabic is the language of the courts (Judicial Authority Law, Article 18), and the Ministry of Justice deposits a document notarised abroad only with a certified Arabic translation by a translator on its experts roll (Decision No. 157 of 2024, Article 1). The Qatar Chamber authenticates some translation offices' seals.
How do you attest a Qatari document for use abroad?
Get the original or a certified true copy from the issuing government body, which certifies copies of its own documents.
For a private document, first have the signature authenticated where MOFA accepts the stamp: a power of attorney at a Ministry of Justice notary, company papers usually at the Qatar Chamber.
Submit it to MOFA.
Ask the destination country what it needs next, often legalisation at its embassy in Doha.
Electronic attestation covers Ministry of Interior good conduct certificates and government school certificates certified by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education. You retrieve the document by number, pay and receive it by email; it can be checked on MOFA's "Document lookup" and is not refundable.
Where do you apply in Qatar, and how long does it take?
| Channel | How it works | Stated time |
|---|---|---|
| MOFA website (mofa.gov.qa) | Log in with the National Authentication System and upload copies; review within one working day; pay; Qatar Post collects and returns the originals | 3 to 4 working days |
| Electronic attestation | Good conduct and government school certificates only | One minute |
| Consular Affairs building, Diplomatic Area | Hand in the original and pay, Sunday to Thursday mornings | One to five minutes if every stamp is in place (Hukoomi) |
| Government service centres | Al Shamal, Rawdat Al Hamama, Al Khor, Lusail, The Pearl, Al Rayyan, Al Hilal, Al Wakra; evening shift at Al Wakra, Al Hilal, Al Rayyan and Rawdat Al Hamama | Not published |
| Complete Attestation Outside Qatar | Online or at the Consular Affairs building; DHL carries the documents | Not published |
- Stamps must be originals from the approved authorities, and watermarked.
- Someone else may apply for you, with their details registered.
- Fees are paid by Visa or Mastercard; unpaid requests lapse after a set period.
Help: the Government Contact Centre (109) and MOFA's Attestation Section (40111188).
How much does MOFA attestation cost?
Legalisation charges are set in Table 1 of Minister of Foreign Affairs Decision No. 28 of 2016, under Law No. 4 of 1992, and match MOFA's Legalization page (checked 8 November 2026).
| Document | Fee |
|---|---|
| Personal status documents, such as birth, marriage and divorce certificates | QAR 100 |
| Academic and other certificates | QAR 100 |
| General and special powers of attorney; property sale, lease and mortgage contracts | QAR 100 |
| Judicial authorisations, litigation papers and arbitration documents | QAR 100 |
| Medical certificates and reports | QAR 100 |
| Certificate of origin, packing list, commercial contracts, commercial powers of attorney | QAR 150 |
| Commercial invoices | QAR 500 to QAR 5,000 by value; 0.6 per cent of the value from QAR 1,000,001 |
| Any other document | QAR 100; death and conversion-to-Islam certificates are exempt |
| Electronic attestation | QAR 100 |
| Complete Attestation Outside Qatar | QAR 150, plus the equivalent of QAR 120 for the Qatari mission and the host ministry's fees |
| Qatar Post collection and delivery | QAR 40 |
The Council of Ministers may change these fees (Law No. 4 of 1992, Article 4); check MOFA's page before paying.
What are the common mistakes, and when should you speak to a lawyer?
- Going to the Qatari embassy before the issuing country's foreign ministry has attested the document.
- Submitting an uncertified copy, or stamps that are not originals.
- Relying on an apostille alone.
- Translating before the chain is complete, leaving the stamps untranslated.
Legal advice may help when:
- The document will be used in court or arbitration, in Qatar or abroad.
- Its authenticity is disputed, or forgery is suspected.
- You want to enforce a foreign judgment or arbitral award in Qatar.
- The power of attorney is for selling, buying or mortgaging property, or for company shares.
- The document was refused, or the chain cannot be completed abroad.
What the law says
Based on Law No. 4 of 1992 on MOFA attestation fees (Article 4, as amended by Law No. 5 of 1997) and Minister of Foreign Affairs Decision No. 28 of 2016 (Table 1), Notarisation Law No. 1 of 2023 (Article 1), Minister of Justice Decision No. 157 of 2024 (Article 1), the Judicial Authority Law (Law No. 8 of 2023, Article 18) and Minister of Commerce and Industry Decision No. 44 of 2020 (Article 2). MOFA and Hukoomi pages and the HCCH status table were checked on 8 November 2026.
Read on Al MeezanQuestions people ask
No. The HCCH status table does not list Qatar (checked 8 November 2026), and its HCCH membership since 17 September 2026 is not accession. The full attestation chain is still needed.
QAR 100. If it needs Complete Attestation Outside Qatar, add QAR 150, the equivalent of QAR 120 for the Qatari mission, and the issuing country's foreign ministry fees.
MOFA states 3 to 4 working days online and one minute for electronic attestation, and publishes no time for attestation completed abroad.
Yes. Its "Complete Attestation Outside Qatar" service sends the document to the Qatari mission there, then MOFA approves it in Qatar.
No. MOFA checks seals and signatures, not content, and the attestation is void if they later prove invalid.
This guide is general information about Qatari law, not advice on your case.
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Ask about your situation
If your document will be used in court or in a dispute, or its attestation was refused, you can ask us where you stand.