Qatar: Update on MOFA Degree Attestation Requirements

Analysis

The Foreign Affairs Ministry has clarified that with immediate effect, in order to counter-attest their degrees for the employment residence permit process, foreign nationals must provide official transcripts and official support letters from their degree-issuing institution with the degree certificate. All three items must first be legalised in their issuing country.

Until now, these requirements were only applicable to certain nationals.

The official letter from the degree-issuing institution must confirm the:

• authenticity of the certificate;

• validity of the certificate;

• duration of studies;

• place of study; and the

• qualification received (BA, MA, PhD).

It must also confirm:

• whether the institute is private or government-owned; and

• if the institution is officially recognised by the government of the issuing country.

What This Means for Employers and Foreign Nationals

All residence permit applicants must provide a legalised official letter and official transcript from the institution that issued their degree. Legalisation must be completed at a Qatar consular post in the country where the certificate was issued.