ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has received complaints about its newly launched digital attestation service, with applicants reporting difficulties finding certain destination countries in the online application system.
The reported issue has raised concerns among Pakistanis who need verified documents for overseas employment, higher education, immigration and other official purposes. The United Arab Emirates (UAE), Germany and Austria were among the countries applicants reportedly could not select in the relevant application menus.
The complaints surfaced shortly after the ministry introduced its Digital Attestation System to simplify document verification and reduce the need for physical visits to government offices.
The ministry launched the online service on October 12, 2026, at its headquarters in Islamabad and liaison offices in Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta and Gujrat.
The system allows applicants to submit documents for general attestation and apostille certification. It also supports online fee payments and the delivery of electronic certificates through email after the required process is completed.
The initiative aims to make document verification more accessible and convenient for citizens across Pakistan. However, the reported country selection problems have raised questions about the system’s functionality during its initial rollout.
Some applicants reported that certain destinations appeared in the portal’s general country listings but were unavailable when they attempted to complete their applications. Germany, Austria and the UAE were among the countries mentioned in the complaints.
The reported issue could create difficulties for people preparing educational certificates, personal documents and other official paperwork for use abroad. Applicants facing application problems may need to seek clarification from the ministry, particularly when dealing with university admission, employment or visa-related deadlines.
Concerns have also emerged about the range of destinations available for apostille certification. The Hague Apostille Convention provides a framework for simplifying the authentication of eligible public documents for use in participating countries.
The Hague Conference on Private International Law listed 130 contracting parties to the convention as of June 30, 2026. However, the number of contracting parties does not automatically correspond to the number of destinations available through Pakistan’s online application system.
Countries reportedly missing from relevant selection lists included Germany, Austria, Greece, Armenia, the Netherlands, Liechtenstein, Algeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Samoa, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Vietnam.
The convention entered into force for Algeria on July 9, 2026, and Vietnam on September 11, 2026. These developments have added to questions about whether the portal’s country listings fully reflect the applicable arrangements.
Applicants should distinguish between a country’s participation in the convention and its availability under a particular attestation service. Requirements may vary according to the destination, document type and applicable procedures.
Pakistanis planning to use the service should review the latest country-specific requirements and confirm the appropriate attestation process before submitting documents. Anyone unable to select a destination or complete an application should contact the relevant ministry office for guidance.
The complaints have highlighted potential challenges in the early implementation of the digital service. However, the available information does not establish whether all reported issues remain unresolved or whether the ministry has announced a timeline for addressing them.
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A clear application process, accurate destination listings and timely assistance would help applicants benefit from the online system and avoid unnecessary delays in obtaining documents for international use.
