MOFA attestation and registration in Pakistan

Embassy attestation is step one of three. The document is not usable until the remaining two are complete.

Step two — MOFA

• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirms the genuineness of the attestation with the mission that issued it, then attests the document
• The attorney appointed in Pakistan must attend in person with his original CNIC
• Offices: Islamabad head office, with camp offices in Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta
• Appointment is booked online — walk-ins are not accepted
• Must be completed within 120 days of the mission's attestation

Step three — registration

• For any power authorising sale or transfer of property, register it with the District Registrar or Sub-Registrar
• An unregistered power will be refused by most sub-registries and many society transfer offices
• Registration also creates the public record against which revocation can later be verified

APOSTILLE — WHAT CHANGED Pakistan now issues apostille through MOFA, a single certificate replacing multi-stage legalisation for countries in the Hague Apostille Convention — which includes the United States, the United Kingdom, most of Europe and all GCC states. For property documents going into Pakistan the embassy-then-MOFA route above still applies. Apostille matters mainly for Pakistani documents you need to use abroad. Confirm which route your specific case requires before paying anyone.