Qatar is not an apostille country: every foreign document requires the full legalisation chain — home foreign ministry, Qatar embassy, then Qatar MOFA — before it is accepted.
Overview
Qatar is not a party to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention. This is confirmed by the HCCH status table; Qatar applied to become an HCCH member in April 2025 but has not acceded to the Apostille Convention. As a result, all foreign public documents intended for use in Qatar — birth certificates, academic qualifications, police certificates, marriage certificates — must undergo the full multi-step legalisation chain rather than a simple apostille stamp. For outbound Qatari documents intended for use abroad, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) operates an attestation service through its Department of Consular Affairs and Tawtheeq e-portal at mofa.gov.qa. Academic certificate attestation by MOFA costs QAR 100 per document. The MOFA service runs Sunday to Thursday 07:30–13:00; documents can also be submitted digitally through the Tawtheeq platform. All foreign-language documents submitted to Qatari authorities must be accompanied by a certified Arabic translation. Verified against mofa.gov.qa, portal.moi.gov.qa and hcch.net as of June 2026.
Legalisation Chain for Foreign Documents Coming INTO Qatar
- Step 1 — Notarisation in country of origin: The document must be notarised or certified by the relevant authority in the issuing country (e.g. a notary public, official issuing body, or university registrar).
- Step 2 — Home country foreign ministry: The document must be stamped by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (or equivalent) in the country where it was issued, confirming the authenticity of the preceding signature or seal.
- Step 3 — Qatar Embassy/Consulate in the home country: The Qatar Embassy or Consulate accredited to the country of issue must then stamp and verify the document, confirming it has passed the home MOFA step.
- Step 4 — Qatar MOFA attestation: Once in Qatar, the document is submitted to the Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Department of Consular Affairs, for final attestation. Academic certificates cost QAR 100 per document (verified mofa.gov.qa). Submission is via the Tawtheeq e-portal or in person Sunday–Thursday 07:30–13:00.
- Arabic translation required: Any document not in Arabic must be accompanied by a certified Arabic translation before it will be accepted by Qatari government bodies, courts or most employers. Translators should hold a credential recognised by Qatari authorities.
- Digital attestation (2024): Since October 2024, MOFA launched electronic document attestation allowing some documents to be attested digitally and immediately without a physical visit to the Attestation Section.
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See Paid Plans →Frequently Asked Questions
Does Qatar accept apostilles on foreign documents?
No. Qatar is not a party to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention — an apostille stamp alone is not accepted by Qatari authorities. Documents issued in apostille countries still need the full legalisation chain: notarisation/apostille in the home country, then Qatar Embassy stamp, then Qatar MOFA attestation. Qatar applied to join the HCCH (the body that oversees the Apostille Convention) as a member in April 2025, but membership of HCCH does not automatically mean accession to the Apostille Convention.
What is the correct legalisation chain for a foreign degree certificate I want to use in Qatar?
Four steps: (1) have the certificate certified/apostilled by the relevant authority in your home country; (2) have it stamped by your home country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs; (3) have it stamped by the Qatar Embassy or Consulate in your home country; (4) submit it to Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Attestation Department (mofa.gov.qa, or Sunday–Thursday 07:30–13:00 in person). For university degrees, the full transcript must accompany the certificate. The MOFA attestation fee for academic certificates is QAR 100.
Can I get documents attested digitally, or must I visit MOFA in person?
Since October 2024, Qatar MOFA has offered electronic document attestation for eligible documents through its Tawtheeq e-portal at mofa.gov.qa — allowing immediate, around-the-clock digital attestation without visiting the Attestation Section. In December 2024, MOFA also launched an overseas attestation service via Qatar missions abroad. Physical submission remains available Sunday–Thursday 07:30–13:00 at the Department of Consular Affairs building in Doha; documents are returned by QPost.
Do my foreign documents need to be translated into Arabic for Qatar?
Yes. Qatari government bodies, courts and most employers require that foreign-language documents be accompanied by a certified Arabic translation. The translator should hold credentials accepted by Qatari authorities. The translation itself is typically submitted alongside the attested original — not separately. Check specific requirements with the receiving body (MOI, MoEHE, courts, etc.) as required translation standards can vary.
How do I get a Qatari document (such as a birth certificate or police clearance) accepted in another country?
Because Qatar is not an apostille country, Qatari-issued documents for foreign use require: (1) Qatar MOFA attestation (obtained via the Tawtheeq portal or in person); (2) attestation by the embassy or consulate of the destination country in Doha. The specific chain depends on the destination country's requirements — some countries may also require translation into their official language. Contact the embassy of the receiving country in Doha for the current requirements.
Where do I submit a police clearance from Qatar to be attested for use abroad?
Qatar Police Clearance Certificates (PCCs) are issued by the Ministry of Interior and can be attested through the Qatar MOFA Tawtheeq e-portal (mofa.gov.qa) or by submitting the certificate at the MOFA Attestation Department in Doha. The MOFA portal has a dedicated 'Submit Police Clearance' e-service. After MOFA attestation, you may also need the destination country's embassy in Doha to certify it. Processing typically takes about one working day for MOFA review, with return by QPost.