Full attestation chain for Doha - notarisation through Qatar Embassy stamp
Qatar embassy attestation is the process of getting your South African documents officially verified by the Embassy of Qatar in Pretoria. Qatar is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, which means a standard apostille is not accepted. Instead, your documents must go through a multi-step attestation chain before they are recognised in Qatar.
The Embassy of Qatar in Pretoria attests documents after they have been authenticated by DIRCO (Department of International Relations and Cooperation). This is a requirement for anyone planning to work, live, or do business in Doha or anywhere in the State of Qatar.
Qatar has not signed the Hague Apostille Convention, so South African documents cannot be apostilled for use in Qatar. Instead, you need the full embassy attestation chain. If your documents are going to a Hague member country, you need an apostille instead. Learn more about the difference between apostille and attestation.
The attestation process for Qatar involves four steps. Each authority in the chain verifies the signature from the previous step. We manage the entire process so you do not need to visit any office.
Private documents are first notarised by a Notary Public. Government-issued documents such as birth certificates and police clearance certificates skip this step.
The High Court authenticates the notary's signature. This step confirms the notary is registered and the document is genuine.
DIRCO issues a Certificate of Authentication, verifying the High Court stamp. This is the South African government's final step before the document goes to the embassy.
The Embassy of Qatar in Pretoria verifies the DIRCO authentication and stamps the document. Processing typically takes 5-10 working days depending on the document type and embassy workload.
Transparent pricing with no hidden fees. Embassy fees (charged by the Qatar Embassy) are passed through at cost and vary by document type.
| Service | Our Fee (ZAR) | Embassy Fee (approx.) | Processing Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full Attestation Chain Notarisation + High Court + DIRCO + Qatar Embassy |
R3,150 per document | ~R800 (personal) / ~R4,000 (POA/commercial) | 2-4 weeks |
| Embassy Attestation Only Documents already authenticated by DIRCO |
R1,500 per document | ~R800 (personal) / ~R4,000 (POA/commercial) | 5-10 working days |
| Local Courier | R250 | - | 1-2 working days |
| International Courier (to Qatar) | R900 | - | 3-5 working days |
Note: Embassy fees are charged by the Qatar Embassy and may change without notice. Personal documents (birth certificates, degrees, police clearance) attract a lower fee (~R800) while powers of attorney and commercial documents attract a higher fee (~R4,000). Prices shown exclude embassy fees.
South Africans moving to Qatar for work, family, or business need a range of documents attested. These are the most commonly requested:
We handle the entire attestation chain from notarisation to Qatar Embassy stamp. Contact us for a same-day quote.
The full attestation chain takes approximately 2-4 weeks: notarisation (1 day), High Court authentication (3 days), DIRCO authentication (~1 week), and Qatar Embassy attestation (5-10 working days). If your documents are already DIRCO-authenticated, the embassy step alone takes 5-10 working days.
The Qatar Embassy in Pretoria charges approximately R800 per document for personal documents such as birth certificates, degrees, and police clearance. Powers of attorney and commercial documents attract a higher fee of approximately R4,000. These fees are set by the embassy and are passed through at cost.
Yes. After the Qatar Embassy in South Africa stamps your document, it typically still needs to be attested by MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) in Doha. This is the final step in the chain and is usually handled by your employer or sponsor in Qatar once the documents arrive.
Yes, we offer a nationwide courier service. You can send your documents to us from anywhere in South Africa (R250 local courier). We can also courier your attested documents directly to Qatar via international courier (R900 -- Middle East zone). You do not need to visit our office in person.
The Campus, Bryanston
Gauteng 2021, South Africa
Monday - Saturday
08:00 - 18:00