What Is HEC Degree Attestation?
HEC degree attestation is the official verification process conducted by the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan to confirm that your academic degree, diploma, or certificate is genuine and issued by a recognised institution. This attestation is mandatory for anyone planning to work abroad, pursue further education overseas, apply for immigration, or get their documents attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and foreign embassies.
Without HEC attestation, your educational documents will not be accepted for MOFA attestation, embassy attestation, or any international legal process. It is the essential first step in the document legalisation chain for all university-level qualifications in Pakistan.
Who Needs HEC Attestation?
HEC attestation is required for holders of bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, MPhil, PhD, and all other higher education qualifications issued by Pakistani universities. Whether you are a fresh graduate seeking employment in the Gulf countries, a professional applying for a work visa, or a student planning to study abroad, you will need your degree attested by HEC before proceeding with any further attestation steps.
Note that matric and intermediate certificates do not go through HEC. These are attested by the Inter Board Committee of Chairmen (IBCC) instead.
Modes of Attestation: Courier vs Walk-In
HEC offers two convenient modes for degree attestation in 2026:
Courier Service
Applicants who cannot visit an HEC office in person can submit their documents through designated courier services such as TCS. The courier company collects your documents, delivers them to HEC for processing, and returns the attested documents to your address. Applications received through courier are processed on a first-come, first-served basis and typically take 7 to 15 working days. This is ideal for applicants living in cities without an HEC office or those currently abroad.
Walk-In Urgent Service
For applicants who need same-day attestation, HEC offers the walk-in urgent mode. Under this option, documents are attested and returned on the same day of your scheduled visit. However, you must book an online appointment through the HEC portal in advance — walk-ins without appointments are not accepted. The urgent service carries an additional fee of Rs. 3,000 per application on top of the standard attestation charges.
Your Steps (What You Need to Do)
- Create an account on the HEC Online Degree Attestation Portal at eportal.hec.gov.pk
- Fill in the online application form with your personal and academic details
- Upload scanned copies of the required documents
- Pay the attestation fee online through 1Link (bank transfer)
- Choose your mode: courier submission or walk-in urgent (with appointment)
- Submit your original documents via courier or bring them on your appointment date
- Collect your attested documents or receive them back via courier
What Alpha Attestation Handles for You
- Complete application filing on the HEC portal on your behalf
- Document review to ensure everything is in order before submission
- Secure courier pickup and delivery of your original documents
- Real-time tracking and status updates throughout the process
- Coordination with HEC for any queries or issues that arise
- Onward processing for MOFA attestation and embassy attestation after HEC is complete
Required Documents
- Original degree, diploma, or certificate to be attested
- Two photocopies of the degree
- Two photocopies of your CNIC (Computerised National Identity Card)
- Two passport-size photographs
- Original transcript (may be required for verification)
- Fee payment receipt or online payment confirmation
- Authorization letter (if someone else is submitting on your behalf)
Processing Time and Fees
The standard attestation fee charged by HEC ranges from Rs. 300 to Rs. 500 per document depending on the degree level. For the walk-in urgent service, there is an additional Rs. 3,000 fee per application.
Normal processing (courier): 7 to 15 working days, depending on university response time and verification speed.
Urgent processing (walk-in): Same day, provided you have a confirmed appointment.
Payment is made online through the 1Link payment gateway. You must verify your payment in your HEC portal profile before your application can be processed.
Important Tips
- Always verify that your degree-awarding institution is recognised by HEC before applying
- Ensure your name on the degree matches your CNIC exactly — any discrepancy can cause delays
- Do not laminate your degree before attestation, as HEC may reject laminated documents
- Keep copies of all submitted documents for your records
- HEC attestation is valid for life unless revoked by HEC or the issuing university
Ready to Get Started?
Let Alpha Attestation handle your HEC degree attestation from start to finish.