MOFA Attestation and Embassy Attestation are two terms frequently required for the certificate authentication process while traveling internationally. Although both terms are used to describe the procedure of getting an attestation or certification, there are a number of distinctions depending on the documents required and the process to be followed.
- Purpose
The main use of the MOFA Attestation is to verify and legalize documents for persons intending to travel from one country to another within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country of origin. This makes the documents to be verified and legalized by the MOFA so that they can be accredited by other countries.
On the other hand, Embassy Attestation is generally necessary for those documents which are being attested to be legalized for use in the country that requires embassy attestation. The documents are authenticated by the embassy of the destination country not the issuing state’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This legalization establishes the fact of having the embassy authenticate and legalize these documents to enable them to pass legal requirement in the intended country of usage.
- Document Types
MOFA Attestation and Embassy Attestation work well on documents of any kind depending on the requirements of the country you are to visit. However, the types of documents that are most commonly attested include:
- Birth certificates
- Marriage certificates
- Academic transcripts
- Diplomas
- Degree certificates
- Professional certificates
- Legalization Process
The process for MOFA Attestation typically involves the following steps:
- It is presented by the party for whom an attestation is needed.
- The MOFA also approves the document and legalizes through certification of the authenticity of the contained information.
- Finally, the MOFA places a raised stamp or a company seal at the document.
The original attested document is then hand over to a post office or a courier company to be posted to the particular embassy or consulate of the desired country of visit.
Distinction however needs to be made between ordinary attestation and embassy attestation since the latter entails a similar process as the former before the document is presented to the embassy or consulate of the intended destination country. This extra measure helps to guarantee that the embassy or consulate has looked at the document and at the same time verifying the legal tender document.
- Cost and Timeline
The fees for both MOFA Attestation and Embassy Attestation services may differ based on some essential factors such as the type of document, the country of the destination, and from the service provider. Further, the time frame could also be affected by the accommodation received by the specific authorities involved as well as by other authentication or legalization processes as well.
5.Validity Scope
Embassy Attestation confirms the document is valid in the destination country however does not authenticate it for legal use within that country before attested by the MOFA.
MOFA Attestation certifies the document as authentic and genuine for use in the destiny country in regards to legal, educational, civil or business purposes.
MOFA attestation and embassy attestation are both critical to credentialing and legitimizing documents that may be needed to be tendered to an embassy or elsewhere. Hence, despite being subdivisions of a similar category of attestation, they have a different purpose of the attestation they offer, the types of documents that can be attested, and the process followed. Recognizing the distinctions may assist persons together with institutions to make the right choice in picking the right attestation service for documents. However, by following proper process, one can achieve on time attestation of documents without facing any challenges.
