Legalisation runs in a fixed order: the issuing body, then HEC for degrees or IBCC for school certificates, then the MoFA apostille, then a certified Ukrainian translation. HEC attests on the same day at a booked slot; ICT Police issues a police certificate in 3 working days. Courier transit and each office's queue set the rest, so the total depends on your documents.
Pakistani documents reach a Ukrainian visa officer only after a chain of stamps. Pakistan joined the Apostille Convention with effect from 9 March 2023, so a single MoFA apostille replaces the older embassy legalisation. The apostille is the last Pakistani step, and every office before it has its own queue. This page sets out each office, what it publishes about its timing and fees, and where files lose days.
- 01Issuing bodyUniversity, Board, Union Council, NADRA or the District Policeset by the issuer
- 02HEC or IBCCDegrees to HEC, Matric and Intermediate to IBCCHEC: same day on your slot
- 03MoFA apostilleOnline appointment or an authorised courierPKR 3,000 per document
- 04Ukrainian translationDocument and apostille, signature notarisedset by page count
Office by office: what each step takes
| Document or step | Where it goes | Published term and fee | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| University degree or transcript | HEC degree attestation, then MoFA | In person on the booked date: same day. By TCS courier: first come, first served, term not published | HEC FAQ; MoFA SOP §4.1 |
| Matric or Intermediate certificate | IBCC, then MoFA | Term set by IBCC | MoFA SOP §4.1 |
| Police character certificate | District Police Officer, then MoFA | ICT Police: 3 working days, Rs 1,000. Punjab and Sindh: set by the provincial service | ICT Police; IRCC; MoFA SOP §3.6 |
| Birth, Nikah Nama, family record | Union Council or NADRA, then MoFA | Term set by the issuer | MoFA SOP §3.1, §3.4 |
| MoFA attestation (general documents) | Consular Services Hall, Islamabad, or a liaison office | Within two hours or before the office closes, direct or by courier | MoFA SOP §1.3 |
| MoFA apostille | apostille.mofa.gov.pk or one of five authorised couriers | PKR 3,000 personal or educational, 4,500 legal, 12,000 commercial; term not published | MoFA SOP §2, §2.2 |
HEC charges PKR 3,000 per document. Fees and offices change; MoFA's fee table is effective from 8 July 2024. All Ukrainian visa fees are in Ukraine visa fees from Pakistan.
Where the weeks go
The offices themselves are quick when the paper is right. Days are lost between them. Courier transit runs both ways, to HEC and back, then to MoFA and back. HEC returns laminated degrees unattested, so the lamination has to come off first. A name that differs between your CNIC and your degree, for example after marriage, needs documentary evidence before HEC will attest. MoFA refers dubious or incomplete documents back to the issuing authority for re-verification (SOP §1.3), which restarts that office's queue. Powers of attorney, affidavits, divorce and commercial documents need a personal visit (SOP §2).
Time the police certificate for the visa stage: the Ukrainian consul can ask for it then (Resolution No. 118, para. 10), and it describes your record on its date. Where to apply in each province is in police clearance for Ukraine; city offices are in Ukraine visa from Pakistan by city.
After the apostille: translation in Ukrainian
Translate only after the apostille, and translate the apostille with the document. The translator's signature is then certified by a Ukrainian notary, or a Ukrainian consul abroad performs the certification. Ukrainian law sets no term for translation; the time follows the page count. Why the order matters is explained in apostille before translation, and the translation stage in the translation timeline.
Which documents your route needs
The list depends on the ground. A work permit itself needs only your passport copy with a certified translation and a photo from you (Law No. 5067-VI, Art. 42-2); the D-04 visa file and later the residence card can need more. A student route leans on school and university certificates; a family route on Nikah Nama and birth records. Legalising documents nobody will ask for costs fees and time, so settle the route first. The full requirements are in apostille and legalisation requirements.
Questions about legalisation times
How long does a MoFA apostille take in Pakistan?
How long does HEC degree attestation take?
Do I need HEC attestation before the MoFA apostille?
How long does a police certificate take in Pakistan?
Does a MoFA or HEC attestation expire?
Can someone else get my documents attested?
Read next
- Apostille & legalisation requirementsWhich document goes where, with fees
- Apostille before translationThe right order for Pakistani documents
- Work permit timelineWhat happens after your documents are ready
- Legal consultation60 minutes with a Ukrainian advocate, documents reviewed in advance
Sources
Get your route and timeline in writing first.
The $99 eligibility assessment sets out the routes that fit you, in order, with an indicative timeline and your first action. Want an advocate to look at your papers? The $249 legal consultation includes review of the documents you send in advance and a signed written summary within 48 hours.
Last reviewed: 31 October 2026. Terms and fees are taken from the offices' own publications; the total time depends on your documents. General information, not legal advice. Confirm current fees and appointment availability with each office before you send documents.