Notarization
Certified true copies, so your originals never travel by post.
Notarization: step-by-step procedure
Unlike IBCC, HEC, or MOFA, there's no online portal for this step. Notarisation is a manual process, and it exists for a specific reason: some German universities ask applicants to send their documents by post, and you never send your original degree or certificates through the mail. This is where notarised copies come in.
What notarisation is, and why you need it
Notarisation is when a licensed lawyer — a notary public, appointed under the Notaries Ordinance 1961 — examines your original document, compares it against a photocopy, and certifies that the copy is a true and accurate copy of the original. That certified copy can then be sent through the post without ever putting your actual original degree or certificate at risk.
Step-by-step process
Step 1: Find a lawyer / notary public
Since this is a manual, in-person process with no central portal, you'll need to locate a notary public yourself. They're commonly found near district courts, bar associations, or law firms in major cities like Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi.
Step 2: Decide how many copies you need
Work out exactly how many notarised copies you'll need — one for each university or authority you're posting documents to, plus a spare or two in case something is requested again later.
Step 3: Bring your original documents and photocopies
Take your original degree and certificates (already attested through IBCC, HEC, and MOFA as applicable) along with plain photocopies of each, plus your CNIC or passport for identity verification.
Step 4: Get the copies notarised
The lawyer verifies your original against the photocopy, confirms your identity, and stamps and signs the copy as a certified true copy.
Step 5: Pay the lawyer's fee
There's no fixed government fee schedule for this — every lawyer sets their own rate, usually based on how many copies you need notarised. It's worth asking two or three lawyers what they charge before committing, since rates can vary quite a bit between them.
When you actually need this step
Not every university requires this. Only go through notarisation if the specific university you're applying to demands that documents be sent by post. If a university accepts documents by email or online upload, or if you'll be hand-carrying your files yourself, you can skip this step entirely and save yourself the time and cost.