HEC degree verification is now fully online: since May 2026 the Higher Education Commission handles it through a paperless Degree Attestation System on eservices.hec.gov.pk, and you download an e-Attestation Certificate instead of getting a stamp on your original. The fee is Rs 3,000 per document (degree, transcript, provisional certificate or equivalence letter), paid through 1Bill. No office visit or courier is needed.
Last checked: 20 October 2026. Sources are linked in the text.
What changed in 2026: HEC attestation goes paperless
On 11 May 2026, HEC announced that it had shifted to a “completely online and paperless Degree Attestation System”, replacing the previous degree verification process, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan. The main changes:
- You apply at any time through the HEC e-Services portal. No walk-in counter, no TCS or Leopards courier of original degrees.
- HEC issues an e-Attestation Certificate, which you download from your dashboard.
- Anyone, such as an employer or embassy, can check it at hec.gov.pk/site/verification along with the attested document.
- The fee rose from Rs 1,000 to Rs 3,000 per document, as The News reported on 14 May 2026.
- Applicants who had already applied and paid under the old system were processed the old way until 30 June 2026.
- Stamped attestations issued before the e-Attestation launch remain valid and can be verified on the same HEC page.
HEC degree verification vs attestation vs equivalence
People use these words interchangeably, but they are different services.
| Service | What it does | Who needs it |
|---|---|---|
| Degree verification / attestation (e-Attestation) | HEC confirms with your university and NADRA that a Pakistani degree or transcript is genuine, then issues an e-Attestation Certificate | Jobs abroad, government jobs, foreign admissions, visa files |
| Degree equivalence | HEC states what a foreign degree (or O/A Level-based or non-standard qualification) is equal to in Pakistan’s system | People with foreign degrees applying for jobs or higher study in Pakistan |
| MOFA attestation / apostille | The Ministry of Foreign Affairs authenticates documents for use abroad, after HEC | Gulf jobs, some European and Asian embassies |
Under the new system, “verification” and “attestation” are effectively the same request: HEC verifies the degree with the university and issues the e-attestation.
HEC attestation fee 2026
| Document | HEC fee | Payment |
|---|---|---|
| Degree | Rs 3,000 | 1Link 1Bill consumer number generated on the portal (bank app, JazzCash, Easypaisa or ATM) |
| Transcript or result card | Rs 3,000 | |
| Provisional certificate | Rs 3,000 | |
| HEC equivalence letter | Rs 3,000 |
So a bachelor’s degree plus its transcript costs Rs 6,000. The portal calculates the total automatically once you select documents, according to ProPakistani’s walkthrough. HEC Chairman Dr Niaz Ahmed Akhtar said the Rs 3,000 covers the whole process, including the university’s verification.
Documents you need
- Scans of your CNIC, front and back (NICOP or passport for overseas applicants)
- Clear colour scans of the original degree and transcript. HEC attests original degrees only; scans of photocopies are not processed.
- Matric (SSC) and Intermediate (HSSC) certificates, since you must enter your full education history
- Provisional certificate if the final degree has not been issued
- Any supporting document HEC asks for, such as a name-change record
How to apply for HEC degree verification online
- Create an account on eservices.hec.gov.pk, or log in if you already have one from an earlier scholarship or equivalence application.
- Enter personal details: full name, father’s name, date of birth, gender, marital status and address. These must match your CNIC and degree exactly.
- Add academic information from Matric onwards: degree title, duration, session, campus and registration or roll number.
- Select documents for attestation: degree, transcript, provisional certificate and/or equivalence letter.
- Upload scans of the CNIC and each document.
- Pay the fee using the 1Bill consumer number shown on the portal.
- Track the case. HEC checks your details with NADRA and the university, then does a final review.
- Download the e-Attestation Certificate when you receive the SMS and email confirmation.
Processing time
HEC has not published a fixed turnaround for e-attestation. The slowest step is usually the university’s confirmation. To speed it up, HEC now pays universities Rs 500 per document verified within 24 hours, Rs 300 within 48 hours and Rs 100 after 72 hours, according to The News. Older private universities and degrees from the 1990s and earlier can take longer, because records are checked manually.
Common reasons cases get stuck
- A one-letter difference in your name or father’s name between the CNIC and degree.
- Blurry, cropped or photographed-at-an-angle scans.
- Missing Matric or Intermediate records in the education history.
- Opening a second case instead of answering the query on the first one.
- Degrees from institutions or campuses HEC does not recognise. Check HEC’s list of recognised universities and campuses before applying.
If HEC raises an objection, upload only what it asks for in the same case. A duplicate application costs another fee.
What to do if your HEC case fails or stalls
- Read the objection carefully. HEC usually states what is missing: a clearer scan, an earlier certificate or a name-change record.
- Fix the record at the source. If your degree has a spelling different from your CNIC, ask your university’s examination department for a corrected degree or a verification letter, or update your CNIC at NADRA first.
- Contact your university. Since the university must confirm the record online, a polite email to its registrar or controller of examinations with your HEC case number often moves a stuck case.
- Use HEC’s helpdesk through the e-Services portal rather than paying an agent. Agents cannot speed up the university step.
Foreign degrees and equivalence
If you studied abroad, HEC attestation does not apply to the foreign degree itself. You apply for degree equivalence on the same e-Services portal. Once HEC issues the equivalence letter, that letter can itself be attested for Rs 3,000 like any other document. O and A Level students need IBCC equivalence for Matric and Intermediate, not HEC.
After HEC: MOFA attestation and embassies
Gulf employers and many embassies want a Ministry of Foreign Affairs attestation on top of HEC. MOFA launched its own online attestation and apostille portal at portal-attestation.mofa.gov.pk on 12 October 2026, and university degrees “generally require verification from the Higher Education Commission” first, according to ProPakistani. Matric and Intermediate certificates go through IBCC instead of HEC.
If you are using the degree for Germany, read our guides to the Germany Opportunity Card and Germany work visa, where recognition through Anabin or ZAB is a separate step. Students heading abroad can also see our list of fully funded scholarships for Pakistani students. You will also need your family documents for many visa files: see the NADRA FRC guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the HEC degree verification fee in 2026?
Rs 3,000 per document. A degree and transcript together cost Rs 6,000, paid through a 1Bill consumer number.
Do I still need to send my original degree to HEC?
No. Under the online system you upload scans of your original documents and download an e-Attestation Certificate. No courier or office visit is needed.
How can an employer verify my HEC attestation?
Through HEC’s verification page at hec.gov.pk/site/verification, using the e-Attestation Certificate and the attested document.
Are old HEC stamps still valid?
Yes. HEC says attestations issued before the e-Attestation launch remain valid and can be verified online.
What is the difference between HEC attestation and equivalence?
Attestation confirms a Pakistani degree is genuine. Equivalence states what a foreign or non-standard qualification equals in Pakistan’s system.
How long does HEC attestation take now?
HEC has not published a fixed time. It depends mostly on how quickly your university confirms the record, which HEC now rewards within 24 to 72 hours.
Do I need MOFA attestation after HEC?
Only if the employer or embassy asks for it. Many Gulf countries do, and MOFA now accepts applications online.
