Why Mosadaqa Is Delaying Verification in Pakistan: Understanding the Current Situation

Over the past few months, many Pakistanis have reported significant delays in the Mosadaqa (attestation) process for documents required by Saudi Arabia. This attestation is essential for those seeking employment, higher education, or visa processing in the Kingdom. However, the verification timelines that once took a few days are now stretching into weeks or even months.

Understanding Mosadaqa Attestation

Mosadaqa is an official document attestation system managed by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). It ensures that educational, professional, and legal documents issued abroad are genuine and approved by both local and Saudi authorities. For Pakistani applicants, this process involves coordination between the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pakistan (MoFA), and the Saudi Embassy.

Why the Delays Are Happening

There are several factors contributing to the current verification delays:

Increased Application Volume:
With more Pakistanis applying for jobs and study opportunities in Saudi Arabia after the pandemic, the workload on verification authorities has surged dramatically.

New Verification Requirements:
Saudi Arabia has recently updated its document attestation protocols. Every document must now undergo deeper background checks to prevent fraud and forgery, which slows down the process.

Coordination Issues Between Departments:
The attestation process requires multiple government bodies to verify the same document at different stages. Any delay from one department affects the entire process.

Technical System Upgrades:
Mosadaqa’s online verification platform is undergoing system updates to enhance digital tracking and authentication. These technical upgrades have temporarily affected processing speed.

Embassy and Staffing Constraints:
Limited staff at the Saudi Embassy in Islamabad and consulates in Karachi and other cities have caused longer waiting times for attestation appointments and approvals.

Situation in Saudi Arabia

According to sources in Saudi Arabia, the authorities are implementing stricter digital verification systems to ensure complete authenticity of foreign documents. The Mosadaqa department has been integrating advanced verification tools to reduce forgery, but this digital transformation phase has extended the processing time for applicants from Pakistan and other countries.

How Applicants Can Cope

• Apply Early: Submit documents well ahead of deadlines for jobs or visas.
• Use Verified Agents: Work only with authorized attestation centers recognized by both Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
• Track Online: Regularly check Mosadaqa and HEC portals for status updates.
• Stay Updated: Follow official embassy announcements for any procedural changes.

Conclusion

The delays in Mosadaqa verification in Pakistan are primarily due to system upgrades, increased demand, and stricter verification protocols from Saudi authorities. While the current process may be slower, these measures aim to enhance transparency and trust in document authentication — ultimately benefiting applicants in the long run.