Legalization of German certificates to be used in Qatar

Documents are often only recognized by the authorities of another state if their authenticity and evidentiary value has been determined by a special procedure. But even formally authentic foreign documents have on occasion been discovered to contain inaccurate information. It must therefore be confirmed in the process of international recognition that documents that are to be used abroad were both issued from the responsible agency and are factually correct.

Please note that after having received the prior certification/validation and in case you need your document legalized for Qatar (e.g. RP process), please get in touch with the Embassy of the State of Qatar in Berlin.

Legalization of Qatari/Foreign Certificates

In order to legalize a document by the German Embassy in Doha, you must ensure the following:

• Documents must be issued by a Qatari Authority.
  Please note that the German Embassy in Doha only issues legalizations for original official documents. Private documents will not be legalized. Photocopies or certified photocopies may not be legalized. Documents must be issued by a Qatari authority. Documents not issued in Qatar cannot be legalized by the embassy. This also includes documents issued by other Embassies or entities in Qatar.
• Before arranging an appointment for the legalization of documents, please ensure getting the necessary certification/verification from the Consular Section of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar first.
• Ensure booking an appointment prior to coming to the embassy for legalization.You must bring your appoin:tment confirmation with you.

  
  

Certification of Copies

Notarized copies can be made at the Embassy when the original document is presented and the certified copies need to be used for a German national or for a German authority/institution. If the copies are notarized by a notary public, please make sure that the notary public certifies on the copy that it is a true copy of the original (i.e. for example “This is a true copy of the original”)

Prior booking of an appointment in the category ‘Consular Affairs’ is mandatory.

Please bring the original document as well as a copy of the same.

Certification of a Signature

By certifying a signature, the consular officer confirms that the person indicated in the document was physically present and signed it in front of him or her. It is a simple form of authenticating a signature.

The signature must be executed in person in the presence of the consular officer or must be acknowledged in his presence. No advice about the legal meaning of the document to be signed is provided. However, in order to avoid legal status for a document that actually contains unlawful content the document mus be in German and English language in order to be understood by the Consular Officer.

In many cases, the signature certification is sufficient for the required document.

For signature verification please bring with you the following:

• the document to be signed (for declarations of approval: the contract which has been signed previously in Germany); German or English version required
• a valid, official photo-ID (passport, Qatar ID-Card)
• if you are not acting on your own behalf, but on behalf of e.g. a company, a ward, etc., please bring a document (original or certified copy) stating your power of attorney for the company / person, etc.

For certifications of your signature you may come to the competent German Embassy after prior booking of an appointment.

Notarization

Full notarization will provide stronger legitimization of a document. While notarizing a deed, the consular officer also confirms the identity of the person appearing, but he will furthermore provide advice to the person signing about the legal meaning and consequences of the declaration to be notarized.

The text to be fully notarized will be drafted by the German mission on the basis of the information provided by you in advance, possibly (but not necessarily) on the basis of a draft by a German notary or lawyer. The notarization cannot be completed ad hoc and requires an appointment at least several days prior to the notarization. Currently in Doha only the following notarizations can be provided: Acknowledgement of Paternity, Declaration of Custody and Inheritance Matters.

Please contact for further information and to arrange an appointment.

The fee for notarization will depend on the value of the legal transaction for which it is required (you can enquire about the fee in advance). The fee, calculated in Euro, will be converted into QAR according to the daily exchange rate at the German mission and can be paid in cash or credit card (Master and Visa cards only).

Full notarization in accordance with German law cannot be executed by a Qatar “notary public”.​​​​​​​