Nigeria Certificate Attestation

The documentation procedures throughout Nigeria demand a lengthy process from both native residents and migrating foreigners. Each type of document requiring official process resides with a distinct authority across the country. Certificate Attestation process requires proper verification for individuals who are not Nigerian citizens.

As Nigeria does not participate in the Hague Apostille Convention, nations need to perform Nigeria certificate attestation procedures to validate their documents within Nigeria. Nigeria certificate attestation process verifies document authenticity so Nigerian authorities can properly accept documents for employment purposes as well as educational and business needs and legal procedures.

Nigeria Certificate Attestation Process

• Notary Attestation (If required) - The Nigeria certificate attestation process demands notarized affidavits and declarations before continuing with further attestation.
• State Level Attestation:
  • For Educational Certificates - Attestation from HRD (Human Resource Department) or SDM (Sub-Divisional Magistrate) in the issuing state.
  • For Personal Documents - Home Department Attestation from the respective state.
  • For Commercial Documents - Verification from the Chamber of Commerce.
• Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Attestation - The Ministry of External Affairs from the document origin country will officially document the paper with their stamp and seal.
• Nigeria Embassy Attestation - This document proceeds for verification at the Nigeria Embassy or Consulate.
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) Attestation in Nigeria - The Minister of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in Nigeria completes the Nigeria certificate attestation procedure for official document verification upon documents reaching this country.

Types of Documents that Need Nigeria Certificate Attestation

• Educational Documents:
  • Degree Certificates
  • Diploma Certificates
  • Transcripts
  • School Leaving Certificates
• Personal Documents:
  • Birth Certificates
  • Marriage Certificates
  • Death Certificates
  • Police Clearance Certificate (PCC)
  • Medical Certificates
• Commercial Documents:
  • Power of Attorney
  • Business Agreements
  • Memorandum of Association
  • Company Registration Documents
  • Invoices and Trade Documents

Common Reasons for Nigeria Certificate Attestation

• Employment - Job applications together with work permits need educational and experience certificates to be attested before acceptance.
• Higher Education - Foreign students who wish to study in Nigerian universities must present attested degrees together with transcripts.
• Business Setup & Trade - All commercial documents need Nigeria certificate attestation to allow legal business operations.
• Family Visa Applications - The process of Nigeria certificate attestation applies to birth and marriage certificates whenever someone applies for a dependent visa.
• Legal Matters - Law authorities require the official authentication of court documents together with power of attorney documents.

Procedure for Nigeria Certificate Attestation