The Higher Education Commission has increased the HEC degree attestation fee from Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 3,000, following the nationwide rollout of its online degree attestation system.
The revised charges apply to all new applications submitted through the digital portal.
The move signals a major shift in how academic documents are verified in Pakistan, ending the long-standing requirement for physical visits, courier submissions, and manual paperwork.
Why the HEC Attestation Fee Increased
According to HEC Chairman Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar, the higher fee reflects structural changes in the verification process rather than a simple price hike.
Key reasons behind the revision include the following:
• Revenue sharing with universities for real-time document verification
• End-to-end digital processing, reducing administrative overhead
• Secure e-attestation certificates that can be verified online
• Faster turnaround times compared to the manual system
Under the new framework, a portion of the attestation fee is transferred directly to universities that authenticate academic records electronically.
What Students No Longer Have to Do
The updated HEC online attestation system removes several pain points that students faced for years.
Applicants no longer need
• Physical visits to HEC offices
• Courier submission of original degrees
• Multiple photocopies and affidavits
• Travel and accommodation expenses, especially for out-of-city candidates
Instead, the entire process is completed online, from application to issuance of a digitally verifiable e-attestation certificate.
How the New System Actually Saves Money
While the HEC degree attestation fee has increased on paper, many students are likely to spend less overall.
Previously, applicants often paid separately for
• University verification charges
• Courier services for original documents
• Transport and lodging costs
• Repeated visits due to missing paperwork
The consolidated digital fee eliminates most of these hidden expenses.
Pro tip for applicants: Before applying, confirm that your university’s records are fully digitized and synced with HEC. Incomplete institutional data remains the biggest cause of delays, even under the new system.
What This Means Going Forward
The transition to paperless degree attestation in Pakistan positions HEC closer to international best practices in academic verification.
Employers, foreign universities, and immigration authorities can now authenticate credentials online, reducing fraud and processing delays.
For students, the system prioritizes convenience, transparency, and speed, even if it comes with a higher upfront fee.
