If you’re applying for a job in Doha with Australian qualifications, you’ll likely be asked to provide a National Police Certificate. But providing a copy of your police certificate alone is not enough. To be recognised by Qatari employers or government agencies, your certificate must be authenticated and then legalised by The Qatar Embassy in Canberra.
Qatar is not a member of The Hague Apostille Convention Abolishing the Requirement for Legalisation of Foreign Documents (Hague Apostille Convention). This means documents intended for use in Qatar, such as Australian police certificates, must undergo a full embassy legalisation process. An Apostille is not accepted in Qatar, so using the correct process from the beginning is essential to avoid delays or rejection.
What Is a National Police Certificate?
In Australia, a National Police Certificate is an official summary of a person’s criminal history. These are issued by authorised bodies such as the Australian Federal Police or state police services like Victoria Police. They are often required for employment, immigration, licensing, and volunteer work both within Australia and overseas.
For job seekers with Australian qualifications looking to work in Doha, the National Police Certificate is commonly requested by employers as part of pre-employment screening to verify your good character and criminal background.
Why Does Qatar Require Embassy Legalisation?
Qatar’s legal and administrative framework demands that all foreign documents used for official purposes be verified for authenticity. This is especially true for documents that affect employment, immigration, and government registrations.
Legalising a police certificate for Qatar means confirming its origin and ensuring the document has not been altered or forged. Qatari employers and authorities rely on this verification process to minimise the risk of fraudulent applications and to maintain international hiring standards.
The Legalisation Process
For a National Police Certificate to be accepted in Qatar, it must go through the following legalisation steps:
- Notarisation: A notary public in Australia will first inspect the original document, confirm its legitimacy, and issue a Notarial Certificate. This notarised copy becomes the foundation for the legalisation process.
- DFAT Authentication: The notarised document is then submitted to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). DFAT will authenticate the notary’s signature and stamp, issuing an authentication certificate to confirm that the notarial act is legitimate.
- Embassy Legalisation: Finally, the authenticated document is submitted to The Qatar Embassy in Canberra. The embassy will verify the DFAT certificate and apply its own seal and stamp, confirming the document is now officially recognised for use in Qatar.
Only once all three stages are complete is your police certificate fully legalised and ready to be submitted to Qatari employers or authorities.
What Happens If You Skip This Process?
If you provide an unauthenticated or unlegalised police certificate, Qatari employers are likely to reject your application. In some cases, they may allow you to resubmit your documentation, but more often, delays in onboarding or visa processing can jeopardise the entire opportunity.
In regulated industries such as education, healthcare, and energy, failure to provide properly attested documents can result in disqualification from recruitment altogether. Having your documents legalised in advance gives you a clear advantage and demonstrates professionalism and preparedness.
What Types of Roles in Doha Require Legalised Police Certificates?
Based on recent recruitment trends in Qatar, job applicants in the following sectors are typically asked to submit legalised police certificates:
- Education and training (particularly teaching roles)
- Oil and gas
- Construction and engineering
- Government and public sector roles
- Banking and financial services
- Healthcare and medical licensing
Even if your employer does not initially request a legalised document, many government visa applications and licensing bodies in Qatar will eventually require it.
Who Can Help with the Legalisation Process?
Navigating the attestation process independently can be time-consuming and costly if any step is missed or completed incorrectly. Authentifier simplifies this by managing the entire process for you.
Our experienced team:
- Ensures your National Police Certificate is suitable for legalisation
- Handles notarisation through an approved Australian Notary Public
- Submits your documents for DFAT authentication
- Coordinates the final legalisation with The Qatar Embassy in Canberra
- Delivers all documents back to you securely, typically within 1 week
We also offer progress updates, cost-effective pricing, and an easy-to-use online order system, making it hassle-free for job seekers with Australian qualifications to meet Qatari documentation requirements.
Need help with Australian document attestation for Qatar?
