Job Discussion Forums

[nwtefl]

Does anyone know the procedure for getting certs attested for Oman if you are in the UK? I've searched on the Omani Embassy site but can't find anything - it seems full of adverts too.

Also, the Omani Embassy doesn't appear in any of the attestation companies.

[currentaffairs]

First stage is to get your degrees notarised by a solicitor. You may also need to get them apostilled depending on the requirements. I would read through all the documentation and see exactly what they need you to do.

[nwtefl]

Yeah I know normally they are then taken to an embassy and they attest them, but I get the impression Oman is different due to the certification agency I use. They do not list Oman on their site yet list Saudi, UAE, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait.

[MuscatGary]

Get copies of your degrees notarised by a solicitor, they usually charge about a fiver for each, Then send the notarised copies to the FCO in Milton Keynes for attestation. Then send them to the Omani Embassy in London for the seal. However you can also get all of this done in Muscat and it's cheaper. You just take your degrees to the British Council in Mucat and they attest them then you go to the Omani Foreign Office which is just near the Royal Opera House.

[nwtefl]

Well I'm in the UK so it will need to be the former.

But, do I need to get them notarised first ? I thought sending them to the FCO was as good as doing that.

[edd_moseley]

Hi Nwtefl,

I went through this exact procedure last summer and it's pretty easy. First take them to a solicitor and explain to him what they are for, he will then notarize or attest or whatever it is they do. Then you go on the FCO website

https://www.gov.uk/get-document-legalised

Choose the service you want and pre pay, then post them to the FCO, you`ll have them back within a week. Then you are finished, the Omani embassy never needs to see them. I spoke to the cultural attache and he said that as Oman has signed the Hague convention, they simply accept the FCO stamp, and in fact they wont give you a stamp even if you ask!

I hope that helps, and I hope you enjoy working in Oman.

[nwtefl]

[veiledsentiments]

Another piece of general advice is to never let the original documents leave your hands. Do this process with copies, not originals.

Then take the originals with you to Oman. My employers there then checked the originals against the certified copies - in my presence. Again, the originals were always in my sight.

VS

[nwtefl]

Does the solicitor "write" on the certificates ? I think on the FCO site it says that copies are okay.

[veiledsentiments]

Absolutely do not let anyone write on your originals. You may need them for other countries... and each country has its own procedures. All of this certification process for whatever country is done on copies.

Guard those originals with your life. I never allowed them to leave me as it is such a hassle getting them replaced at some time in the future. I had to go through it with my original certificate for my first degree. The one I received was painted on glass!! Not convenient for schlepping it around the world. The college was now a university... and it took them quite awhile to figure out how they could duplicate the proper stamps and seals from a place that no longer existed.

VS

[nwtefl]

[veiledsentiments]

I wouldn't do anything until you have an accepted offer in your hand and the employer sets out the requirements for that country...

Just have all the documents in your hand... along with copies... to carry on once you have a legit offer.

VS

[nwtefl]

Okay but is what I proposed in the previous email ok?

[veiledsentiments]

Probably not... it is rather expensive for experimentation.

VS

[madrileno]

For those with degrees from two different countries, (i.e. US and UK), you can get the certificates attested at the respective embassies in Muscat. I did it last month, no problem.