Sometimes an employer, university, or other requesting body may require official proof of your results before offering a job or a place of study. The British Council provides comprehensive education document attestation, including both certification and verification services for your International GCSE, O Levels and AS & A Level qualifications.
What is the difference between verification and certification?
Depending on the requirements of the institution requesting your documents, you may need one of two distinct services. It is important to confirm which type of British Council certificate attestation you require before applying.
Document verification
Verification is the process of ensuring that original documents are genuine. The British Council confirms the validity of the document with the issuing awarding body.
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Process: We check your documents with the authority (e.g., Cambridge, OxfordAQA, or Pearson Edexcel) to confirm their originality.
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Output: You receive up to four verified (stamped and signed) photocopies per document.
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Legalisation: If you are applying for verification for legalisation purposes (e.g., for the FCDO), please inform us beforehand. In these cases, the original certificate must be stamped, as copies are often not accepted for legalisation.
To apply for this service, please download and complete the following form.
Verification and attestation form
Document certification
Certification is a confirmation that a photocopy is a "true copy" of an original document.
- Process: We stamp and sign the photocopy using a standard certification stamp.
- Note: Under this service, the document is not checked against the issuing authority’s records. Therefore, the British Council does not accept responsibility for the authenticity of the original document.
To apply for this service, please download and complete the following form.
Attestation and verification fees
To ensure transparency, the British Council’s attestation fee calculations are based on a fixed local exchange rate.
- Exchange rate: For all the above mentioned services, the local exchange rate is PKR 400 / £1 until March 2026.
- Administration: Fees vary depending on the specific service requested, your location, and the number of copies required. To find out the exact cost for your request, please refer to the specific British Council verification form or attestation form in our downloads section.
Lost or damaged certificates
We strongly recommend that you store your certificates securely. They are vital official documents required for future academic, employment, or immigration purposes.
If your certificate is lost, damaged, or was never collected, please note that the British Council cannot issue a replacement. You must contact the relevant UK-based awarding body directly to request a "certifying statement of results":
A certifying statement is accepted by universities and global institutions as official proof of your examination results.
Mistakes and changes to certificates
If your certificate contains incorrect information, such as a spelling mistake in your name, an incorrect address, or a wrong date of birth, it is vital to act quickly and contact British Council thorugh our helpline.