If you are planning to use a Malaysian university degree, diploma, or academic transcript overseas, you may be wondering:

“Do I need to see a Notary Public before getting my certificate attested by the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE)?”

The answer is not necessarily.

When Is a Notary Public NOT Required?

If you are submitting the original Malaysian higher education certificate to MOHE for verification, you generally do not need to have the original certificate notarised beforehand simply because you are applying for MOHE verification. MOHE provides procedures for verification of academic qualifications issued by Malaysian higher education institutions. The relevant guidance requires the original degree certificate to be presented for verification. Therefore, where MOHE is verifying the original academic document itself, a separate Notary Public certification of that original certificate is generally not the starting point. The same principle applies when the original academic transcript is required for verification.

When Might a Notary Public Be Required?

A Notary Public may become necessary where the process requires a certified or notarised copy rather than the original document.

For example, an overseas authority, employer, university or immigration authority may specifically require:

• a notarised copy of the degree certificate;

• a certified true copy of the academic transcript;

• a notarised translation; or

• another form of notarial certification.

In such cases, the Notary Public's role is different from MOHE's role. Notarisation does not replace MOHE academic verification. It is therefore important to establish first whether the receiving authority wants an original verified document or a notarised/certified copy.

What If the University or Qualification Is Not Recognised or Cannot Be Verified by MOHE?

This is an important point that is sometimes overlooked. MOHE verification is intended for academic qualifications that fall within its applicable verification requirements. If the higher education institution, programme or qualification cannot be verified or is outside the scope of MOHE's verification process, MOHE may not be able to attest the certificate in the usual manner.

In such a situation, having the certificate notarised does not make the institution or qualification recognised. A Notary Public can perform notarial functions, such as certifying a copy where appropriate, but notarisation is not a substitute for academic recognition or verification. However, if MOHE verification is unavailable, the receiving authority may sometimes accept an alternative form of certification or verification. Depending on the circumstances, this could include:

• a notarised copy of the original certificate;

• a certified true copy;

• verification directly from the issuing institution;

• a confirmation letter from the university;

• verification by the relevant authority in the country where the institution is located; or

• another form of authentication specifically requested by the receiving authority.

Whether any of these alternatives will be accepted depends on the requirements of the authority receiving the document.

What About Foreign Universities?

A qualification issued by a foreign university or higher education institution should not be automatically treated in the same way as a qualification issued by a Malaysian higher education institution. If the certificate was issued outside Malaysia, MOHE may not be the appropriate authority to verify the qualification.

The appropriate procedure may instead depend on:

1. the country where the university is located;

2. the authority responsible for the qualification;

3. the country where the certificate will be used; and

4. the requirements of the receiving authority.

This is why it is important to establish the status and origin of the qualification before arranging notarisation or MOHE attestation.

What Happens After MOHE Attestation?

Once your Malaysian higher education certificate and/or transcript has been successfully verified by MOHE, the next question is:

“Do I also need MOFA attestation?”

Again, the answer is not always.

MOHE and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA / Wisma Putra) serve different purposes. MOHE deals with the verification or attestation of the Malaysian higher education qualification. MOFA provides further authentication of Malaysian documents for use overseas where such authentication is required. MOFA's guidance provides that Malaysian educational documents should first be endorsed or certified by the relevant authority, including MOHE, before they are submitted to MOFA for attestation.

Therefore, where further authentication is required, the process may generally look like:

However, not every document needs to go through every stage.

When Is MOFA Attestation Required?

MOFA attestation may be required where the Malaysian academic document is intended for use outside Malaysia and the receiving country, foreign authority, embassy or consulate requires further authentication.

For example, the document may be required for:

• employment overseas;

• further studies;

• immigration or visa applications;

• professional registration;

• overseas government applications; or

• other official purposes.

The exact requirements depend on the destination country and the authority requesting the document. If the receiving authority only requires MOHE verification, there may be no need to obtain MOFA attestation. On the other hand, if the foreign authority requires the document to be authenticated by MOFA before embassy or consular legalization, then MOFA attestation will form part of the process.

Do You Always Need Embassy Attestation After MOFA?

No.

Some countries or authorities may require the document to be submitted to their embassy, high commission or consulate in Malaysia after MOFA authentication. Others may not.

Therefore, the final stage depends on the requirements of the country where the document will be used and the specific authority receiving it.

Don't Confuse Recognition, Notarisation and Legalization

One of the most common sources of confusion is treating these three things as if they are the same:

1. Academic Recognition / Verification

This concerns whether the institution, programme or qualification can be recognised or verified by the relevant academic authority.

2. Notarisation

This concerns the Notary Public certifying a copy, signature or other document within the scope of notarial services.

3. Authentication / Legalization

This concerns the authentication of a document for use before an overseas authority and may involve MOHE, MOFA and/or a foreign embassy or consulate, depending on the circumstances.

These processes are not interchangeable.

A Notary Public cannot make an unrecognised qualification become recognised. Likewise, MOHE verification does not automatically mean that MOFA or embassy attestation is required.

What Documents May Be Needed?

For Malaysian higher education document verification, you may need to prepare the relevant original certificate and original academic transcript, together with supporting documents where applicable.

Depending on the circumstances, supporting documents may include:

• passport;

• student visa or relevant immigration document;

• university confirmation or verification letter; and

• other documents required for the particular verification process.

The requirements can vary according to the institution, qualification and purpose of the application.

The Key Is to Get the Sequence Right. Before spending money on notarisation, MOFA attestation or embassy legalization, first determine:

Is the institution and qualification eligible for MOHE verification?

Does the receiving authority require the original or a notarised/certified copy?

Is MOFA authentication required after MOHE?

Does the destination country require embassy or consular legalization after MOFA?

Getting the sequence wrong can result in unnecessary costs, duplicated certification and delays.

For a Malaysian higher education document, the route may be as simple as:

MOHE only

or it may be:

MOHE → MOFA → Foreign Embassy/Consulate

In some circumstances, where MOHE verification is not available, a different form of verification or certification may be required.

Need Help With MOHE, MOFA or Further Legalization?

If you need to use a Malaysian degree certificate, diploma or academic transcript overseas, we can assist you in understanding the appropriate authentication and legalization process.

We can help you determine whether your documents require:

Notary Public certification → MOHE verification → MOFA attestation → Embassy/Consular legalization

or whether some of these steps are not required for your particular case.

Getting the right sequence from the beginning can save you time, money and unnecessary trips to different authorities.