Frequently Asked Questions
What is the FCO?
FCO is the Foreign & Commonwealth Office which promotes the United Kingdom’s interests overseas, supporting the UK citizens and businesses around the globe. It is also known as the British Foreign Ministry. All documents without exception must be attested from the FCO before it can be attested by the Bahrain embassy.
What is The Hague Convention?
A country that has not signed the Hague Convention requires foreign legal documents to be certified for use in that country.
Countries that are part of the Hague Convention do not require legalisation of documents before they are recognised in the other country. The Bahrain is not part of the Hague Convention. Therefore, it requires legal documents to be certified by the Bahrain embassy in London, UK before it can be recognised in the Bahrain.
What if I already have my document attested from a solicitor?
No problem. GulfVisa offers a ‘FCO + Bahrain Embassy document attestation service’ where we can finish the process for you.
What if I already have had my documents attested from a solicitor and the FCO?
No problem. GulfVisa offers a ‘Bahrain Embassy only document attestation service’ where we can finish the process on your behalf.
Do I need to send my passport to get my documents attested?
Not at all. We do not require your passport to legalise your documents. All we need is your original personal document and a completed GulfVisa document attestation form (see above).
What educational certificates can be attested by the Bahrain embassy?
Degrees, Masters, PhD, B-Tech, A-Levels, GCSEs, CSE, O-Levels, Transcripts, School Letters and Confirmation of Study
What teaching qualifications/certificates can be attested by the Bahrain embassy?
Teaching Degrees, QTS (Qualified Teacher Status), PGCE, TESOL, TEFL, TESL, Other Language Studies. All educational documents are more or less accepted but they must be UK educational certificates. If you are unsure please feel free to contact us.
How can I make a service order?
Please follow our three step process above to getting your documents attested. The first is regarding the process and requirements. The second step is regarding payment. You should choose a service depending on the level of service you require. You can check if your document is exempt from solicitor stamping or not by looking at the information in step 1. You can also choose between a fast or standard service depending on how urgently you require your Bahrain personal document attestation service.
When will GulfVisa send back my attested documents?
As soon as we have received your documents (before 9am) we will begin the process. If you have picked a fast service then we will have completed your personal document attestation within 1-2 working days. Therefore, 1-2 working days after receiving your documents we will send it back to you or it will be ready for collection from our GulfVisa office. If you have picked a standard service then we will have completed your personal document attestation in 7 working days. Therefore, 7 working days after receiving your documents we will send it back to you or it will be ready for collection from our GulfVisa office.
Can my documents be rejected?
No, it is extremely rare. However, please ensure your documents are issued from the UK. We will check if your documents are acceptable for Bahrain embassy document attestation. However, the ultimate decision is always down to the embassy. If there are any doubts, we will contact you or/and show the embassy before submission to confirm.
Have GulfVisa begun the document attestation process for my documents?
We begin document attestation as soon as we have received your documents on any working day - as long as they arrive before 9am. If they arrive after 9 am, we will begin the Bahrain document attestation process the next working day
How can I pay?
You can pay using a variety of payment methods through our website. This includes debit/credit card payments, UK cheques and bank transfers. All our card payments are securely processed by PayZone.
