Every admission season, students from Lahore send transcripts to universities in the UK, application packs to colleges in Canada and attested degrees to employers in the Gulf. These envelopes are light, but they are often the most important parcels we handle. A lost transcript can mean a missed deadline. Here is how to send your documents safely and quickly.
Check exactly what the university wants
Before you send anything, read the university's instructions carefully. Some universities only accept documents sent directly by your board or university in a sealed envelope. Others accept attested copies sent by the student. Some want original documents, which you should only send when it is truly required. Check whether the documents need HEC attestation, IBCC equivalence or Ministry of Foreign Affairs attestation first, because the receiver may refuse papers that are not attested.
Originals or copies?
Never send original degrees unless the institution specifically asks for them. Attested photocopies are accepted in most cases. If you must send originals, make clear photocopies and scans of every page first, and keep the tracking number safe. Ask the receiver how and when the originals will be returned.
How to prepare the envelope
- Keep the documents flat and in order, with a short cover letter listing what is inside.
- Do not fold, staple or punch original certificates.
- Put the documents in a plastic sleeve to protect them from moisture.
- If your university sealed the envelope, do not open it. Place the sealed envelope inside a courier envelope.
- Write your full name, date of birth and application or student number on the cover letter.
Getting the address right
University addresses can be long and detailed. Copy the address exactly as it appears in the instructions, including the department name, the office or admissions team, the building and the postal code. Add a contact person and a phone number if the university gives one. A courier cannot deliver to a building with hundreds of offices if the department is missing.
Documents count as documents only if they are paper
Express couriers have a special, cheaper rate for documents. This applies to paper documents with no commercial value, such as transcripts, letters and certificates. If you add a USB drive, a gift or a book, the shipment becomes a parcel and is charged and cleared as goods. Keep your document envelope documents only.
Timing your shipment
Most document envelopes reach the UK, Europe and the Gulf in two to five working days, and North America and Australia in three to six. Do not leave it to the last week. Universities receive thousands of documents around deadlines, and internal mail rooms can take extra days to deliver your envelope to the admissions office. We recommend sending at least two weeks before any deadline.
Embassy and visa documents
For visa applications, embassies and visa centers have their own rules about couriers, and many only accept documents through their official partners. Always follow the embassy's instructions. Where you are allowed to use your own courier, the same advice applies: keep copies, use a sturdy envelope and track the shipment.
Tracking and proof of delivery
When you book with us you receive an airway bill number. You can follow the envelope on our tracking page until it is delivered, and the proof of delivery shows the date, time and the name of the person who signed. Save a screenshot of the delivery confirmation; universities sometimes ask for it if a document goes missing internally.
Students' checklist
- University instructions read: originals or attested copies
- HEC, IBCC or MOFA attestation done if required
- Copies and scans of every page kept
- Documents flat, in a sleeve, with a cover letter
- Full address with department, postal code and phone number
- Sent at least two weeks before the deadline
We handle student documents every day and we are happy to check your envelope before it goes. Visit our office in Model Town Link Road, Lahore, or check the price for document delivery online.