Embassy official’s qualification document ahead of time (8)
I believe the answer is:
diplomat
'embassy official's' is the definition.
(official working in an embassy)
'document ahead of time' is the wordplay.
'document' becomes 'diploma' (diploma can mean a document).
'ahead of' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other) (some letters go in front of others).
'time' becomes 't' (abbreviation).
'diploma'+'t'='DIPLOMAT'
'qualification' is the link.
This may not be correct. It may be part of another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for diplomat that I've seen before include "Tactful person, maybe in public service" , "Overseas representative" , "State envoy" , "Official representing a country abroad" , "One who represents his govermnent abroad" .)