Transfer certificate attestation in UAE is usually needed when a child moves from a school abroad into a UAE school, or from a UAE school to one overseas. The transfer certificate (TC) confirms the last grade completed, and UAE schools commonly ask for a foreign TC to be attested before admission is final. Wordcraft handles both directions, with a free written quote within 10–30 minutes.
What Is a Transfer Certificate (TC)?
A transfer certificate, called a school leaving certificate in some countries, is issued by the school a pupil is leaving. It normally shows the pupil's name and date of birth, the last grade attended and passed, the leaving date, and the head of school's signature and stamp. UAE schools register every new pupil with their emirate's education regulator: KHDA in Dubai, ADEK in Abu Dhabi, SPEA in Sharjah, and the Ministry of Education for schools in the other emirates. Placement depends on the TC together with the latest report card.
A TC is not the same as a final school certificate such as a Grade 10 or Grade 12 certificate. If your child has finished secondary school, see educational certificates attestation and, for university or employment, certificate equivalency.
TC from Abroad for UAE School Admission
A TC issued outside the UAE follows the attestation route of its country of issue:
- the school signs and stamps the TC, and in many countries the report card as well;
- the education authority for that country or region countersigns it, where required;
- that country's foreign ministry, or the authority it designates, authenticates it;
- the UAE Embassy or Consulate in that country legalizes it and records the UAE MOFA attestation digitally at the same time, so the TC is normally ready for the school without a separate MOFA step here (see UAE embassy attestation).
Whether a TC must be attested, and for which grades, depends on the emirate, the grade the child is joining and the country the child is coming from. Some schools allow provisional admission while the attestation is under way. Because these rules change, ask the new school's registrar what they need, or forward their requirement to us and we will map the route in your quote. India-specific steps are on our Indian certificate attestation page.
UAE TC for Schools Abroad
If you are relocating from the UAE, the new school abroad may ask for the UAE TC to be attested. The usual route is:
- the UAE school issues the TC;
- where the destination requires it, the emirate's education regulator or the Ministry of Education verifies it first, and we confirm which step applies to your child's school;
- MOFA attestation in the UAE, issued digitally with online verification;
- legalization by the destination country's embassy in the UAE, if that country asks for it.
Start before you fly. We can finish the UAE-side steps after you leave, but it is slower and involves more courier legs.
What Parents Need to Send
- The original transfer certificate, signed and stamped by the school
- The latest report card or progress report, which is often attested with the TC
- The pupil's passport copy
- A parent's passport copy, plus Emirates ID if the family already lives in the UAE
- The new school's written requirement or offer letter, if you have one
- A signed letter authorizing our partners to act at the old school and ministries abroad
Planning Around the School's Deadline
Tell us the date by which the new school needs the attested TC. Your written quote, sent within 10–30 minutes, lists the route and the timing we expect, so you can judge whether to ask the school for a provisional place. Once you confirm, we collect the original, coordinate the school, education authority, ministry and embassy steps, and you follow each stage online until the attested TC reaches you or the school.
Arabic Translation for School Admission
TCs in English or Arabic are generally accepted as issued. A TC in French, Russian, Urdu, Malayalam or another language usually needs a legal translation into Arabic or English before the school can register the pupil. Our MOJ-certified legal translators translate the attested TC and report card together, stamps included, so the school receives one consistent file.
Families and Schools We Help
- Families moving to the UAE with school-age children, especially ahead of a new term
- Families switching curricula, for example from CBSE or a Pakistani board to a British or American school
- Families leaving the UAE whose new school asks for an attested UAE TC
- School admissions staff and relocation teams completing registrations
Frequently Asked Questions
Is transfer certificate attestation mandatory for UAE school admission?
For a TC from abroad it is commonly required, but the rule depends on the emirate, the grade and the country of origin. The new school's registrar confirms what they need, and we map the route from there.
Can my child start school while the TC attestation is in progress?
Some schools accept provisional admission with an undertaking that the attested TC will follow. Ask the school, and give us the deadline so we plan around it.
Is MOFA attestation in the UAE still needed for a TC from abroad?
Usually not. The UAE Embassy or Consulate that legalizes the TC now completes the UAE MOFA attestation digitally in the same step. We confirm this for the country of issue in the quote.
Should the report card be attested too?
Often, yes. Many schools want the latest report card attested with the TC, and doing both together avoids a second round.
How long does TC attestation take?
It depends on the country of issue and the authorities there. Your written quote gives the expected timing, measured against the school's deadline.
Does the TC need to show my child's name exactly as in the passport?
It should. A different spelling or a missing middle name is a common reason schools ask for a corrected TC. Check the name and date of birth before the old school signs, because a correction after attestation means repeating the steps.
Last updated: September 2026
