UAE document attestation for use abroad makes a certificate issued in the UAE, such as a birth certificate or a UAE degree, acceptable to authorities in another country. Because the UAE is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, no UAE office can apostille it. The document is legalized instead: digital MOFA attestation, then the destination country's embassy in the UAE. Wordcraft handles both steps and the translation.
No Apostille From the UAE: What Happens Instead
An apostille is a single certificate that member states of the 1961 Hague Convention accept from one another. The UAE has not joined, so its documents cannot carry one, even when the country you are sending them to is a member. People who search for a "UAE apostille" end up with the same two-step legalization described below. Our guide Is the UAE part of the Apostille Convention? explains the background, and apostille services in Dubai covers documents issued in apostille countries.
Step 1: MOFA Digital Attestation
Some UAE documents need a certification from the issuing body before MOFA will accept them: education records through the relevant education authority, court documents through the court that issued them. MOFA then attests the document electronically. According to the official MOFA attestation service, applications are made through the MOFA website or app with UAE PASS, UAE digital documents with a QR code, reference number or barcode can be attested online, and laminated documents are not accepted. The attestation can be verified online by the receiving country. More detail is on our MOFA attestation page.
Step 2: The Destination Country's Embassy in the UAE
After MOFA, the embassy or consulate of the country where the document will be used (in Abu Dhabi or Dubai) legalizes it. Each mission decides its own procedure: some take documents directly, others through an appointed service center, and some want a translation first. A few countries rely on the MOFA attestation alone. See embassy attestation in Dubai for how we deal with foreign missions.
Where UAE Residents Most Often Send Documents
| Destination | After MOFA attestation |
|---|---|
| India | Embassy of India or Consulate General of India, often through its appointed service center |
| Pakistan | Embassy or Consulate of Pakistan in the UAE |
| Philippines | Philippine Embassy or Consulate authentication in the UAE |
| Egypt | Egyptian Embassy or Consulate in the UAE |
| UK, Canada, Australia | Depends on the receiving authority: some accept the MOFA-attested document, others ask for a further step or a certified translation. We check before you pay. |
We send documents to 50+ countries; the table shows the requests we see most from UAE residents.
Translation Before or After Legalization
Many UAE certificates are in Arabic or bilingual, and the receiving authority may want them in English or its own language. Some embassies insist on the translation before they legalize. We prepare certified translations in 150+ languages, with Arabic legal translation by MOJ-certified legal translators. A UAE birth certificate going to India, for instance, usually travels with an English translation.
Starting UAE Document Attestation for Use Abroad
- The original UAE document: birth, marriage or death certificate, degree, school certificate, court judgment or police clearance
- The holder's passport copy, plus the Emirates ID for residents
- The destination country and the office that will receive it
- Any translation the receiving office has already specified
UAE company papers going abroad (licenses, MOAs, invoices) have their own route on UAE trade license attestation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get an apostille on a UAE birth certificate?
No. A UAE birth certificate is attested by MOFA and then, if the destination requires it, legalized by that country's embassy in the UAE.
Is MOFA attestation enough for my home country?
For some countries and offices it is; most also want their embassy's legalization. We check the current rule for your destination.
Do I need to be in the UAE for this?
No. A relative can hand the document to us, or you can courier it; we process it and send it back to you.
Is MOFA attestation still a paper sticker?
No. It is issued electronically, and the receiving authority can check it online.
My certificate is laminated. Can it still be attested?
MOFA does not accept laminated documents. Ask the issuing authority for a new copy; many UAE certificates can now be reissued digitally with a QR code.
How long does UAE document attestation for abroad take?
It varies with the document and the embassy. We send the expected timing with your written quote, within 10–30 minutes of receiving a photo.
Last updated: September 2026
