Documents attestation for a UAE visa proves that a certificate issued in another country (a marriage certificate, a child's birth certificate, a degree) is genuine and can be used for a UAE residence visa. Family, employment and Golden visa applicants usually need it. This checklist shows which documents need attestation for each visa, the 2026 route and when Arabic legal translation is also required.
Missing or half-finished attestation is one of the most common reasons we see visa files held up, and it is also the easiest to fix in advance.
Checklist by Visa Type
| Visa | Documents that usually need attestation |
|---|---|
| Family visa: spouse | Marriage certificate |
| Family visa: children | Birth certificate of each child (and the parents' marriage certificate) |
| Family visa: parents | Sponsor's own birth certificate showing the parents' names; sometimes the parents' marriage certificate |
| Employment visa | Degree or diploma for many professional job titles; sometimes experience certificates |
| Golden visa: professionals | Bachelor's degree or higher (with equivalency where requested) |
| Golden and Green visa: family members | Marriage and birth certificates, as for a family visa |
| Newborn visa (baby born abroad) | Foreign birth certificate |
Treat the table as a starting list: the job title, the emirate and the receiving authority can each add a document. Send us your situation and we confirm the full list at no charge. For the visa side, see our family visa and Golden visa services.
The 2026 Route: Home Country, Then UAE Embassy (MOFA Included)
For documents issued outside the UAE, the attestation chain has become shorter:
- Home-country authentication: by a notary, the state or education authority, and the foreign ministry, as that country requires.
- UAE embassy or consulate in that country, which now completes the UAE MOFA attestation digitally in the same step, producing one digital certificate.
- No separate MOFA step in the UAE in most cases. MOFA attestation is digital and can be verified online.
A note on Apostille: the UAE is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention. An apostille from the issuing country may be an internal step there, but it does not replace legalization by the UAE embassy. Documents issued inside the UAE and used here — such as a UAE birth certificate — usually need only the relevant local steps, and MOFA attestation when they are used abroad.
When You Need Arabic Legal Translation
Many UAE authorities accept certificates in English, but a translation into Arabic is needed when:
- the certificate is in a language other than Arabic or English (for example Hindi, Urdu, Tagalog, Chinese or Russian);
- the residency authority, a court or a ministry specifically asks for Arabic;
- the document is used in a legal procedure, such as a family court case.
The translation should be made after attestation, so the attestation details are translated too. Our MOJ-certified legal translators handle legal translation for more than 150 languages.
Country Notes
- India: notary and state HRD (educational) or Home Department / SDM (personal documents), then MEA, then the UAE Embassy in New Delhi or a UAE consulate.
- Pakistan: IBCC or HEC (educational) or the relevant board, then the Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, then the UAE Embassy in Islamabad.
- Philippines: CHED or PSA as needed, then DFA authentication, then the UAE Embassy in Manila.
- United Kingdom: a solicitor or notary where needed, then the FCDO, then the UAE Embassy in London (digital, MOFA included).
- United States: county or state (Secretary of State), then the US Department of State, then the UAE Embassy in Washington.
- Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka: the issuing authority, then that country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, then the UAE embassy there.
We handle these routes for more than 50 countries; for example our marriage certificate attestation and degree certificate attestation pages explain the details for each document.
Getting Your Certificates Visa-Ready With Wordcraft
A WhatsApp photo of each certificate is enough to start. Within 10–30 minutes we reply with a written quote that marks which documents need attestation, which need translation and the route for your country. We collect the originals where the route needs them and return the attested set to your door. Because we file visas too, the finished certificates go straight into your application.
Last checked: 29 September 2026 against MOFA and UAE embassy attestation practice for residence visa documents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to attest my marriage certificate for a wife visa?
Yes. A marriage certificate issued abroad must be attested in the issuing country and by the UAE embassy there before it is accepted for a spouse visa.
Is MOFA attestation in the UAE still needed after the embassy step?
In most cases no. The UAE embassy now completes the MOFA attestation digitally in the same step. We confirm the route for your country in the quote.
Does the UAE accept apostilled documents?
No. The UAE is not a member of the Apostille Convention, so documents still need legalization by the UAE embassy in the issuing country.
Do I need to attest my degree for every work visa?
Not for every job, but for many professional job titles yes. The employer or MOHRE requirement for your job title decides.
Should I translate before or after attestation?
After. Translating the attested certificate means the stamps and attestation details appear in the Arabic version as well.
