Independent UAE document guidance

Document attestation in the UAE, without the guesswork.

Find the government route, published fees and required documents. Each guide shows its sources and review date.

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Official sources linked beside fees and procedures Unknown costs marked instead of estimated Reviewed 11 September 2026
Illustration of documents moving through a four-stage verification route

Your attestation route

Clear stages. In the right order.

  1. 01
    Issuing authorityThe document starts with the authority named for its type and country.
  2. 02
    Home-country verificationThe relevant domestic authority verifies the document.
  3. 03
    UAE mission abroadThe UAE embassy or consulate completes the overseas stage where required.
  4. 04
    MoFAIC in the UAEThe final UAE attestation stage for documents being used here.
See the complete process →

Free document check

Check your document route

Choose the document, issuing country, purpose and deadline. The details are saved before WhatsApp opens.

12Document details
Step 1: document details

No email required. Contact details are not sent to analytics.

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Start with your document

What do you need attested?

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UAE document attestation checklist

Checking a document before it enters the chain or before paying an agent

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UAE attestation cost calculator

Working out the published UAE-side charge before comparing agent quotes

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Using a UAE-issued document abroad

Taking a UAE certificate, degree, police clearance or marriage contract out of the country and having it accepted there

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What attestation costs in the UAE

Working out the real total before you accept a quote

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Degree attestation for the UAE

A MOHRE work permit, a professional licence or further study

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Which documents need attesting for a UAE employment visa

You have a UAE job offer and need to know which of your own documents to attest

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Country routes

Where was your document issued?

Browse every country →
INIndiaView the verified route →PKPakistanView the verified route →PHPhilippinesView the verified route →UKUnited KingdomView the verified route →EGEgyptView the verified route →AEUAE documents abroadView the verified route →

Cost transparency

Know the government fee before you start.

Most quotes cover one stage of several. We separate government fees, embassy costs, translation, courier and service charges wherever the authorities publish them.

See the full cost guide →
MoFAIC — personal or educational documentAED 150
MoFAIC — commercial documentAED 2,000

Per document. Home-country, UAE mission, translation and courier charges may be additional. If an authority does not publish a number, we say so.

Avoid a rejected application

Four expensive mistakes to catch early

See every rejection reason →
01Stopping at an apostille

The UAE is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention.

 02Submitting a laminated original

Some missions explicitly reject laminated documents.

 03Budgeting only AED 150

The MoFAIC fee is one line in a multi-stage route.

 04Starting with the expiring document

Country verification can control the end-to-end timeline.

Two connected needs

Documents first. Company setup when you need it.

Document services

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Setting up a company in the UAE — mainland, free zone and offshore compared, the documents you actually need legalised, and honest total costs.

Explore this section →

Common questions

Does the UAE accept an apostille?
No. The UAE is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so an apostille on its own is not accepted. A foreign document needs attestation by the UAE embassy in the country that issued it, then attestation by MoFAIC inside the UAE.
What does attestation cost in total?
The UAE-side government fee is AED 150 per personal or educational document and AED 2,000 per commercial document. On top of that sit home-country fees, the UAE embassy fee in the issuing country, certified translation where required, and courier. The full itemised breakdown is on each document page.
How long does the whole process take?
MoFAIC itself is quick, usually within about three working days. The home-country stage is what sets the real timeline and can run from a few days to several weeks, depending on the country and whether the issuing authority has to verify the document first.
Can I apply for MoFA attestation online?
Yes. Apply through mofa.gov.ae or the UAE MOFA app using UAE PASS. MoFAIC decides whether the document can be processed digitally or whether the original must be collected by courier. See the MoFA attestation guide.
Is there a MoFA attestation centre near me?
MoFA’s current contact page lists branches in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah and gives 12 Baniyas Road as the Dubai address. It says attestation appointments can be booked on 80044444. Start online and call before visiting because many applications are handled digitally or through an approved courier.
How do I check my MoFA attestation status?
Use the application account for processing updates. After attestation, check the document at verify.mofa.gov.ae using its attestation reference and issue date. The verification guide explains which number to enter.
Do I have to use an agent?
No. Every stage is a public service you can apply for yourself, and doing so costs only the government fees. An agent earns their fee when the document sits in another country, the deadline is tight, or a stage needs someone physically present.
What does attestation have to do with company formation?
If a foreign company or an absent founder is involved, incorporation may require legalised documents such as the memorandum of association, certificate of incorporation, board resolution or a power of attorney. This is where document attestation and company formation overlap.
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