Attestation & Apostille UAE 2025: How to Authenticate Documents
The UAE is outside the Hague Convention, so an apostille buys you nothing here
An apostille cannot authenticate a document for use in the UAE, which is not a signatory to the Hague Apostille Convention. This sets out the stages a document issued abroad passes through, and the simpler route for documents issued inside the country. It gives MOFAIC attestation fees for commonly attested documents and the digital updates introduced for 2025.
Reviewed by Mohamed Noureldin, Founder, Managing Partner & Senior Legal Consultant
Ask for an apostille on a document you intend to use in the UAE, and you will be given a certificate the Emirates does not accept. The UAE is not a signatory to the Hague Apostille Convention. A degree, a birth certificate or a commercial invoice that needs legal standing here goes through attestation instead, and attestation is not one stamp but several, added in order by different authorities.
Related: Our document attestation service acts on these procedures for individuals and companies.
Attestation and apostille are not the same certificate
An apostille is a certificate issued by a country that is a signatory to the 1961 Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents. Between member countries it replaces the traditional chain of diplomatic or consular legalisations with a single stamp.
The UAE is not a member of that convention. Documents intended for use in the UAE cannot be authenticated by an apostille. They must go through the full attestation process, which involves multiple layers of verification by government authorities in both the country of origin and the UAE. That process verifies the authenticity of signatures and seals on public documents, and gives them legal validity within the Emirates. Our document attestation service in Dubai advises on it.
The two words are often used interchangeably. They are distinct processes of legalisation, and only one of them carries weight here.
Related: Our lawyer-certified true copy service deals with copies that must match an original.
A document issued abroad is verified at each level of authority
For documents originating outside the UAE, attestation is typically a multi-stage procedure. Each stage confirms the authenticity of the stage before it, so that the legitimacy of the document is settled by the time it reaches the UAE. The general steps are as follows.
Notarisation in the country of origin. The first step usually involves having the document notarised by a public notary in the country where it was issued. This confirms the authenticity of signatures and ensures the document is a true copy of the original. Our notary public service in Dubai can help with local notarisation.
Authentication by local authorities. The document must then be authenticated by the relevant government departments in the country of origin. Depending on the country and the type of document, this could include the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the State Department or other designated authorities.
Legalisation by the UAE embassy or consulate. The document must then be legalised by the UAE Embassy or Consulate in the country of origin. This step signifies that the UAE diplomatic mission recognises the authenticity of the document and the attestations that precede it.
Final attestation by MOFAIC. The final and most critical step is attestation by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MOFAIC) within the UAE. This is the verification that grants the document full legal standing and acceptance across all governmental and private entities in the Emirates. It applies to a wide range of documents, including educational certificates (degrees, diplomas), personal documents (birth certificates, marriage certificates, police clearance certificates) and commercial documents (invoices, power of attorney).
Powers of attorney sit in that last group, and our private notary service covers them.
Documents issued inside the UAE go to MOFAIC directly
Documents issued within the UAE generally follow a simpler process, as they do not require the international verification steps. The primary authority for attestation of locally issued documents is MOFAIC. The process typically involves the following.
Issuance by the competent authority. The document is first issued by the relevant government department or authorised entity within the UAE. This could be the Ministry of Health for birth certificates, the Ministry of Education for academic transcripts, or local courts for judicial documents.
Attestation by MOFAIC. The document is then submitted to MOFAIC, which confirms the authenticity of the issuing authority's seal and signature. That makes the document legally valid for use across the UAE, and the step is crucial for various purposes, including residency visa applications, employment and legal proceedings.
Related: Where a copy rather than an original is submitted, our certified true copy service certifies it.
MOFAIC attestation fees for common documents (2025)
The figures below are a general overview of MOFAIC attestation fees for commonly attested documents issued within the UAE. These fees are subject to change, and it is always advisable to verify the latest charges directly with MOFAIC or a trusted legal service provider.
| Document type (issued from the UAE) | MOFAIC attestation fee (AED) |
|---|---|
| Birth Certificate | 150 |
| Court Issued Certificates | 150 |
| Death Certificate - UAE Nationals | 150 |
| Death Certificate - Non-UAE Nationals | 150 |
| Document of Fingerprint | 150 |
| Commercial Agency (new/copy) | 2000 |
| Board of Director Decision | 2000 |
| Invoice (Inside UAE) | 150 |
| Invoice (Outside UAE) | 150 |
The 2025 changes at MOFAIC are digital ones
MOFAIC stands as the central authority for all document attestation processes in the UAE. Its role is to see that documents issued locally and abroad meet the legal standards for use within the Emirates.
For 2025, significant updates have been introduced concerning digital attestation. The UAE Embassy and MOFAIC have been moving towards more digitised processes, with the aim of simplifying submissions and reducing processing times. Some attestation steps, especially for documents processed through UAE embassies abroad, might now involve online portals and digital verification methods. Those changes can affect the documentation required and the submission procedures, so it is worth staying informed about them.
Related: Our legal consultation service in Dubai advises where the position is unclear.
Preparation is what keeps a file from being sent back
These procedures are intricate, and an error in them can mean delay or rejection. A specialised legal firm can provide support, seeing that documents are correctly prepared, submitted and attested in accordance with the latest UAE regulations. For support with document authentication, our document attestation team in Dubai can act for you.
Related Services: Our document attestation services, lawyer attestation and lawyer-certified true copy services support this work.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Readers should seek professional legal advice tailored to their specific circumstances before making any decisions or taking any action based on the content of this article.
Nour Attorneys Team
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