Table of Contents
- MOFA attestation fees in the UAE
- How long does MOFA attestation take?
- Which documents need MOFA attestation?
- The attestation chain for a document issued abroad
- The attestation chain for a document issued in the UAE
- How to apply for MOFA attestation online
- Why MOFA rejects documents
- Why attestation matters for employers
- Get your documents attested without the back-and-forth
- FAQs on MOFA attestation in the UAE
Last updated: 5 November 2026 | Reviewed by: M. A. Farahat, ACPA, CFE, CICA
Short answer: MOFA attestation is the final stamp the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs puts on a document so that UAE authorities, employers and courts will accept it. It costs AED 150 for a personal document and AED 2,000 for a commercial one. You apply online through the MOFA website or the UAE MOFA app with UAE PASS, and the attested original comes back by courier in about three working days, or one working day by express.
Many guides still tell you to visit a MOFA service centre. You can’t. MOFA says it no longer runs Customer Happiness Centres and offers attestation only online, by app or by phone. If an agent tells you they need to “queue at MOFA” for you, ask what they are actually doing.
MOFA attestation fees in the UAE
| Document or service | MOFA fee |
|---|---|
| Personal document (degree, marriage, birth certificate and similar) | AED 150 |
| Commercial document (power of attorney for a company, commercial agreement, company documents) | AED 2,000 |
| Birth or death certificate attested digitally through MOHAP (MOFA + UAE embassy abroad) | AED 300 |
| Late payment of an eDAS commercial invoice attestation | AED 500 fine per invoice |
Courier charges are extra and depend on the company you choose:
| Courier | Regular | Express |
|---|---|---|
| Emirates Post | AED 31.50 | AED 105 |
| Zajel | AED 31.50 | AED 126 |
| Tawzea | AED 36.70 | AED 95 |
| Aramex | AED 40 | AED 150 |
So a degree certificate sent by regular Emirates Post costs AED 181.50 in total. The same document by Aramex express is AED 300.
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How long does MOFA attestation take?
- Regular courier in the UAE: 3 working days.
- Express courier in the UAE: 1 working day.
- Returned applications (missing stamp, wrong document): MOFA aims to respond within 30 minutes if the application meets the requirements.
- School certificates issued digitally by the Emirates Schools Establishment: about 3 minutes after issue.
- Birth and death certificates issued digitally through MOHAP: within minutes of health authority approval.
The part that takes weeks is almost never MOFA. It’s the steps in the country that issued the document, before it reaches the UAE.
Which documents need MOFA attestation?
Any official document issued outside the UAE that you want to use inside it, and any UAE document you want to use abroad. The ones we see most often are:
| Document | Usually needed for |
|---|---|
| Degree or diploma certificate | Work permits in skilled job levels, professional licences, further study |
| Marriage certificate | Sponsoring a spouse’s residence visa |
| Birth certificate | Sponsoring a child’s residence visa, school admission |
| School transfer certificates and transcripts | School and university admission |
| Police clearance certificate | Some job and licence applications |
| Power of attorney | Acting on someone’s behalf in the UAE |
| Certificate of incorporation, board resolution, commercial agreements | Setting up a branch or subsidiary, opening a corporate bank account |
| Commercial invoices and certificates of origin | Clearing imported goods worth AED 10,000 or more (through eDAS) |
The attestation chain for a document issued abroad
MOFA only checks the stamp before its own. That’s why the order matters: skip a step and the next office has nothing to verify.
- Get the document attested by the issuing authority or a notary in the home country. Depending on the document, that’s the university, the issuing ministry or a notary public.
- Take it to the home country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which confirms the signature from step 1.
- Have it attested by the UAE embassy or consulate in that country. This is the stamp MOFA in the UAE looks for.
- Apply to MOFA in the UAE online. MOFA’s courier collects the original and brings it back with the final stamp.
The UAE is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention. An apostille from your home country does not replace the UAE embassy step, so a document with only an apostille will be rejected.
The attestation chain for a document issued in the UAE
- The UAE government entity that issued the document attests it. Digital government documents and documents already attested electronically skip this step.
- MOFA attests it online.
- If you’re using it abroad, the embassy of the destination country in the UAE attests it.
How to apply for MOFA attestation online
- Go to mofa.gov.ae or open the UAE MOFA app, and sign in with UAE PASS.
- Choose the attestation service and the document type.
- Upload a clear copy of the document and enter the details.
- Choose a courier company and regular or express delivery. Regular delivery takes up to 25 documents per request, and express up to 10.
- Pay by card, direct debit or Samsung Pay.
- Hand the original to the courier in an envelope. You can track it by email or WhatsApp, and you receive an attested PDF by email when it’s done.
If you can’t use the website, MOFA also accepts attestation requests by phone on 800 44444 for people of determination, senior Emiratis and residents.
Why MOFA rejects documents
- The UAE embassy stamp is missing, or the steps were done out of order.
- The document is laminated. MOFA rejects laminated documents, so don’t laminate a degree you’ll ever need to attest.
- The document isn’t in English or Arabic and has no official translation.
- The uploaded copy doesn’t match the original handed to the courier.
- An electronically certified document is submitted without its QR code or verification link.
If MOFA rejects an application, the fee is refunded automatically within 14 working days. Courier charges are not refunded.
Why attestation matters for employers
For HR teams, attestation is a payroll and compliance issue as well as a visa one. MoHRE classifies a job as skilled only when the employee holds an attested certificate above secondary level, along with the right occupation level and a salary of at least AED 4,000. An unattested degree can therefore drop an employee out of your skilled headcount, and that headcount is the base for your Emiratisation target.
Corporate documents bring the same problem at company level. A board resolution or power of attorney that hasn’t gone through the full chain can hold up a bank account, a new branch licence or a signatory change for weeks.
Also read: Benefits of Hiring PRO Services in Dubai | UAE Labour Law 2027 Guide | Emiratisation in the Private Sector
Get your documents attested without the back-and-forth
Our PRO services team checks each document’s attestation chain before anything is submitted, files MOFA applications for employees and companies, and handles the visa and labour paperwork that follows. If you’re onboarding several employees at once, we can attest their certificates in one batch alongside their HR onboarding. Send us your document list for a quote.
Looking for Expert Support?
Connect with our experienced team for trusted advice and dedicated assistance. We’re committed to supporting you throughout the entire process.
FAQs on MOFA attestation in the UAE
Sources:
UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs: FAQs
UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Attestation services
