MOFA Attestation in Dubai : Procedure, Requirements & Document Types

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) is a government agency in charge of legalizing the documents from the originating country of an applicant. Attestation services by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are the final authority to verify a certificate in the UAE.
Once the MOFA seal is stamped on the certificate, that certificate can be used for all official purposes in the UAE.

What Are the Types of MOFA Attestation in Dubai

1. Inbound MOFA Attestation

According to UAE law, those who are applying for a resident visa or want to stay in the UAE for their jobs or applying for a family visa are supposed to get his or her certificate attested from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the applicant’s home country.

2. Outbound MOFA Attestation

This attestation is for the people who are moving out of the UAE and need to get their documents attested in the UAE.
Our law firm specializes in MOFA attestation services for both inbound and outbound documents. You can contact our law firm for attestation services. We can guide you through the complete process of document attestation.

What Types of Documents Can Be Attested by MOFA in Dubai?

• Educational Certificates – Most of the job designations require an attested educational certificate, which is important for work and employment. The most common documents that require attestation are the Degree certificate, the matriculation certificate, the intermediate mark sheet, the computer diploma, the private diploma, the technical diploma, etc.
• Personal Documents – Personal documents like Marriage certificate, birth certificate, fingerprints, death certificate, divorce certificate, Police Clearance certificate, transfer certificate, etc.
• Commercial Documents – This kind of attestation is very common, especially attestation of MOA, board resolution, Invoice, Registration, MOU, Partnership deed, etc.

Procedure and Requirements of MOFA Attestation in Dubai

• For UAE MOFA attestation, all the original documents must be pre-attested by the concerned government departments of the country that issued them, and then by the UAE Embassy situated in that particular country.
• After the pre-attestation by the various government departments, a legal verification by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is done by imprinting the seal and signature of the designated officer or minister. Only then will you be able to use the document for applying for a family visa or any other purpose.
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs Attestation Dubai UAE is a final procedure of certification because the applicant obtains this certification from the MOFA after entering the country. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs provides this validation for every certificate attested outside the UAE.
• If the officials of MOFA find that the document is fake, the applicant will face legal consequences in the country. UAE, being a strict, rule-abiding country, punishments can be hard for faking and any other illegal activities.

Purpose of MOFA Attestation

• To attain an employment visa and labor card in the UAE.
• To pursue higher studies.
• To acquire residence visas.
• To acquire international business opportunities.

How Long Does It Take To Get an Attestation From MOFA in Dubai?

MOFA Attestation can be done normally within a few days, but in case of an emergency, you can get the attestation on the same day.

Step-by-Step MOFA Attestation Procedure

Step 1: Country of Origin Attestation

This document should be attested by the authorities in the country in which it is issued first. This normally involves the local government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of that nation.

Step 2: Attestation of UAE Embassy

Upon verification in the home country the document has to be attested by UAE embassy or Consulate in the issuing country.

Step 3: MOFA Attestation in UAE

After delivering the document in the UAE, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFAIC) has to attest it.

Step 4: Final Use in UAE

Once MOFA is attested, the document is legally valid to be used in the UAE to be employed, obtain a visa, education, business or court.

Which Certificates Are Excluded From MOFA Attestation?

There are some documents in the original, as well as copies that are not attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as these do not fall under the purview of the Ministry:

• Passports
• Domicile documents
• Identity cards
• Documents related to immovable property

MOFA Attestation Fees in UAE

The fee charged at MOFA on attestation is dependent on the nature of the document and its purpose.

Personal Documents

• School certificates

• Marriage certificates

• Birth certificates

• Police clearance certificates

Business Documents

• Commercial contracts

• Invoices

• Power of attorney

• Resolutions of boards

⚠️ Note:
The prices of MOFA are subject to fluctuation due to the governmental regulation. There might be other fees on courier service or translation and express processing.

MOFAIC Attestation Process Online

MOFA attestation is also done in the MOFAIC online platform which has minimized physical visits.

The online process usually incorporates:

• Application via MOFAIC site or smart application

• UAE Pass (as needed) authentication

• Pickup appointment or courier pickup

• Status tracking of application online

The online processing has been found to be particularly handy especially to the applicants who like quick and efficient processing.

Documents Needed for MOFA Attestation

Please be ready with the following prior to submitting a document to MOFA attestation:

• Original document

• Preliminary endorsement of home country authorities

• UAE Embassy attestation

• Scanned copy of passport of the applicant

• Valid UAE visa or Emirates ID (where necessary)

• Legal Arabic translation (in case it is not written in Arabic or English)

One of the most frequently used causes of rejection is incomplete documentation.

Time of MOFA Attestation

MOFA attestation processing time is based on a number of factors:

• Type of document

• Wholeness of previous attestations

• Submission strategy (via the internet or face to face)

General Timelines

• Normal processing: 1–3 working days

• Express services: The same day or next working day (subject to availability)

The delays can be the cases when the documents are corrected or verified.

Typical Causes of MOFA Attestation Rejection

MOFA applications to be approved by attestation may be rejected because of:

• Missing attestation of UAE Embassy

• Wrong or partial prior attestations

• Poor translations by non-qualified translators

• Lost, spoilt or blurred documents

• Discrepancy between documents and passport information

Submission after professional review gives a significant reduction in the risks of rejection

HHS lawyers and legal consultants have been involved in MOFA attestation. We can assist you with MOFA attestation, as it is the final step in the certificate process and is completed after all other important pre-attestation procedures have been fulfilled.

If you are looking for MOFA attestation services, contact us. We will be glad to assist you.

FAQ’s