MOFA attestation for UAE birth, marriage and degree certificates

MOFA attests UAE-issued birth and marriage certificates for AED 150 per personal document. If you are moving away, do it before you go: it is the step that’s hardest to do from abroad. Check whether your destination also needs attestation by its embassy or consulate in the UAE, and get it while you’re here.

When
6 weeks to 2 weeks before your flight
Time
1 hour
Cost
AED 150 per personal document at MOFA, plus courier (AED 40 or AED 150) and embassy fees if needed

Do it on MOFAThe official page, in a new tab

Have ready

  • Original certificates, not laminated
  • UAE PASS

How to do it

  1. List UAE-issued documents: children’s birth certificates, marriage certificate, UAE degrees.
  2. Ask your destination what it requires: MOFA attestation alone, or MOFA plus its own embassy or consulate in the UAE. The UAE does not issue apostilles.
  3. Check that the authority that issued each document has attested it first. MOFA rejects documents without it.
  4. Apply on the MOFA website or app with UAE PASS. Choose the destination country carefully: it cannot be changed after you submit. For a new birth certificate, you can add MOFA attestation when you apply through MOHAP.
  5. For paper originals, choose a courier in the application: AED 40 for three working days or AED 150 plus VAT for one. The courier only collects and delivers inside the UAE.
  6. Get any embassy attestation while you are still here.
Short on time?What to do if you’re starting late

Apply online now and choose the one-day courier. MOFA’s courier only works inside the UAE; from abroad you would need a UAE embassy or consulate.

Questions people ask

How much does MOFA attestation cost?

AED 150 per personal document, plus embassy fees if your destination needs them.

Can I apply for MOFA attestation online?

Yes, on the MOFA website or app with UAE PASS. Choose the destination country carefully: it cannot be changed after you submit.

How long does MOFA attestation take?

Digital documents are attested within two hours in working hours. Paper originals travel by courier in one to three working days.

What does MOFA need before it attests a document?

The authority that issued the document must have attested it first. MOFA rejects documents without it.

Does the UAE issue apostilles?

No. The UAE is not a party to the Apostille Convention, so UAE documents are attested by MOFA and, if your destination asks, by its embassy or consulate in the UAE.

Sources

Official: MOFA: Documents Attestation

Also checked against: MOFA FAQs (AED 150 per individual document; digital attestation of birth certificates) · HCCH: Apostille Convention status table (UAE not a party)

Outro is an independent guide, not a government service or legal advice. If an official page says something different, follow it and .