MOFA attestation is the final stamp from the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs that makes a document legally valid for use in the UAE. The official fee is AED 150 per personal document and AED 2,000 per commercial document, and the MOFA stamp itself takes 1 to 3 working days, with same day service available.
| Official fee, personal document | AED 150 per document |
| Official fee, commercial document | AED 2,000 per document |
| Courier collection and delivery | AED 31.50 to AED 150 |
| Processing time (MOFA stamp) | 1 to 3 working days, same day available |
| How to apply | Online via the MOFA portal with UAE Pass, through a service center, or through an attestation company |
| Accepted languages | Arabic or English. Other languages need legal translation first |
Fees are set by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and were verified on the date above. Always confirm the current fee on mofa.gov.ae before paying.
MOFA attestation is the verification stamp applied by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates. It is the last step in the legalization chain and confirms that all previous stamps on your document, from the issuing country and the UAE Embassy, are genuine. Without the MOFA stamp, UAE government departments, employers, courts and universities will not accept your certificate.
You need MOFA attestation in Dubai for four common situations: an employment visa (degree certificates), family sponsorship (marriage and birth certificates), university admission and equivalency, and business setup (trade documents, contracts and powers of attorney).
Once the stamp is applied, the document is accepted by MOHRE for labour approvals, GDRFA for residence visas, Dubai Courts, banks, schools and every UAE government authority. An attested document does not expire: the attestation stays valid for the life of the document.
Since June 2025, MOFA has issued a redesigned blue stamp, similar in look to an embassy seal, with the paid fee printed directly on it. Eligible digital documents that carry a QR code, reference number or barcode can instead receive an electronic attestation with no physical stamp at all.
MOFA Charges
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs charges AED 150 for the attestation of a personal or educational document and AED 2,000 for a commercial document. The final amount displayed during the application may also include the selected courier service and any additional attestations included in the chosen route.
Personal Documents
AED 150
Degree, diploma, birth certificate, marriage certificate, police clearance and other personal documents.
Commercial Documents
AED 2,000
Contracts, company resolutions, memorandums, commercial powers of attorney and other corporate documents.
| Document type | Government fee | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Personal and educational | AED 150 | Degree, diploma, birth certificate, marriage certificate and police clearance |
| Commercial | AED 2,000 | Commercial agreements, company resolutions, memorandum of association and business powers of attorney |
| Courier service | Shown during application | Collection and return of documents requiring physical attestation |
Commercial contracts may be treated as more than one document depending on their contents. The final government amount is displayed before payment.
Eligible new UAE birth and death certificates may be processed through MOHAP for AED 300, covering AED 150 for MOFA attestation and AED 150 for UAE Embassy attestation in the selected destination country.
Online Application
You can apply directly through the official MOFA website or UAE MOFA mobile application. The system determines whether your document qualifies for digital attestation or must be submitted through an approved courier.
Confirm that the document contains all required prior attestations and is complete, clear, unaltered and not laminated.
Open the MOFA website or mobile application and access the Documents Attestation service using UAE Pass.
Select the issuing country, issuing authority, document type and destination country, and upload the requested document file.
MOFA automatically determines whether the application will follow digital attestation or approved courier processing.
Review the total government and courier charges displayed in the application before completing the electronic payment.
Digital attestations are available electronically after completion. Physical documents are collected and returned through the selected courier.
Compare Your Options
Applying directly may be suitable when the document already contains all required prior attestations. Professional support is useful when the document still requires processing in another country, an embassy stage, document review or coordinated collection and delivery.
| Comparison | Applying directly | Using our service |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Government and courier charges | Government charges plus an agreed service fee |
| Best suited for | Documents already ready for MOFA submission | Documents requiring the complete international attestation chain |
| Processing | Digital or courier route assigned by MOFA | Route reviewed and coordinated according to the document |
| Earlier overseas stages | Arranged by the applicant | Coordinated through the applicable country and embassy route |
| Document review | Applicant checks requirements | Documents reviewed before submission to reduce avoidable errors |
| Collection and delivery | Selected through the MOFA application where required | Doorstep collection and delivery arranged according to the quotation |
Need Complete Assistance?
We will check the document, identify the required attestation route and provide the estimated cost and processing time.
Attestation Sequence
The correct sequence depends on where the document was issued and where it will be used. Missing an earlier authority or selecting the wrong route can result in rejection.
01 Verification by the issuing authority or designated authority in the home country.
02 Authentication by the foreign ministry of the issuing country.
03 Attestation by the UAE Embassy or Consulate responsible for that country.
04 Final UAE MOFA attestation for official use inside the UAE.
01 Authentication by the relevant UAE issuing or supervising authority.
02 Attestation by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
03 Attestation by the destination country’s embassy or consulate in the UAE when required.
Avoid Application Delays
Applications may be rejected when the information entered does not match the document, the incorrect authority or document type is selected, or the document does not meet the applicable attestation requirements.
The original document should not be laminated.
Foreign-issued documents must complete the required home-country and UAE Embassy stages.
Entered information must match the document and document holder’s details.
Selecting an incorrect issuing authority or document category may result in rejection.
The document must be original, complete, clear and free from unauthorised alterations.
Digital and courier-based documents must be submitted through the route assigned by MOFA.
Dubai Branch Information
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dubai office is located in the Consulates District in Bur Dubai, near BurJuman Metro Station. Most document attestation applications can also be completed online through the MOFA website or mobile application.
Location
Consulates District, Bur Dubai
Nearest Metro
BurJuman Metro Station
Branch Hours
8:00 AM to 3:00 PM
MOFA Contact Centre
800 44444
Service Across All Emirates
MOFA attestation fees are set at the federal level. Applications can be submitted through the official online service, and documents assigned to courier processing can be collected and returned without visiting a branch.
Our document collection and delivery support is available in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain.
Send us a copy of your document and your location. We will confirm the required attestation route, estimated processing time and total quotation.
WhatsApp Your DocumentFrequently Asked Questions
Find answers about MOFA attestation fees, processing time, UAE Pass applications, digital attestation, courier processing and document requirements in Dubai and across the UAE.
The government fee is AED 150 per personal or educational document and AED 2,000 per commercial document. The final amount may also include courier charges or additional attestations selected in the application. The complete amount is displayed before payment. Read more about MOFA attestation in the UAE.
Eligible digital documents issued in the UAE may be attested within two hours during official working hours. Documents assigned to an approved courier normally take one to three business days, depending on the selected courier. If a foreign-issued document still requires home-country or UAE Embassy attestation, the complete processing time will depend on the issuing country and required authorities.
MOFA document attestation applications are currently submitted through the official Ministry website or the UAE MOFA smart application using UAE Pass. The system determines whether the document qualifies for digital attestation or must be collected through an approved courier. For branch assistance or current visit arrangements, contact MOFA on 800 44444 before travelling.
Yes. The online Documents Attestation service is available through the MOFA website and mobile application and does not require an office appointment. You must sign in using UAE Pass, enter the correct document details and follow the digital or courier route assigned by the system.
Sign in to the MOFA website using the UAE Pass account used for the application and open My Requests to check the status. Completed digital documents can also be checked through MOFA Verify by entering the document reference number and issue date.
No. An apostille is used when the Hague Apostille Convention applies and the destination authority accepts an apostille. MOFA attestation is authentication completed through the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The correct process depends on where the document was issued, where it will be used and the requirements of the receiving authority.
The final format depends on the route assigned to the document. Documents processed through the courier route receive physical attestation, while eligible UAE-issued digital documents receive an electronic attestation that can be downloaded and verified online using the document reference details.
MOFA does not publish one general expiry period for every attested document. However, the receiving authority may require certain documents, such as police clearance certificates, medical certificates or financial records, to have been issued within a particular period. The requirement should be checked with the authority receiving the document.
The rejection notification will normally state the reason, such as incorrect document information, the wrong issuing authority, an altered document or an incorrect attestation route. The rejected request cannot be reopened, but you can correct the issue and submit a new application immediately. Refund eligibility is determined according to the applicable MOFA refund procedure and can be checked through the application status.
A degree certificate may require final UAE MOFA attestation for employment classification, professional licensing, university admission or qualification recognition. A foreign-issued qualification must first complete the applicable home-country and UAE Embassy stages before the final UAE attestation. Learn more about degree certificate attestation.
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Send us a clear scan of your document for a review of the required attestation route, government fee and estimated processing time. Same-day service may be available depending on document eligibility and submission time.
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