Who Needs an Equivalency Certificate?

Equivalency is mandatory for:

• Students: All universities and colleges in the UAE mandate the Equivalency Certificate for admission into UAE schools or colleges, universities with an education credential from abroad. For example, Grade 12 (high-school) graduates from other countries need a Grade‑12 Equivalency Certificate to enter UAE higher education.
• Professionals and Academics: Teachers, professors, engineers, doctors, nurses and other licensed professionals must equivalize foreign degrees to work and obtain UAE licenses. (Engineering graduates must register with the Society of Engineers; medical graduates need MOHAP/DHA/DHA approval, etc.)
• Government/Regulated Sector Jobs: Many government and semi-government employers require official recognition for foreign qualifications.
• Golden Visa Applicants: Highly skilled professionals, investors or researchers applying for the UAE Golden Visa must submit all academic qualifications with MOE/MOHESR equivalency.
• Any individual who must present proof of their foreign qualification to a UAE authority, employer, or educational institution.

In practice, if any UAE authority asks for proof of your foreign qualification, it must be certified through the equivalency process. Without it, most UAE universities and many employers will not accept overseas diplomas.

Types of Equivalency Certificates

There are two main types of equivalency certification in the UAE:

• General Education (High-School) Equivalency – for secondary-school diplomas (e.g. Grade 12 certificates) obtained abroad. This is handled by the MOE’s Certificate Equivalency Department. For example, a non-UAE high-school graduate applies for a “General Education (Grade 12) Equivalency Certificate”.
• Higher Education Recognition – for university degrees (bachelor’s, master’s, PhDs Equivalency) earned abroad. Since late 2024, the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MOHESR) issues these via a “Qualification Recognition Report”. (Earlier, the MOE’s Certificate of Recognition covered this.) In both cases, the document confirms the degree meets the UAE’s academic standards.

Process: General Education (Grade 12) Equivalency

1. Prepare Documents: Attest your Grade 12 diploma and transcripts through the issuing country’s education authority, then UAE Embassy, then UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Obtain copies of your passport, valid UAE visa page, Emirates ID, and any required letters (e.g. from your scholarship or embassy). All documents not in English/Arabic must be legally translated.
2. Create a MOE Portal Account: Go to the UAE Ministry of Education eServices portal (www.moe.gov.ae) and log in with UAE Pass.
3. Start the Equivalency Application: Under Service Catalog → General Education, select “Equivalency of General Education (Grade 12) from Outside UAE” and click “Start New Application”.
4. Fill Details & Upload: Enter your certificate details and attach the required documents (attested diploma, transcripts, passport copy, Emirates ID, etc.).
5. Pay the Fee: Submit and pay the service fee online.
6. Wait for Processing: The MOE will review your application. Processing typically takes 5 working days. Once approved, you will receive the official Equivalency Certificate digitally.

Each step must be completed; incomplete or unverified documents will cause delays. Throughout the process, you can track your status on the MOE portal.

Process: University Degree (Higher Education) Recognition

1. 1. Document Preparation & Attestation
   
   • Collect your original university degree certificates and transcripts.
   • Get attestation from:
     
     • The issuing country’s Ministry of Education (or equivalent authority)
     • The UAE Embassy or Consulate in that country
     • Final legalization from the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA)
   • Gather your passport, Emirates ID, UAE visa page, and proof of study (such as a scholarship letter if applicable). Arrange certified translation if your documents are not in Arabic or English.
2. 2. Degree Verification via Official Partners (Primary Source Verification)
   
   • Upload your attested documents to a Ministry of Education-authorized verification partner: DataFlow Group or QuadraBay. These agencies will directly contact your university to confirm your credentials. Pay the processing fee. The verification process may take up to 30 days. Once completed, you will receive a digital verification report and a reference number.
3. 3. Register for UAE PASS (Digital ID)
   
   • All eServices from MOE/MOHESR now require UAE PASS.
   • Download the UAE PASS app, register with your Emirates ID/passport, and verify your identity. This account is necessary for portal login and application.
4. 4. Online Application Submission
   
   • Log in to the MOE Equivalency portal using your UAE PASS.
   • Complete the online application form.
   • Enter your verification reference number and upload all attested academic documents, transcripts, PSV verification report, ID proof, and translations where required.
   • Pay the required MOE or MOHESR application fee securely online.
5. 5. Final Review & Certificate Issuance
   
   • Track your application’s progress via the MOE dashboard. The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MOHESR) will review your submission. If all criteria are met, an official “Recognition Report” (equivalency certificate) will be issued within about 15–35 working days. Your certificate will be sent to your registered email and will also be available in your MOE account for download.

Required Documents (By Education Level)

Below is the comprehensive document checklist based on official MoE requirements. All documents must be uploaded in PDF format, translated into Arabic (if not already in Arabic or English), and attested.

 A. For High School / Grade 12 Equivalency

 B. For Bachelor’s / Master’s / Ph.D. Equivalency

Where to Get Travel Report (ICA)

• Visit www.icp.gov.ae
• Use UAE PASS to generate a history of your entry/exit record — this is required to prove you physically studied in the country your certificate was issued.

Missing or incomplete documents are the most common reason for delays or rejection. Always check the latest MOE/MOHESR requirements for your country and degree. The requirement for equivalency is grounded in UAE Cabinet Decision No. 28 of 2020 and relevant Ministerial Resolutions under the Ministry of Education.

Fees & Processing Times

Note: Additional fees for attestation, translation, and ICA travel reports may apply.

Common Reasons for Rejection & How to Avoid Them

As published on the MOE and MOHESR portals:

• Unaccredited degree or issuing institution (not recognized in home/UAE)
• Missing or incomplete attestation
• Lack of required PSV report (for degrees)
• Mismatched names or details across documents
• Missing translations, ICA travel report, or supporting documents
• Distance learning or online degrees may not be recognized unless conditions are met (contact MOE/MOHESR for clarification)
• Not applying through UAE PASS/official channels

How to Avoid Rejection:

• Double-check every document.
• Only submit via official portals.
• Follow up on PSV before applying.
• Seek clarification from ministry contact centers if in doubt.

Specific Requirements for Grade 12 Equivalency

Grade 12 equivalency is required if you studied outside the UAE and wish to pursue higher education or work in the UAE.

✅ Eligibility:

• Certificate must be issued by a recognized foreign curriculum school (e.g. CBSE, British GCE, American High School).
• Must have passed required national exams (e.g. SATs for US curriculum, A-levels for UK).
• Curriculum must include core subjects: Math, Science, English, Language, etc.

📄 Documents Required (Additional to general docs):

• School Accreditation Letter from the local Ministry of Education of the issuing country
• Transcript of Grades 10, 11 & 12
• Proof of full-time study (face-to-face)
• Exit/Entry record showing country of study during 3 years

Requirements for Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D. Equivalency

Higher education equivalency follows a tiered process regulated by MOHESR and MoE.

✅ Minimum Requirements:

• Your university must be internationally accredited in its home country
• Mode of study must be on-campus, full-time
• The study duration must match international standards (e.g. Bachelor’s = 3–4 years)
• Must show physical presence in the country of study
• Must have completed all credits with official transcripts

 Additional Requirements:

• Medium of Instruction Letter (in English or Arabic)
• Attendance Letter stating the program was in-person
• Credit Hour Breakdown for some courses (especially if applying for professional licenses)

When Is It Mandatory?

Institution and Program Accreditation

All institutions must be recognized by both the home country authority and the UAE Ministry of Education.

• You can search for accredited universities on the official MOE site.
• Degrees from unaccredited universities or programs will be rejected.

Government Departments Involved

Understanding which UAE bodies process and approve equivalency is key to getting approval.

Eligibility Requirements

Before applying for a UAE Equivalency Certificate, applicants must meet a strict set of eligibility conditions outlined by the UAE Ministry of Education.

✅ General Eligibility Criteria:

• You must hold a recognized academic qualification from an accredited educational institution.
• The institution must be officially recognized in its home country.
• The mode of study must be in-person (distance or online-only programs are typically not accepted).
• Your entire academic program must be completed—partial programs or diplomas are not accepted.
• Applicants must have resided legally in the country of study during the full course duration, which is verified via ICA travel history.

Appeals & What to Do if You’re Rejected

If your equivalency application is rejected, you can submit an official appeal through the MoE portal.

 Steps to Appeal:

• Log into your MoE portal account
• Go to “My Applications” and select the rejected file
• Click Appeal and attach:
  
  • New/missing documents
  • Explanation letters
  • Supporting verification (university letters, ICA clarifications, etc.)