Short answer: the UAE is not part of the Apostille Convention. Indian documents need state attestation, then MEA attestation, then UAE attestation — which is now applied for online through the UAE MoFA with a UAE Pass account. The final digital attestation is certified by both the UAE Embassy in New Delhi and the UAE MoFA. The India-side process usually takes about 1–3 weeks.
The UAE is the most common destination for Indian documents — degrees for jobs, marriage and birth certificates for family visas, and company documents for business setup. The process has changed in recent years: the old “embassy stamp, then MOFA stamp in Dubai” sequence has largely moved online. Here’s how UAE attestation works now.
Why UAE attestation is needed
UAE authorities need proof that an Indian document is genuine before they use it for an employment visa, a family or residence visa, school admission, degree equivalency or a trade licence. Attestation is that proof.
UAE attestation steps (current process)
- State attestation in India — HRD (or e-Sanad) for educational documents, SDM / Home Department for personal documents. Commercial documents start with notary or Chamber of Commerce.
- MEA attestation — India’s Ministry of External Affairs attests the document.
- Apply for UAE attestation online — on the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) website using a UAE Pass account: choose the attestation service, set the country of issue to India, fill the form and pay.
- Document pickup — a MoFA-approved service provider collects your original documents.
- Digitally attested documents by email — certified by both the UAE Embassy in New Delhi and the UAE MoFA. Your originals come back by courier.
You can verify an attested document on the UAE MoFA’s online verification service using the attestation reference number and issue date.
Documents going abroad?
We handle MEA apostille for 120+ Hague countries (Saudi Arabia, China, Europe, USA) and embassy attestation for the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and more — state, MEA and embassy stages done for you, with pan-India courier pickup.
Things the UAE won’t accept
- Laminated documents
- Bundled apostilles (the UAE does not use the apostille system)
- Copies of official personal documents — birth, marriage and death certificates must be originals
- Powers of attorney that weren’t notarised in India and then MEA-attested
Commercial invoices and certificates of origin go through the UAE’s separate e-attestation system for trade documents, not the personal attestation service.
Documents commonly attested for the UAE
| Category | Examples | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Educational | Degree, diploma, marksheets, school certificates | Employment visa, equivalency, admission |
| Personal | Birth, marriage, divorce, PCC, medical certificates | Family / residence visa, school admission |
| Commercial | Certificate of incorporation, POA, board resolutions | Business setup and trade licences |
How long does it take?
Typically 1–3 weeks for the India-side chain, depending mostly on the state stage. More detail: how long UAE attestation takes. Getting a job? See UAE job visa attestation and educational attestation for a UAE employment visa.
How we help
We check your documents, complete the state and MEA stages, guide you through the UAE online application, and make sure nothing is rejected for avoidable reasons like lamination or name mismatches. See our embassy attestation service.
Not sure which attestation your form needs? Send a photo of it on WhatsApp or call +91 93109 70010 — we tell you the exact process before you spend any money.
Frequently asked questions
Is apostille accepted in the UAE?
No. The UAE is not part of the Apostille Convention, so documents need MEA attestation followed by UAE attestation.
How does UAE attestation work now?
After state and MEA attestation in India, you apply online on the UAE MoFA website using UAE Pass. A MoFA-approved provider collects the originals, and you receive the digitally attested documents by email.
Do I still need a separate MOFA stamp in the UAE?
For Indian documents attested through the digital service, the attestation is certified by both the UAE Embassy in New Delhi and the UAE MoFA.
How long does UAE attestation take?
About 1–3 weeks for the India-side process.
Can laminated documents be attested?
No. The UAE does not accept laminated documents.
SK Document Centre has helped people in Delhi NCR with attestation, affidavits, apostille and embassy legalisation for over a decade. Questions about your documents? WhatsApp us.
