CHED CAV and DFA for the UAE: degree attestation

Why your employer asks for it

A UAE employer registers you under a job title, and skilled titles such as software engineer need your degree on file, attested. Without it the permit goes under a lower title, and you lose the route to the Golden visa for skilled professionals. So HR asks for the attested degree as soon as you accept an offer.

The employment visa itself takes 1⁠–⁠4 weeks once your papers are ready. Attestation often takes longer, so people who start it while they are still applying move sooner.

The steps for a degree from the Philippines

Your registrar certifies the diploma and transcript, CHED issues the CAV, the DFA authenticates it, then the UAE embassy and MOFA attest it together online.

1. 1

   Registrar's certified copies

   Your university's registrar. Certified true copies of your diploma and transcript of records (TOR), signed by the registrar, and the Special Order where it applies. State universities issue their own CAV.
2. 2

   CHED eCAV

   The Commission on Higher Education, online at ecav.ched.gov.ph. For private and local colleges. Upload clear PDF scans of the certified copies.
3. 3

   DFA certificate of authentication

   The Department of Foreign Affairs, by online appointment. For a country outside the Apostille Convention, such as the UAE, the DFA issues a certificate of authentication. Appointments are online only, first come, first served: book early.
4. 4

   UAE embassy and MOFA: digital attestation

   The UAE embassy in Manila, with the UAE foreign ministry. One online application on the MOFA website or app with UAE Pass. A courier collects the original, and the document comes back by email, attested by both; the original is returned.