Visas and paperwork
Degree attestation for the UAE
Short answer
The steps for your degree
Pick the country that issued your degree. Not listed? The usual route works for most countries.
Degree from India
MEA attestationYour state checks the degree with the university, the Ministry of External Affairs attests it, then the UAE embassy and MOFA attest it together online.
Time, all steps
2–6 weeks
Cost for one degree, doing it yourself
AED 300–350 ≈ ₹7,800–9,100
About ₹7,800–9,200 in all
Through an agency
AED 700–1,200 ≈ ₹18,200–31,100
- 1
State verification
The higher education (or general administration) department of the state where your university is
The state confirms the degree with the university and stamps it. This is the slow step.
- 2
MEA attestation
The Ministry of External Affairs, through its outsourced centres
You can't hand papers to the ministry yourself: an authorised centre takes them. Ask for attestation, not an apostille; the attestation itself is free, the centre charges a small fee.
- 3
UAE embassy and MOFA: digital attestation
The UAE embassy in New Delhi or consulate in Mumbai, 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.
MEA attestation, not the MEA apostille
The MEA's cheap apostille is for countries in the Apostille Convention. The UAE isn't one, so ask the centre for attestation for the UAE.
eSanad, if your university is on it
Some universities have put their records on eSanad, the MEA's online verification and attestation service. Most degrees still start with the state.
Already in the UAE?
After the state and MEA steps in India, the Indian embassy in Abu Dhabi or the consulate in Dubai can attest the degree, and MOFA then attests it in the UAE.
The UAE step is online. The state and MEA steps need the original in India: an agency or a relative with an authority letter can take it for you.
- A provisional certificate isn't the degree: attest the final one.
- Mark sheets are separate documents; attest them only if your employer asks.
- If your name differs from your passport, you need an affidavit or a gazette notification first.
- Laminated certificates are refused.
Degree from the United Kingdom
FCDO apostilleA solicitor or notary certifies a copy of your degree, the FCDO adds an apostille, then the UAE embassy in London and MOFA attest it together online.
Time, all steps
5–8 weeks
Cost for one degree, doing it yourself
AED 900–1,500 ≈ ₹23,300–38,900
About £180–300 in all
Through an agency
AED 1,200–2,200 ≈ ₹31,100–57,100 · 2–4 weeks
- 1
Certified copy
A UK solicitor or notary public
A degree isn't a public document, so the FCDO only legalises a qualification certificate once a UK solicitor or notary has certified it.
- 2
FCDO apostille, on paper
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
The standard service usually takes up to 25 working days, plus postage. Ask for a paper apostille, one per document (the UAE embassy refuses documents apostilled in a bundle); agencies say it doesn't take the e-Apostille.
- 3
UAE embassy and MOFA: digital attestation
The UAE embassy in London, 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.
Why an apostille isn't enough
The UAE hasn't joined the Apostille Convention. The FCDO's apostille proves the notary's signature; the UAE embassy's digital attestation is still needed after it.
Why agencies are faster
The FCDO's next-day and urgent services are for registered businesses only, so agencies can do in days what takes weeks by post.
All of it works from abroad: agencies take the original by tracked post, the FCDO couriers it back worldwide, and the UAE step is online.
- The attestation is on the digital copy, not on the paper: keep the email and the file.
- A degree from a UK university's campus abroad (in Dubai, say) is legalised in the country that issued it.
- After a change of name, attest your marriage certificate or deed poll too.
- Allow extra time around Ramadan and Eid.
Degree from Pakistan
HEC attestationHEC attests the degree online, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Pakistan attests it, then the UAE embassy and MOFA attest it together online.
Time, all steps
3–6 weeks
Cost for one degree, doing it yourself
AED 380–430 ≈ ₹9,900–11,200
About PKR 29,000–33,000 in all
Through an agency
AED 525–660 ≈ ₹13,600–17,100
- 1
HEC e-attestation
The Higher Education Commission, online at eservices.hec.gov.pk
Upload your CNIC, degree and transcript; the university verifies them and HEC issues an e-attestation certificate instead of a stamp. Each document (degree, transcript) is paid for separately.
- 2
MOFA Pakistan
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad or its offices in Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta and Gujrat, or an authorised courier
Register online first (required for apostille requests since 27 July 2026). Have each document done separately: the UAE embassy refuses documents apostilled in a bundle.
- 3
UAE embassy and MOFA: digital attestation
The UAE embassy in Islamabad, 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.
HEC is now paperless
HEC now issues a downloadable e-attestation certificate instead of a stamp, and no longer attests photocopies.
The MOFA step has to be done in Pakistan
The UAE embassy only takes Pakistani documents already attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Pakistan, so that step is done there: in person, by a relative or by courier.
HEC is online, but you need your CNIC. At MOFA a blood relative can act for you with proof of relationship; anyone else needs an authority letter attested by the Pakistani embassy where you live.
- Your university and programme must be HEC-recognised; MS and MPhil programmes launched after 7 November 2013 need an HEC NOC.
- Details must match your CNIC exactly, and fees for a wrong selection aren't refunded.
- IBCC is for school certificates, not degrees.
- Laminated certificates are refused.
Degree from the Philippines
CHED CAV and DFAYour registrar certifies the diploma and transcript, CHED issues the CAV, the DFA authenticates it, then the UAE embassy and MOFA attest it together online.
Time, all steps
4–8 weeks
Cost for one degree, doing it yourself
AED 320–440 ≈ ₹8,300–11,400
About PHP 5,400–7,400 in all
- 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
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
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
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.
Authentication, not an apostille
Older pages and some agencies still say "DFA apostille" for the UAE. Since the UAE isn't in the Apostille Convention, the DFA issues a certificate of authentication for the embassy to legalise; confirm with VFS Manila if unsure.
The eCAV is online and the DFA can courier the certificate back, but the DFA appointment needs someone in the Philippines with your papers.
- Send the TOR together with the diploma.
- "Red ribbon" is gone: for the UAE, the DFA now issues a certificate of authentication.
- Laminated certificates are refused.
Degree from Egypt
MFA authenticationYour university (or the Ministry of Higher Education) stamps the degree, the Egyptian foreign ministry authenticates it, then the UAE embassy in Cairo and MOFA attest it together.
Time, all steps
2–5 weeks
Cost for one degree, doing it yourself
AED 320–400 ≈ ₹8,300–10,400
- 1
University stamps
Your faculty and the university's secretary-general; for private universities and institutes, the Ministry of Higher Education
The foreign ministry won't take a degree without these stamps.
- 2
Foreign ministry authentication
The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs' authentication office in Cairo or a governorate branch
Take the stamped original to the office.
- 3
UAE embassy and MOFA: digital attestation
The UAE embassy in Cairo, 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.
The consulate in Dubai isn't a shortcut
The Egyptian consulate in Dubai only authenticates papers the foreign ministry in Egypt has already authenticated, so it doesn't replace the step in Cairo.
The first two steps need someone in Egypt; the UAE step is online.
- Degrees from private or foreign-affiliated universities may need the Supreme Council of Universities' equivalency first.
- Laminated certificates are refused.
Degree from South Africa
SAQA and DIRCOSAQA verifies the degree, DIRCO issues a certificate of authentication, then the UAE embassy in Pretoria and MOFA attest it together online.
Time, all steps
5–9 weeks
Cost for one degree, doing it yourself
AED 450–600 ≈ ₹11,700–15,600
About ZAR 2,000–2,600 in all
- 1
SAQA verification letter
The South African Qualifications Authority, by email
DIRCO won't authenticate a degree certificate: it authenticates SAQA's verification letter instead. The standard letter takes 25 working days, the slow step.
- 2
DIRCO certificate of authentication
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation, OR Tambo Building, Pretoria
Free. Up to five documents are done the same day with a booking; by courier, allow 3 to 4 weeks. Ask for authentication, not an apostille.
- 3
UAE embassy and MOFA: digital attestation
The UAE embassy in Pretoria, 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.
Yes: SAQA takes requests by email, DIRCO takes papers by courier, and the UAE step is online.
- DIRCO needs SAQA's letter, not the degree itself.
- Laminated certificates are refused.
Degree from another country
The usual routeMost countries follow the same three steps: the body that issued or oversees your degree, your foreign ministry, then the UAE embassy and MOFA.
Time, all steps
3–8 weeks
Cost for one degree, doing it yourself
AED 300–1,500 ≈ ₹7,800–38,900
- 1
Your university or education ministry
The university's registrar, or the ministry or council that oversees universities
It confirms the degree is genuine and stamps it, or issues a verification letter.
- 2
Your foreign ministry
The ministry of foreign affairs in the country that issued the degree
It authenticates the stamp before it. If your country is in the Apostille Convention, an apostille is usually what it issues; the UAE step is still needed after it.
- 3
UAE embassy and MOFA
The UAE embassy in that country, with the UAE foreign ministry
One application on the MOFA website or app with UAE Pass; MOFA picks the route (digital attestation, or through a courier) from the issuing authority and the document type.
The UAE step is online. The steps at home usually need the original there: ask an agency, or a relative with an authority letter.
- An apostille on its own isn't enough: the UAE hasn't joined the Apostille Convention.
- Match every name to your passport.
- Laminated certificates are refused.
The UAE step is online now
The UAE foreign ministry attests documents online only, with UAE Pass; for degrees from abroad it now does so together with the UAE embassy in the issuing country.
MOFA charges about AED 150 (≈ ₹3,900) per document, and documents sent from abroad usually take 1–3 weeks.
A separate MOFA step in the UAE is only needed for papers the embassy stamped by hand, or attested by your own country's mission in the UAE.
Why it matters
Your job title
Skilled titles such as software engineer need a degree on file, attested; without it the permit goes under a lower title.
The Golden visa
The Golden visa for skilled professionals needs an attested degree, and equivalency too.
Your family's visas
Marriage and birth certificates go through the same steps before you can sponsor your family.
Equivalency is a different thing
The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MOHESR) recognises foreign degrees, online, in about 30 working days. An ordinary IT work permit doesn't need it; the Golden visa for skilled professionals does.
This is guidance, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; check the official source and your employer before you act.
Questions
Do IT jobs in Dubai need an attested degree?
In practice, yes. Without it your employer can't register you under a skilled title such as software engineer: the permit goes under a lower one, and you lose the route to the Golden visa for skilled professionals. Free zones ask for it for most IT titles too.
How long does attestation take?
Between 2 and 9 weeks for all steps, depending on the country; agencies are faster in some. Start when you start applying: it is the slowest paper in the move.
Does the UAE accept an apostille?
Not on its own. The UAE hasn't joined the Apostille Convention, so after the steps in your country (an apostille among them, in some) the UAE embassy and MOFA still attest the degree.
Do I still need MOFA attestation in the UAE?
Not for most countries any more. The UAE embassy and MOFA now attest together in one online application from your home country. A separate MOFA step is only needed for papers the embassy stamped by hand before it switched.
Is attestation the same as equivalency?
No. Attestation proves your certificate is genuine; equivalency (recognition by the Ministry of Higher Education) says what the degree is worth in the UAE. An ordinary IT work permit needs attestation, not equivalency.
Do my family's certificates need the same?
Yes. To sponsor your spouse and children you need your marriage certificate and their birth certificates attested the same way.
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