An increasingly promising career destination for professionals and students alike, the United Arab Emirates boasts of an excellent thriving job market and premier educational institutions that attract many candidates worldwide to seek careers and further studies in the UAE.
But for those seeking employment or further education, one vital document needed by the UAE authorities is an Equivalency Certificate.
This certificate confirms your foreign academic qualifications are recognized and equivalent to the qualifications of the UAE.
In this blog post, we walk you through an overview of how one obtains an equivalency certificate within the UAE.
We will also discuss the different types of equivalency certificates, their significance, who needs them and all there is to know about them.
What is an Equivalency Certificate?
An equivalency certificate is an official document issued to students who have studied in international institutions and wish to work or continue further studies in a different country.
This certificate clearly states that a student’s foreign degree meets the educational criteria of the destination country.
In this context, an equivalency certificate is a document issued by the UAE Ministry of Education (MoE) that verifies the equivalence of a foreign degree with the UAE’s education standards.
An equivalency certificate is a requirement for individuals who have studied from outside the UAE and wish to continue higher education, employment, or professional licensing in the country particularly health-related professions such as medicine, nursing, teaching, or engineering.
Who Needs an Equivalency Certificate in UAE?
Several categories of students and professionals are entitled to acquire an Equivalency Certificate under the requirements of their professional or educational program.
Among them are the following, which happen to be some of the popular types of professionals that need an equivalency certificate in UAE;
- Professionals – Professionals especially those whose field of work, such as an engineer, health worker, teacher, or accountant, necessitates specific qualifications. Your employers and government departments may not accept your degree without an equivalency certificate.
- Students – Those interested in higher education in the UAE will need an Equivalency Certificate for earlier qualifications if they are applying for an education program in the country.
- Immigrants – Those seeking permanent residence or long-term visas, including the UAE Golden Visa, will also need proof of their qualifications through an Equivalency Certificate.
- Professionals looking to obtain licenses – In some professions, such as teaching, healthcare, and engineering, equivalency is required to get licenses from the regulatory departments of the State such as the Department of Health or Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA).
Many other professions, educational institutions, and so on require the candidates to submit an equivalency certificate to become eligible for either studying, working, carrying out research, or other forms of educational and economic activities in the country.
Different Types of Equivalency Certificates
Many different types of Equivalency Certificates are issued depending on the nature of the qualifications being evaluated. The most common types are as follows;
- High School Equivalency – In case a student has passed their secondary education from outside the UAE and he or she wants to carry on his higher education from the UAE.
- Bachelor’s Degree Equivalency – For professionals or students with an undergraduate degree from a foreign university seeking recognition for further studies or employment.
- Equivalence of Master’s and Doctorate Degree – For the holders of Master’s or Doctorate degrees issued by universities abroad and aiming to work, obtain professional license, or admission in the PhD programs of any institute in the UAE.
- Professional Equivalency – Many professionals working in a technical field such as engineers, lawyers, teachers and even doctors need to acquire an equivalency certificate to work in a foreign country. This type of equivalency ensures that the professional’s qualifications and experience meet the standards set by the regulatory bodies in the UAE.
- Skill Equivalency – Broader recognition is also required for vocational skills and non-academic qualifications. People working in a skill-based trade also require specific certifications of equivalent for work.
Procedure for How to Get an Equivalency Certificate in the UAE?
The process usually includes submitting a duly filled application form along with all the required documents.
The UAE Ministry of Education then processes the application and verifies the documents submitted by the candidates.
If the information is genuine then an equivalency certificate will be issued to the candidate. Let’s break this process into different easy-to-follow steps;
Step 1 – Degree Attestation
The first step in the process of getting an equivalency certificate in the UAE is to get the degree/diploma certificates attested by the concerned authorities in the issuing country.
If the degree certificate or transcripts are not in English or Arabic then they need to be translated accordingly.
Attestation Process (For Indian Students)
State HRD attestation – The educational documents need to be first attested by the HRD of the state in which the document was issued.
MEA Attestation – The MEA then authenticates the originality of the documents by stamping them with their seal of approval.
UAE Embassy Attestation – The UAE Embassy places its attestation stamp on the document, making it suitable for use in the country.
MOFA in UAE – Finally the documents are sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the UAE for the final stamp of approval in this lengthy attestation procedure.
Step 2 – Obtaining a Genuineness letter
Candidates from certain countries need to obtain a “genuineness letter” to prove that their education has taken place in an accredited university.,
This letter is to be issued by the UAE Embassy/consulate in the home country of the candidate.
The concerned authority of the UAE embassy in the candidate’s home country will communicate with the college/university requesting certain information.
If the information is found to be factual then the same is used to verify the candidate’s educational credentials.
Step 3 – Acquiring an ICA Travel Report
Candidates looking for an equivalency certificate in the UAE also need to submit an ICA travel report issued by the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) or the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA).
The ICA travel report shows the necessary information about the candidate, such as the
Entry/Exit dates, ports of entry/exit, the applicant’s passport number and other immigration-related details.
Step 4 – Apply for an Equivalency Certificate through the Ministry of Education Portal
Once all the documents are collected and verified by all the responsible authorities in both the home country and the UAE, you can finally start the application on the MoE website.
- Register and Log in to the MoE website using your UAE pass
- Complete the application form
- Upload all the correct supporting documents
- Pay the prescribed fee for processing the equivalency certificate application
- The Ministry of Education will verify the documents and could ask for further clarification or request additional documents. The whole process will take some weeks.
- After approval, you’ll get your certificate, either digitally or collected personally, depending on the option chosen while filling out the application.
Documents Needed for Equivalency Certificates
Candidates looking for an equivalency certificate in UAE need to submit a set of supporting documents along with an application form. The documents needed are as follows;
- The degree or diploma certificate should be submitted with proper attestation by the issuing authorities of the country involved.
- Official transcript stating all academic work done, properly attested by the concerned authorities.
- A valid copy of passport with residency or visa
- ICA travel report (exit-entry report).
- Genuineness letter obtained from the UAE embassy or consulate (if applicable).
- National ID or any other govt-issued identification
- Duly filled out an application for Equivalency certificate
- Proof of payment of the amount towards processing charges for the application
- Experience Certificate is also required at times if work experience has to be counted towards equivalency.
Mistakes to Avoid When Applying for an Equivalency Certificate
The application procedure for an equivalency certificate can be lengthy and complicated involving numerous government authorities.
This can lead to applicants committing errors, thereby delaying certification or even being rejected. The following are some common errors to avoid:
Not Having Documents Attested – Attestation of the degree or diploma certificate along with the transcripts is a compulsory requirement for the authorities in the UAE. And, failure to have your documents attested by the relevant authorities will result in rejection.
Insufficient Documentation – Failure to provide all the necessary documents or making a mistake in submitting all the necessary documents may delay the process or result in a rejected application. Ensure that you have attached all the documents requested.
Failure to Verify Accreditation – The institution you get your qualification from should be recognized and accredited in their home country. Degrees from institutions that are not accredited are not recognised hence equivalency certificates for such institutions will not be granted.
Not Knowing the Equivalency Requirements in UAE – It could vary from one profession to another or academic level to another. For instance, an online degree is not accepted. A student must be aware of this even before making an application. It is important to research all the requirements to avoid rejections from the MoE in the UAE.
Not following the Guidelines – The Ministry of Education will provide comprehensive guidelines on how to obtain an equivalency certificate. It is crucial to follow this guideline closely to avoid making any avoidable mistakes.
Conclusion
An Equivalency Certificate is an important step for anyone looking to work or study within the UAE with qualifications from another country.
The process is pretty complicated, though, so if he or she understands what is required and gets the documents ready ahead of time, there should be no complications.
Whether you are a student or a professional who wants to be licensed in your field, an equivalency certificate will ensure that you are taken seriously anywhere in one of the world’s most dynamic regions.
By following the proper procedure and avoiding common mistakes, you can make the process smoother and more efficient.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is an equivalency certificate important?
It is an important certificate because it verifies a student’s educational qualification and makes it suitable for use in a foreign country for further education or employment.
How can I get my documents attested for the equivalency certificate application?
Candidates can easily get all their degree certificates and transcripts attested by employing the services of Superb Enterprises (SEPL Group). We provide quick and affordable attestation solutions.
What is the cost of applying for an equivalency certificate?
According to the UAE Ministry of Education website, it costs 50 AED to apply for the equivalency certificate.
Which educational documents are required for an equivalency certificate application?
The documents needed depend on your highest level of education and the type of degree you wish to pursue abroad. However, here are the documents needed;
For a bachelor’s degree – Attested bachelor’s degree, Transcript, Attested High school/Secondary school certificate.
For a master’s degree – Attested master’s degree, Transcript, bachelor’s degree, Transcript of the bachelor’s degree.