Candidates planning to shift to Dubai for employment opportunities, business ventures or higher education will need document authentication. It is an essential procedure that one cannot ignore when immigrating to Dubai.
Irrespective of whether you’re an expatriate settling in Dubai or an international businessperson expanding operations, getting your foreign documents authenticated by the concerned authorities is essential to make sure they are accepted as legal and valid in the UAE.
This blog will specifically cover everything related to foreign document authentication for use in Dubai. We will look into what it means, why is it important and then the process of getting documents authenticated. Without any further delay, let’s get started!
Also Read:- Reasons of Dubai Visa Rejections
What is Document Authentication?
Authentication refers to the process of getting a document certified as legitimate so it can be used in foreign countries for official purposes. The concerned authorities in the home country and the embassy of the destination country are generally involved in getting a document properly authenticated for overseas use.
In the case of Dubai, document verification typically means getting education certificates and personal and commercial documents verified by the government authorities and the UAE embassy. It is necessary to ensure that the documents are accepted as legal and valid for use in the UAE.
There are two main methods are getting a document authenticated:
- Apostille Certification – It is generally used for countries that are a part of the Hague Convention. It is a much simpler process involving less bureaucracy.
- Attestation – It is vital for countries that are not a part of the Hague Convention. It is a more elaborate procedure involving multiple authorities.
Uses of Document Authentication
Getting a document authenticated by various government authorities is a compulsory legal requirement to make the document acceptable for use overseas. However, it serves more than just one purpose. Here are some of the most important reasons to get documents authenticated;
- Employment Visa Processing – Dubai employers need authentications of educational and professional certificates when international candidates apply for employment.
- Educational Pursuits – For students trying to pursue education in the UAE, authenticated academic records and other related documents are necessary for admissions.
- Family Visa Applications – A candidate residing in Dubai who wants to sponsor their family members to move to Dubai must have their personal documents like marriage and birth certificates properly authenticated.
- Business Setup – To start a new business abroad or expand an already established business, candidates need to get commercial documents like Memorandums of Association, Power of Attorney, etc authenticated for company registration.
- Medical Licensing – For healthcare professionals to obtain licensing, they must submit authenticated educational degrees and relevant experience letters.
- Legal Matters – Authorities need authenticated documents during legal proceedings, property transfers, inheritance disputes and other similar legal matters.
- Professional Licensing – Local authorities demand certified credentials from engineers, architects and other professionals needing licenses for their profession to register with local authorities.
Also Read:- How to get Medical Certificate
Step-by-Step Process of Authenticating Documents from Abroad for Use in Dubai
As mentioned earlier, there are two ways to get documents authenticated. However, as the UAE is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, document attestation is the acceptable way to get documents authenticated for use in Dubai.
The steps involved in the process are as follows;
- Notarization – The first step is to get the concerned documents notarised by a public notary or any other relevant authority in the destination country.
- Authentication by the Home Country’s Authorities – After notarization, the documents are forwarded to the relevant departments to be authenticated. The authorities that are responsible for authentication change depending on the type of documents. Once verified at the state level, documents are forwarded to the Ministry of External Affairs.
- UAE Embassy Attestation – Once authenticated by the destination country’s authorities, the documents are submitted to the UAE Embassy or Consulate in the issuing country for attestation.
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) Attestation in UAE – After the authentication in the home country, the document upon reaching Dubai needs to be submitted to the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) for final attestation. It is the final and most crucial step in the process that finally makes the documents legal for use in the UAE.
Note: In some cases, candidates may need to get certified Arabic translation for their documents if the documents are in a regional language or a language not widely accepted in the UAE.
For quick and easy document authentication in Dubai, candidates can head to SEPL Document Clearing LLC. We are the most outstanding and one of the largest document processing companies in United Arab Emirates (UAE) dedicated to highest business standards.
Also Read: What is Certificate of Incumbency
Things to Consider Before Authenticating Your Documents
- Check Document Validity – Check all the documents to ensure they are original and free of errors and are not damaged in any way.
- Know Your Document Type – Different documents have different processes and authorities involved. Choose the correct procedure according to your documents.
- Language Requirements – Non-English/Arabic documents may need certified translation before attestation.
- Timeline – Depending on the authentication process of the home country, the process may take a few days to a few weeks. Plan ahead of time to avoid last minute hassle.
- Choose the Right Service Provider – Enlist help from professional attestation service providers like SEPL Document Clearing LLC to avoid any errors and to complete the process as quickly as possible.
- Country-Specific Rules – Do your research before starting the procedure to be well-informed as each country has different rules and requirements regarding document authentication.
Conclusion
Document authentication functions as a compulsory legal requirement for those starting a new life in Dubai. And even though the attestation procedure can come across as time-consuming and tedious, the right procedures will lead to documents being easily accepted by the concerned authorities and bypassing any possible bureaucratic obstacles.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How long does it take to authenticate documents for Dubai?
The time taken depends on the type of document, the origin country and certain other variables. It can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks to get the documents authenticated for Dubai.
- Is apostille enough for Dubai?
No, as the UAE is a momeber of the Hague Apostille Convention, apostilled documents are not accepted as legal and authentic in Dubai.
- Is document translation compulsory for use in Dubai?
No, it is required only if the requesting authority has specifically requested for it. In some cases the MOFA may also request an Arabic translation for certain documents but it is not always compulsory.
- Can I use scanned or photocopied documents?
No, since the attestation stamp can be placed only on original documents, it is not possible to use scanned or photocopied documents. Unless, certified true copies are specifically allowed.
- How can I get documents authenticated in Dubai?
Contact SEPL Document Clearing LLC for all your attestation-related requirements. We are one of the largest document processing companies in the UAE providing complete attestation solutions.