Suppose you have just obtained a great job offer in Dubai, and in the course of the visa formalities, your educational degree and personal documents must be attested by UAE authorities. A crucial step in the document attestation process is called MOFA attestation. It is the final step to prove the legality and authenticity of your documents in the UAE. Whether you are applying for a residence permit, looking for a job or even sponsoring your family, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs attestation is a mandatory procedure.
MOFA Attestation in Dubai (UAE) is the official authentication of documents conducted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, to enable their legit use either domestically or internationally. The MOFA stamp states that the proper authorities have issued and verified the document.
MOFA attestation is mandatory for several purposes, which range from obtaining a UAE visa for employment, and higher education to business ventures, and more. In a nutshell, it means making foreign and local educational, personal and commercial documents legitimate by the UAE government. This is the final stage of attestation of documents in the United Arab Emirates after which they can be freely used throughout the country for various official purposes.
Why Do You Need MOFA Attestation?
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) Attestation is required when the applicant applies for a work permit, resident visa, and higher education in a foreign country.The attestation stamp by MOFA on the applicant’s document confirms the legitimacy of the document and makes it valid to use in any of the Gulf nations you have applied for.
Here are some reasons behind the requirement for Ministry Of Foreign Affairs Attestation:
- To attain an Employment Visa/ Labor Card in the United Arab Emirates.
- To pursue higher education in Dubai, UAE or in a foreign country.
- To write Ministry of Health (MOH) and Department of Health (DOH) examinations.
- To acquire a Residence visa.
- For taking admission in schools in Dubai through transfer certificate.
- Power of Attorney.
- To acquire the right to sell property in Dubai.
- For the removal of LLC partnership, if the partner in another country does not wish to extend the partnership.
What are the Types of Documents Need MOFA Attestation?
Here is a detailed list of educational, personal and commercial documents that require the MOFA stamp for Attestation in Dubai;
- Degree Certificate
- Matriculation Certificate
- Intermediate marksheet
- Computer Diploma
- Private Diploma
- Technical Diploma
- Marriage Certificate
- Birth Certificate
- Death Certificate
- Divorce Certificate
- Police Clearance certificate
- Transfer Certificate
- Invoice
- Certificate of Incorporation
- Memorandum of Understanding
- Partnership deed
- Import/Export Documents
What are the Requirements for MOFA Attestation?
Following are the documents that a candidate needs to submit to conclude the procedure of MOFA Dubai quickly and efficiently.
Original Certificate
Passport Copy
Visa Copy
Passport size
photographs
Authorisation Letter
(if applicable)
What is the Common Procedure of MOFA Attestation?
The steps involved in the process of MOFA attestation vary according to the document type. However, overall the process includes domestic attestation in the home country of the document before being sent to the UAE for MOFA Attestation.
Here is a detailed breakdown of the procedure for different types of documents.
- State HRD/ Home Department /Chamber of Commerce: The documents are firstly attested by the State authority related to the document in a home country.
- MEA Attestation: The document is then submitted to MEA, where MEA procures its attestation stamp on the certificate to approve its authenticity.
- Embassy Attestation: Now, the respective embassy of the candidate's destination country confirms the document's legitimacy.
- Ministry Of Foreign Affairs Attestation: At last, the candidate's documents are sent to Dubai for MOFA Attestation.
Steps
3
Step 3
Embassy Attestation
4
Step 4
Ministry Of Foreign Affairs Attestation
MOFA Attestation Services for Different Location in Dubai
SEPL Document Clearing LLC offers the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dubai Attestation services for different locations in UAE as listed below:
Countries Required Ministry Of Foreign Affairs Attestation
Similar to UAE, some other countries demand Attestation by MOFA from an applicant visiting there. Here is the list of the countries which require MOFA Attestation.
What is the Difference between MOFA and MEA?
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) perform about the same function but belong to different countries and have an almost similar scope and mandate, discussed below are the differences;
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA)
- MOFA in most countries (such as Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, etc) refers to the foreign affairs ministry that deals with its country's international affairs, diplomatic missions, and overseas policy.
- Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)
- MEA is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of India, which manages the country's diplomatic relations and provides services needed for the international validation of documents.
How Can We Help?
SEPL Document Clearing LLC provides UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) Attestation services for the general people of the United Arab Emirates and expats who desire to work or are already working in Dubai.
You can get attestation services for all educational and personal documents originating from India, the UK, the USA, Australia, Canada, the Philippines, South Africa, Singapore, Egypt, New Zealand, Saudi, Netherlands, Italy, the Seychelles, and more.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the MOFA attestation fee in the UAE?
The fees for MOFA Attestation are entirely based on the state, country, and type of certificate the document wants to get attested. Moreover, SEPL Document Clearing LLC provides affordable and hassle-free services, which are relatively inexpensive for all of the desired applicants.
How much time will it take to complete the MOFA Attestation procedure?
Even though MOFA attestation takes a bit of time. However, we initiate and complete the procedure uninterruptedly and on time. Moreover, the entire time period regarding the completion of the attestation procedure entirely depends on various factors like the type of documents the applicant requires to attest, etc.
Why is MOFA Attestation mandatory to move to the UAE?
Ministry Of Foreign Affairs for UAE is mandatory to confirm the authenticity of the applicant’s document if they want to utilise their educational, personal, or commercial documents in UAE. In simple words, if the applicant wants to move to the UAE, then their certificate should be legitimised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) to make it valid.
How long does MOFA take to attest to the education degree?
Education documents can be attested by MOFA within 1-2 days but in case of emergency, UAE MOFA Attestation can be executed on the same day, if all the education certificates are provided.
Is MOFA required even if I have the UAE Embassy attestation done in my home country?
Yes, it is mandatory to get all the needed documents attested by the UAE Embassy in the home country. MOFA will then only authenticate and stamp the certificates.
Why is it necessary to attest documents in Dubai?
Definitely. To get a study visa, residence visa or visa for business purposes, an individual has to attest and provide all the documents to enter the country. Ministry of Foreign Affairs attestation is necessary for documents such as marriage certificates, educational documents, birth/death certificates, etc.
Which documents are needed to get attested to a Dubai job?
Marriage certificate, birth certificate, fingerprints, death certificate, divorce certificate, Police Clearance certificate, transfer certificate, etc are the documents needed to be attested by MOFA to attain an employment visa.
Can I enter UAE without attesting documents?
Yes, you can enter UAE without attesting documents, but only as a tourist. There is absolutely no attestation needed for any document for a tourist visa. But if you want to work, study, or build a business in the UAE, you need to attest your documents for a valid UAE visa.
Are original certificates attestation required to get the UAE employment visa?
MOFA requires original certificates to allow you to enter the UAE. Duplicate or laminated documents are not required, so get your Original documents ready before applying for any type of visa.
Who can initiate the MOFA Attestation services in Dubai?
Ministry Of Foreign Affairs Attestation services in the UAE are for all who lie under the below-listed categories:
- Citizens
- Residents
- Companies
- Investors
- Students
- Tourists
How do you sponsor your wife for a UAE visa? What documents are required?
An employee residing in UAE can sponsor his wife and children. He needs to have a minimum salary of Dh4,000 or Dh3,000 with accommodation.
Documents required for sponsoring husband/wife:
- Online application/authorised typing office,
- Copy of wife/husband passports,
- Recent photos of wife/husband,
- Medical clearance certificate,
- Copy of the employment or company agreement,
- Salary certificate from the company declaring the monthly salary,
- Approved marriage certificate (needs to be attested by the UAE Government, if you are from UAE or in your home country),
- Tenancy contract (attested), labour card, and Emirates ID card,
- Recent utility bill.
How can I attest to medical documents in Dubai?
Medical Certificate Attestation is done from the country where it was issued. To use this certificate in UAE, you need to get it attested by your home country and the UAE Embassy in the country to get it attested by MOFA UAE.
If the certificate is not attested in the home country, what should I do then?
The needed certificate should be attested by - the UAE Embassy from where it was issued and MOFA. You can send the documents to your relatives or friends via courier and process the attestation.
Where is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs UAE located?
Consulate Area - Khalid Bin Al Waleed Road - Dubai - United Arab Emirates
How do I get my certificate attested by MOFA?
To get your certificate attested by MOFA, ensure that it first gets authenticated by relevant authorities, such as the State/HRD department, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the destination country’s embassy. Once those attestations are done, submit the document to the MOFA office of the destination country with the necessary fees and supporting documents You can get the entire procedure done efficiently by using authorised agencies like SEPL Document Clearing LLC for a hassle-free process.
How do I get a MOFA appointment?
Since an independent candidate cannot directly approach the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the attestation procedure, it is not possible to get an MOFA appointment. However, you can employ the services of SEPL Document Clearing LLC to obtain a quick and hassle-free service of MOFAIC attestation Dubai.
How long does it takes for MOFA Attestation in Dubai?
The time taken completely depends on the type of document, country of origin, etc. However, with SEPL Document Clearing LLC, you can get MOFA Attestation in Dubai in 2-3 working days.
Can I go directly to MOFA for attestation?
No, an individual candidate cannot directly approach the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for MOFA Attestation in Dubai. One can obtain attestation services through outsourced service providers like SEPL Document Clearing LLC.
What does MOFA attestation mean?
MOFA attestation in Dubai is the last step in the document authentication procedure. It is necessary to enable the legit use of various documents domestically or internationally.
