Legalization of foreign documents Dubai
If you’re planning to work, study, or conduct business in Dubai, you’ll likely need to have some important foreign documents legalized and attested. The legalization process is required to ensure the authenticity and validity of documents issued outside of the UAE.
Dubai follows specific procedures for document legalization laid out by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. Here’s a step-by-step guide to legalizing foreign documents in Dubai:
1. Authentication/Attestation at the Origin
The first step is to get your documents authenticated or attested by the relevant authorities in the country of origin. This usually involves getting an apostille stamp from a designated authority for documents originating from countries that are members of the Hague Convention. For non-Hague Convention countries, the documents must be attested by the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
2. Attestation by the UAE Embassy
Once authenticated at the source, the documents must then be attested by the UAE embassy or consulate in that same country. The embassy will verify the seal/stamp and signatures on the documents.
3. Legalization by UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The next crucial step is legalization by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. You’ll need to submit the attested documents to the ministry’s document clearing office in Abu Dhabi or Dubai. The ministry will verify the UAE embassy’s attestation.
4. Translation (if required)
If your documents are not in Arabic or English, you’ll need to have them translated by a legal translator approved by the UAE Ministry of Justice.
5. Attestation by Other Entities (if applicable)
Depending on the purpose of the documents, you may need to have them attested by other relevant authorities in Dubai. For instance, educational documents often require an attestation from the UAE Ministry of Education.
It’s important to note that each entity may have specific requirements for document submission, so check in advance. Additionally, certain documents like degrees, transcripts, and police clearance certificates tend to have shorter validity periods.
While the legalization process can seem daunting, there are professional document clearing services in Dubai that can handle it smoothly on your behalf. With proper planning and guidance, you can efficiently legalization of foreign documents Dubai.
