The UAE has not ratified the Hague Convention Abolishing the Legalization Requirement for Foreign Public Documents. As a result, documents from the UAE cannot be legalized by apostille; they would only be recognized abroad after they have undergone consular legalization, a procedure in which the signature and seal of foreign documents are authenticated beginning with certification by the Secretary of State, the U.S. Department of State, and finally the embassy level.
Document certification
Commercial Documents UAE
- Certificate of Origin, Packing List, and Commercial Invoice are examples of these documents. These certificates must be signed by an officer of the company, notarized by a local notary public, and certified by the local Secretary of State office in the same state where the notary is licensed.
- Route for Commercial Invoice Attestation Certificate of Origin and other required certificates (Attestation fees are $40.84 for each)Commercial bill
- Cashier’s check or money order Check with the appropriate fee, payable to The Embassy of the United Arab Emirates (see list of fees below, fees are per document). Please ensure that the money order is completely filled out (Your name, address, and phone number).
- Both the Certificate of Origin and the related commercial invoice must be attested.
- Include a pre-paid self-addressed return envelope if documents are mailed. Fill in the sender and recipient’s names and addresses on the return envelope or airway bill.
- Fees:
- a.The fee for a certificate of origin and other certificates is $40.84 each.
- b.Attestation fees on invoices worth less than $544.596.
- c.Enter the value in $ for attestation fees on invoices worth more than $544.596.
Business & Corporate Documents
- Business letters, Registration, Authorization of Agent, Agreement, Affidavit, Trademark, Articles of Incorporation, Power of Attorney, Assignment, Declaration, and so on are examples of these documents.
- Requirements:
- All documents must be attested by the US State Department’s Office of Authentication before being sent to the UAE Embassy Legalization .
- Send or bring the authenticated documents to the UAE Embassy, along with the following items:
- A. A money order or cashier’s check for $544.59 made payable to The Embassy of the United Arab Emirates, Please ensure that the money order is filled out as follows (Your name, address, and phone number).
- B. Include a pre-paid self-addressed return envelope if you mail the documents. Fill in your name and address for the sender and recipient of the return envelope or airway bill.
Important notes:
- Please make sure not to combine more than one document under one US. State Dept. Seal.
Personal Documents
- Personal Power of Attorney that does not imply a business transaction, Birth Certificate, Marital Status, Certificate of Good Conduct, and Fingerprints are among the documents included.
- Requirements:
- Before sending personal documents to the UAE Embassy, they must be attested by the US Department of State Authentication office
- Send or bring the authenticated documents to the UAE Embassy for final authentication, along with the following items:
- A. A money order or cashier’s check for $40.84 per document, made payable to The Embassy of the United Arab Emirates, Please ensure that the money order is filled out as follows (Your name, address, and phone number).
- B. Include a pre-paid self-addressed return envelope if you mail the documents. Fill in the blanks with your name and address for the sender and recipient of the return envelope or airway bill.
Example of a personal document:
- Personal Power of Attorney that does not involve a business transaction
- Birth Certificate
- Marriage Status
- Certificate of Good Conduct
- Fingerprints
OBTAINING A CERTIFICATE OF GOOD CONDUCT
A fingerprint form must be legalized with the relevant US authorities, submitted to the UAE Embassy for legalization, and then sent to the appropriate Ministry of Interior agency in the UAE to obtain a Certificate of Good Conduct.
Obtaining Fingerprint Legalization in the United States:
- Has the US State Department Authentication Division authenticated your fingerprint card.
- USD$40.84 money order or cashier’s check made payable to The Embassy of the United Arab Emirates for each document.
- A prepaid return envelope with your name and address on the sender and recipient fields.
- Documents are being sent to the UAE.
- Once you have received the documents from the UAE Embassy, you must forward them to the appropriate UAE agency. Please include the items listed below:
- The UAE Embassy has legalized the fingerprint form.
- a copy of your previous UAE residence permit
- a photocopy of your most recent passport
- two (2) passport-size colored photographs
- Any applicable fees (depends on jurisdiction)
Send your package to one of the two ministries of the interior (General Department of Criminal Investigation Permits and Certificates Section, or Police Department – Abu Dhabi). Please call before sending the documents to get information on the required fees and to ensure you’re sending them to the correct jurisdiction.
Educational Documents
UAE Legalization Expedited Service These documents include the diploma supplement, transcript, school situation, analytical program, certificate of graduation, certificate of enrolment, certificate of completion of studies, and certificate of authenticity.
All educational documents must be attested by the US State Department’s Office of Authentication before being sent to the UAE Embassy.
The educational institution must be regionally accredited by NEASC (CIHE), MSA (CHE), NCA (HLC), SACS (COC), NWCCU, or WASC and be located in the United States (ACCJC-ACSCU).
Please visit the Council for Higher Education Accreditation website https://www.chea.org and print your institution’s accreditation information to show proof of regional accreditation.
Send or bring the authenticated documents to the UAE Embassy for final authentication, along with the following items:
- A money order or cashier’s check for $40.84 per document, made payable to The Embassy of the United Arab Emirates. Please ensure that the money order is filled out as follows. (Your name, Phone number, and address).
- Include a pre-paid self-addressed return envelope if you mail the documents. Fill in the sender and recipient’s names and addresses on the return envelope or airway bill.
