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Legalization of documents for the UAE
Are you planning to move, work, study or start a business in the UAE? Then be prepared: all documents issued outside the Emirates must be legalized. The UAE is not a party to the 1961 Hague Convention, so the apostille is invalid here. Full consular legalization will be required to recognize your documents. We take care of the entire process — from the transfer to the submission to the ministries — so that you can focus on the main thing.
Legalizing documents issued in the UAE for use in other countries
Certification from the UAE Ministry of Justice (MOJ)
The first stage of the process is to confirm the authenticity of the document in the Ministry of Justice. This is necessary in order for the document to be officially recognized as valid and compliant with the laws of the UAE. Further legalization is not possible without this stage.
Certification from the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MOFAIC)
Once confirmed by MOJ, the document is submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. MOFAIC certifies that the document is recognized by the official authorities of the UAE and can be used for legalization abroad.
Legalization at the consulate of the desired country
A document certified in the Emirates is sent to the consulate or embassy of the country where it will be used. The consulate checks the correctness of the document, its compliance with standards, and confirms that it can be used in the country.
Translation into the desired language (if necessary)
For use in another country, the document may require translation into the official language of the country. We will provide a high-quality notarized translation to ensure that the document is fully recognized as legally valid.
How the legalization of documents is carried out (stages)
Common mistakes when legalizing documents
Attempt to use apostille instead of consular legalization
Many people mistakenly believe that an apostille issued abroad is valid in the UAE. However, the Emirates are not a party to the 1961 Hague Convention, so apostilles are not recognized here. Attempting to use such a document will result in a rejection by government agencies.
Providing scans instead of originals
Official authorities require original documents for certification. Providing only scans or copies may delay the process or result in the application being rejected.
No Arabic translation available
Documents without an official translation into Arabic (or the language of the destination country) are not accepted. This is one of the most common reasons for delays in legalization.
Damaged or expired documents
Documents with damage, marks, corrections, or expired validity periods are often rejected by the legalization authorities. It is important to submit only clean and valid originals.
Common questions about document legalization in the UAE
No, the Emirates do not participate in the Hague Convention, so an apostille is not recognized. Full consular legalization is required to use the documents.
These are usually diplomas, power of attorney, company documents, criminal records, and certificates confirming the qualifications of the owners and key employees.
Only those that will be officially used in the UAE will be legalized: for a visa, business, study or real estate. Unused documents can be left without legalization.
Damaged or expired documents will not be accepted. They need to be restored or get a new original before applying for legalization.
No, with professional support, you can delegate the entire process to specialists — we submit documents and track their movement through all instances.
The time period depends on the country of issue of the document and the type of document. On average, the process takes from a few days to several weeks. With us, the procedure is faster, without errors and repeat visits.
Not always. An Arabic translation is required for official use in government agencies and some banks. We will tell you which documents need to be translated.
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Document legalization services in the UAE
Are you planning to move, work, study or start a business in the UAE? In this case, it is important to understand that all documents issued outside the country must pass the legalization procedure. Since the UAE is not a party to the 1961 Hague Convention, the apostille is not recognized here. This means that for official use of your documents in the Emirates, you must pass full consular legalization.
The process involves translating documents into Arabic, notarizing them, submitting them to the ministries of the issuing country and the UAE Consulate, and certifying them with the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Each stage requires strict compliance with formalities and the sequence of actions — the slightest mistake can lead to delays or failures.
We take care of the entire legalization process, organize all translations and notarial actions, and accompany documents through all stages of submission to the relevant ministries and consular offices. This saves you time, avoids unnecessary red tape, and allows you to focus on your main goals-whether it's moving, working, studying, or growing a business.