Degree & Educational Certificate Attestation
Educational-document attestation is about authenticating official signatures and seals. It is not the same as academic recognition or equivalency. We first identify where the certificate was issued and where it will be used, then map the correct UAE MOFA and mission steps. If a foreign university qualification also needs formal recognition in the UAE, that is a separate Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research process.
Attestation
- Authenticates signatures and official seals on the document
- Handled through the competent authorities, UAE missions and MOFA according to the route
Qualification recognition
- Assesses whether a higher-education qualification is recognized in the UAE
- For foreign higher-education qualifications, MoHESR uses a separate verification and recognition process
Which route applies to your certificate?
| Situation | Typical UAE-side route |
|---|---|
| Foreign-issued degree for use in the UAE | Issuing-country competent/foreign-affairs authority → UAE Embassy or Consulate serving that country → UAE MOFA. Some UAE missions now offer integrated digital workflows, so the exact route can vary. |
| UAE-issued degree or certificate for use abroad | Issuing authority requirements → UAE MOFA; then follow the destination-country legalization or mission requirement. Eligible UAE-issued digital documents may use MOFA Digital Attestation. |
| Foreign university qualification that must be formally recognized in the UAE | Attestation and qualification recognition are checked separately. MoHESR currently requires degree verification through an authorised partner before the recognition application. |
Degree and transcript are separate documents
MOFA currently treats an educational certificate and its academic transcript as separate documents for attestation. Do not assume one attestation automatically covers both.
Before submission, check these points
- The document is original, an eligible original digital document, or carries the required QR/verification feature for the selected route
- Any prior authentication required by the issuing authority or issuing country is already complete
- The document is not laminated where the physical-document route is used
- If the document is not in Arabic or English, confirm whether an official translation is required
1. Identify the purpose
Tell us where the certificate was issued and the authority or country where it will be used.
2. Check the chain
We identify the prior authority, UAE mission/MOFA step and any destination-country requirement that applies.
3. Separate recognition if needed
If the receiving authority also requires MoHESR qualification recognition, we flag that as a separate process rather than calling it “attestation.”
Attestation does not guarantee acceptance for every purpose
MOFA attestation confirms signatures and seals. Employers, universities, licensing bodies and immigration authorities may still apply their own qualification, translation, recognition or format requirements.
If your document is already prepared for UAE MOFA, see our MOFA attestation support. If the destination requires a consular step, see Embassy & Consular Attestation.
Official sources reviewed
Reviewed: 2026-09-12Frequently Asked Questions
No. Attestation authenticates signatures and seals. Formal recognition of a foreign higher-education qualification is a separate MoHESR process and currently starts with verification through an authorised partner.
MOFA treats the educational certificate and transcript as separate documents. Whether you need one or both depends on the receiving authority, so confirm the requirement before submitting.
Eligible UAE-issued original digital documents may be routed through MOFA Digital Attestation if the issuing authority and document type are supported and the document includes a verification feature. The official application determines eligibility.
MOFA’s current guidance requires the appropriate authentication in the issuing country, then the UAE Embassy or Consulate serving that country, and UAE MOFA. Some missions now offer integrated digital attestation, so confirm the mission-specific route before sending the original.
No. MOFA attestation authenticates signatures and seals. The receiving body may separately require qualification recognition, professional licensing, translation or other evidence.
No. MOFA now supports eligible original digital documents and documents with QR or other verification features for certain routes. Physical originals are still required in other routes. The application determines the method.
Yes. We first identify what has already been completed and which issuing-country, UAE mission and MOFA steps remain. We do not assume every country follows the same sequence.
Not always. MOFA has digital integration for certain UAE public-school certificates, while university qualification recognition is a separate higher-education process. The issuing authority and intended use matter.
Express Service
Express 1–2 business day MOFA processing available.