GDRFA Document Requirements

The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) processes all visa and residence permit applications in the UAE. Every foreign-language document must have MOJ-certified Arabic translation. This guide covers what’s needed for each visa type and how to avoid rejection.

Documents by Visa Type

Family Visa (Sponsorship)

• Marriage certificate — translated + attested
• Birth certificates for children — translated + attested
• Bank statements (last 3 months) — translated
• Tenancy contract (Ejari in Dubai) — Arabic version required
• Salary certificate from employer

Employment Visa

• Academic degree — translated + attested + MOHESR equivalency (some professions)
• Transcripts (certain professions) — translated + attested
• Police clearance certificate — translated + attested. If your PCC arrived in French, German, or another non-English language, it goes directly into Arabic
• Professional certificates or license (regulated professions)

Golden Visa

• Academic credentials — translated + attested + MOHESR equivalency
• Property ownership documents — translated
• Investment proof — translated
• Company ownership documents (entrepreneurs) — translated
• See our Golden Visa document checklist

Tourist / Visit Visa

• Generally fewer translation requirements
• Invitation letter (if applicable) — may need translation
• Bank statements — may need translation

Attestation Chain by Country

Before translation, foreign documents must complete the correct attestation chain. The process depends on whether the issuing country is a Hague Convention member.

Hague Convention Members (Apostille)

• India — MEA apostille (member since 2005)
• United Kingdom — FCDO apostille
• United States — State/Federal apostille
• Canada — GAC apostille (member since 2024)
• Philippines — DFA apostille

Process: Apostille from issuing country → MOJ Arabic translation in UAE → Submit to GDRFA

Non-Hague Countries (Full Chain)

• Pakistan — Full attestation chain required
• Bangladesh, Egypt, and others not in the Hague Convention

Process: Home country MOFA → UAE Embassy in home country → UAE MOFA → MOJ Arabic translation → Submit to GDRFA

UAE is NOT a Hague Member. The UAE itself is not a Hague Convention member. UAE documents going abroad need MOFA attestation + destination country embassy legalization. Do not confuse the Hague status of the document’s origin country with the UAE’s status.

Common Rejection Reasons

1. Name mismatch: Transliterated name doesn’t match passport. “Mohammed” vs “Muhammad” vs “Mohamed” — must match passport exactly.
2. Missing attestation step: Skipping one link in the attestation chain. Each step must be completed in order.
3. Expired document: Police clearance certificates expire after 3-6 months. Bank statements must be recent (within 3 months).
4. No MOJ seal: Certified translation (agency stamp) submitted instead of MOJ translation. GDRFA accepts only MOJ.
5. Incomplete translation: Stamps, headers, or handwritten notes left untranslated.

We pre-check every document for these issues before starting the translation. If we spot a potential problem, we alert you before you pay — not after. Already received a rejection? Our visa rejection guide explains how to identify the exact cause and resubmit successfully. If your visa was cancelled and your bank account is frozen, read our guide on visa cancellation and frozen bank accounts.

GDRFA rejections set your visa timeline back by weeks. Send your documents via WhatsApp and we verify the attestation chain, check name consistency, and flag issues — all before any payment. Learn about our concierge approach.

Send your visa documents via WhatsApp. We’ll check attestation status, identify any issues, and provide an exact quote — before you pay anything.