Immigration Document Translation in Dubai

UAE immigration authorities require certified translations of supporting documents for visa applications, employment authorization, and residency processing. Our MOJ-certified translations meet the exact specifications required by GDRFA, ICA, and MOHRE for efficient processing. Whether you are applying for an employment visa, processing Golden Visa documentation, sponsoring family members, or converting your driving license—we understand what each authority expects.

Immigration documents commonly requiring translation:

• Police clearance certificates — Required for employment visas and Golden Visa applications. MOHRE and ICA need good conduct verification from countries you have resided in
• Bank statements — Essential for Golden Visa financial proof, investor visas, and family sponsorship income requirements. Statements must clearly show account holder names and balances
• Driving licenses — Required for RTA license conversion from eligible countries. Translation must accurately reflect license class, restrictions, and validity dates
• Employment contracts — MOHRE requires translated contracts for visa processing. Terms, salaries, and job titles must be precisely rendered

UAE immigration authorities we work with daily:

• GDRFA (General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs) — Residency visas, Golden Visa applications, family sponsorship, and visa renewals. Different requirements for Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and other emirates
• ICA (Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship) — Emirates ID applications, citizenship matters, and federal visa processing including Golden Visa categories
• MOHRE (Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation) — Employment visas, work permits, labor contracts, and employee documentation
• RTA (Roads and Transport Authority) — Driving license conversion, vehicle registration, and transport-related documentation

We format translations specifically for each authority's submission requirements. GDRFA has different formatting expectations than ICA. MOHRE requires specific document organization. Our experience with these authorities ensures your documents are accepted first time without delays or rejections.

Why Immigration Translations Get Rejected

Immigration applications fail when translations contain preventable errors. Name transliteration inconsistencies between documents cause GDRFA to request clarification—if your birth certificate renders your name differently than your police clearance, processing stops until you resolve the discrepancy. Date format errors confuse authorities when translations mix day-month-year with month-day-year conventions. Missing attestation stamps on source documents mean translations cannot proceed—attestation must complete before translation for MOHRE employment visas.

GDRFA specifically rejects translations where financial figures lack currency clarification. A bank statement showing "50,000" without specifying the currency fails to prove financial eligibility. We ensure all monetary amounts include clear currency notation. For police clearance certificates, authorities reject translations where the criminal record status is ambiguously rendered—the distinction between "no criminal record found" and "no convictions" matters for immigration purposes.

Processing Timelines by Document Type

Standard immigration documents complete within 24 hours. Police clearance certificates typically require 4-6 hours for single-page documents. Bank statements vary by length—three-month statements complete in 6-8 hours, while six-month statements require 12-24 hours depending on transaction density. Driving licenses are straightforward documents completed in 2-4 hours.

For urgent visa appointments, we offer same-day rush service. Morning submissions can be ready by afternoon for evening appointments. However, we recommend 48-hour lead time when possible to allow for quality review and any clarification if needed. Golden Visa document packages containing multiple documents should allow 2-3 business days for complete package preparation.

Authority-Specific Requirements

GDRFA Dubai accepts digital submissions through their app and requires translations in specific PDF format with MOJ stamp clearly visible. GDRFA Abu Dhabi uses different systems with distinct formatting preferences. We format translations appropriately based on your emirate of residence. GDRFA particularly scrutinizes financial documents for Golden Visa applications—bank statement translations must clearly show account holder name matching the applicant, running balances, and date ranges covering the required period.

ICA (Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship) handles Emirates ID issuance and federal-level immigration matters. ICA translations require precise name rendering matching passport details. For Emirates ID applications, any discrepancy between translated documents and passport data causes rejection. We cross-reference passport details before finalizing name transliterations.

MOHRE processes employment visas with strict documentation requirements. Translated educational certificates must show degree titles that align with job offer descriptions. Police clearance translations must clearly indicate "no criminal record" status in Arabic terminology MOHRE recognizes. Employment contracts require salary figures, job titles, and contract terms precisely rendered for labor card processing.