Vital Records Translation
Birth, Marriage, Divorce & Death Certificates
Vital records document the defining moments of your life—and in the UAE, they're required for nearly every major administrative process. From sponsoring family members to settling inheritance matters, these translations must be precise, properly attested, and MOJ-certified. We handle vital records from every country, ensuring your life documents are recognized by UAE authorities.
Vital Record Types We Translate
Each vital record serves specific purposes in UAE administrative and legal systems. Select your document type for detailed requirements.
Birth Certificate Translation
Required for child visa sponsorship at GDRFA, school enrollment, passport applications, and establishing family relationships for inheritance proceedings in Personal Status Court.
Marriage Certificate Translation
Essential for spouse visa sponsorship, opening joint bank accounts, property co-registration at DLD, and establishing marital status for government procedures and court matters.
Divorce Certificate Translation
Required for updating marital status in government records, remarriage applications in UAE, custody arrangements, and removing ex-spouse from sponsorship and property records.
Death Certificate Translation
Necessary for inheritance proceedings, canceling residency visas, repatriation arrangements, transferring property or assets, and closing bank accounts of the deceased.
Why Vital Records Translation Matters in the UAE
The UAE's administrative systems require documented proof for virtually every family-related process. Your children cannot be added to your residence visa without translated birth certificates proving parentage. Your spouse cannot be sponsored without a translated marriage certificate proving the union. Inheritance cannot be distributed without translated death certificates establishing the passing and translated birth certificates establishing who the heirs are. These are not optional conveniences—they are mandatory requirements enforced at every government counter.
The Attestation Chain Explained
For vital records issued outside the UAE, a multi-step attestation process typically precedes translation. This chain establishes the document's authenticity before UAE authorities will accept it. The sequence matters—translation before attestation may be rejected because authorities cannot verify the stamps were present before translation occurred.
In the country where the document was issued, by a licensed notary public or equivalent official.
By the issuing country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, State Department (US), or FCO (UK).
By the UAE Embassy or Consulate in the country where the document was issued.
By the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, completing the authentication chain.
Only after attestation is complete. This is where we come in.
We always check your document's attestation status during our initial review. If stamps are missing, we will tell you exactly which ones and guide you on how to obtain them before you pay for translation. Translating an incompletely attested document wastes your money—the translation will be rejected at the government counter.
Common Rejection Reasons We Help You Avoid
Government counters reject vital records translations for several preventable reasons: name spelling doesn't match passport exactly (the most common issue with transliterated names), document is missing one or more required attestation stamps, scan quality is too poor to read dates or signatures clearly, the document has been altered or has visible corrections without official certification, or the translation was done by a non-MOJ-certified translator. We verify all these factors before beginning translation work.
Country-Specific Considerations
Vital records from different countries have unique characteristics, formats, and attestation requirements. Our translators are experienced with documents from all major source countries.
India
Indian birth certificates may be issued by municipal corporations (for urban births), gram panchayats (for rural births), or hospitals (older certificates). Marriage certificates come from registrars operating under different state-level marriage acts—the Hindu Marriage Act, Special Marriage Act, or various personal law frameworks. We're familiar with all Indian vital record formats including digitally-issued certificates from the CRS portal. Indian documents require attestation from MEA (Ministry of External Affairs) before UAE Embassy attestation.
Philippines
PSA (Philippine Statistics Authority) issued certificates have specific security features we verify for authenticity. Church marriage certificates from Catholic parishes must be distinguished from civil registration—for UAE purposes, the civil registration is typically required. Birth certificates may need authentication through DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) followed by UAE Embassy attestation. We handle both NSO-era certificates and current PSA documents.
United Kingdom
UK documents come in different formats depending on the constituent country. GRO certificates from England and Wales differ from Scottish certificates issued by NRS (National Records of Scotland) and Northern Irish certificates from GRONI. Full birth certificates contain more information than short-form certificates—verify which format your intended use requires. UK documents require FCO (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office) apostille rather than embassy attestation due to the Hague Convention.
United States
Each US state issues vital records differently with varying formats and security features. Attestation requires apostille from the Secretary of State of the issuing state (not the federal State Department for most documents). The apostille substitutes for embassy attestation under the Hague Convention. Some UAE uses may additionally require MOFA attestation after the apostille. We advise on the specific chain required for your intended use.
Common Use Cases for Vital Records
Family Visa Sponsorship
Sponsoring family members through GDRFA (General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs) requires translated vital records proving the family relationship. For children: birth certificates showing you as a parent. For spouses: marriage certificates proving the union is legally recognized. For parents: your birth certificate establishing you as their child. All documents must be attested and translated to Arabic. The sponsorship application will be rejected if any document is missing or improperly translated.
School Enrollment
Schools in Dubai regulated by KHDA require translated birth certificates to verify a child's age and identity for enrollment and grade placement. Some schools also require translated immunization records and previous school transcripts. International schools may accept English documents, but Arabic translations are required if any issue escalates to education authorities. We're familiar with KHDA documentation requirements and can advise on what you'll need.
Inheritance and Personal Status Court
When someone passes away in the UAE—or when UAE assets are involved in an inheritance regardless of where the death occurred—the Personal Status Court requires translated vital records. Death certificates establish that the passing occurred and the date. Birth certificates establish who the legal heirs are and their relationship to the deceased. Marriage certificates establish spousal rights to inheritance. These translations directly affect how assets worth potentially millions of dirhams are distributed. Accuracy is not optional.
Status Changes and Government Updates
Life changes require documentation. A divorce certificate updates your marital status for future marriage applications or to modify existing records. A death certificate removes a deceased family member from sponsorship records and property registrations. A birth certificate for a newborn starts their official record in the UAE. We help with translations for all life transitions, ensuring your records accurately reflect your current circumstances.
Our Vital Records Translation Process
Send your vital record via WhatsApp. We check that the document is legible (all text, dates, and signatures clearly visible), verify that required attestation stamps are present, and confirm the document type matches your stated purpose. If anything needs attention—missing stamps, poor image quality, wrong document type—we tell you immediately before any work begins.
We compare names on your vital record against your passport and Emirates ID (if you have one). Any discrepancies are flagged before translation begins. This single verification step prevents the most common reason for government rejection. If we find inconsistencies, we discuss options: using the exact source spelling with a note, or obtaining a name correction affidavit first.
Our certified translator renders your document into Arabic with exact preservation of all details: names (with consistent transliteration), dates (converted to both Gregorian and Hijri where appropriate), registration numbers, issuing authority details, and all official notations. Nothing is paraphrased or summarized—every element of your vital record transfers to the translation.
The official MOJ stamp and QR verification code are applied to the translation. You receive the certified digital copy immediately via WhatsApp and email. Physical copies with original stamps can be couriered anywhere in the UAE—same-day delivery within Dubai, next-day to other emirates. We confirm delivery and remain available if you have questions when submitting.
Related Personal Document Services
Vital records often accompany other documents in visa applications and government procedures. We handle complete document packages.
Immigration Documents
Police clearance certificates, bank statements, salary certificates, and other documents required for visa applications and renewals.
Academic Documents
Degree certificates, transcripts, and educational credentials for UAE recognition, equivalency, and professional licensing.
Attestation Guidance
Information on MOFA attestation and embassy legalization requirements for documents from different countries.
Personal Documents Hub
Complete guide to personal document translation services for UAE residents and visa applicants.
Frequently Asked Questions
What documents count as vital records for UAE purposes?
Vital records are official government documents that record key life events: birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce decrees or certificates, and death certificates. In the UAE context, these documents are required for visa sponsorship applications at GDRFA, family status updates, school enrollment, inheritance proceedings in Personal Status Court, and various government procedures. All vital records from foreign countries must be translated by MOJ-certified translators before UAE authorities will accept them.
Do my vital records need attestation before translation?
For most UAE government submissions, yes. Foreign vital records typically require the full attestation chain before translation: notarization in the country of issue, authentication by that country's foreign ministry (or Secretary of State for US documents), attestation by the UAE Embassy in that country, and finally MOFA attestation in the UAE. We check attestation status during our initial document review and will tell you if stamps are missing before we quote. Translating an unattested document wastes your money—the translation will be rejected.
How do I get my birth certificate translated for a UAE visa application?
Send us a clear scan of your attested birth certificate via WhatsApp. We verify the document is complete (all required stamps present), legible (dates and names clearly readable), and ready for translation. Upon approval of our quote, our MOJ-certified translator produces the Arabic translation with official stamp and QR verification code. You receive the digital copy within hours; physical copies can be couriered same-day within Dubai or next-day across the UAE.
Why do UAE authorities require translated vital records?
Arabic is the official language of UAE government and judicial proceedings. Authorities cannot legally process documents they cannot read in the official language. Translated vital records are required for: visa applications and renewals at GDRFA, family sponsorship (adding dependents to your visa), school enrollment at KHDA-regulated institutions, inheritance proceedings in Personal Status Court, marriage registration for foreign nationals, and various other official matters. The MOJ certification confirms the translation is accurate and legally valid.
What if names are spelled differently across my documents?
Name consistency is critical—spelling discrepancies cause approximately 40% of government application rejections. We verify that translated names match exactly how they appear on your UAE visa, passport, and Emirates ID. If your birth certificate spells your name differently than your passport (common with transliterated names from non-Latin scripts), we flag this before translation. You may need to obtain a name correction affidavit or use the exact spelling from your original document with an explanatory note. We advise on the best approach for your specific situation.
Can you translate vital records from any country?
Yes. We translate vital records from all countries, in 43+ languages. Common origins include India (municipal corporation and gram panchayat certificates), Pakistan (NADRA and union council records), Philippines (PSA-issued certificates), United Kingdom (GRO certificates from England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland), United States (state-issued certificates with apostille), Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and European countries. Each country has different document formats and security features, but our translators are experienced with international vital record conventions.
How long are translated vital records valid in the UAE?
The translation itself does not expire—once certified, it remains valid indefinitely. However, some government procedures require the underlying document to be recently issued. For example, police clearance certificates for visa applications typically must be issued within 3-6 months. Birth and marriage certificates are generally accepted regardless of issue date since the underlying facts do not change. We advise on specific validity requirements for your intended use during our initial consultation.
Do you translate vital records for DIFC and ADGM proceedings?
Yes. While DIFC and ADGM operate primarily in English under common law frameworks, certain proceedings require Arabic translations for coordination with mainland UAE courts. This is particularly common in family law matters (divorce, custody, inheritance) where Personal Status Court has jurisdiction over aspects of the case. We provide translations formatted appropriately for both common law and civil law jurisdictions, and can advise on which courts require which language versions.
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