Apostille Guidance for UAE Document Journeys

An apostille authenticates the origin of a public document under the Hague Apostille Convention. Use the competent authority in the issuing country for that step, then send the authority-ready document. We review the journey and complete the certified translation.

Check the authority route before translating

Start with the HCCH Apostille Section and the competent authority named for the issuing country. Then check the current UAE MOFA attestation service or the relevant UAE mission for the document’s destination.

Avoid universal sequences copied from old guides. The right route can change with:

• the issuing country and competent authority;
• whether the document is public, notarized, educational, personal, or commercial;
• the country where it will be used;
• the receiving authority’s language and certification rules; and
• whether the document is original digital, paper, or a certified copy.

Apostille and translation solve different problems

The apostille authenticates the document’s origin. Translation renders the document in the required language. If the receiving authority needs the apostille certificate and later authority marks reflected in the translation, send the complete finished document.

For translation, include every page and tell us:

• the destination authority;
• the requested language;
• whether a legally certified or MOJ-certified translation is required; and
• the deadline.

We then route the commercial work to the appropriate legal translation, certificate translation, or degree translation owner.

Common document families

• Degrees, diplomas, transcripts, and professional certificates.
• Birth, marriage, divorce, and death certificates.
• Police clearances and identity records.
• Powers of attorney, judgments, and corporate documents.

The document family does not determine the apostille route on its own. Use the official authority instructions for the exact origin and destination, then send the authority-ready document for the certified translation required by the receiving authority.