Philippines Attestation Dubai — MOJ License #701

Filipino documents follow this chain for UAE use: (1) Obtain authenticated document from PSA (for vital records) or issuing institution. (2) DFA apostille from the Department of Foreign Affairs. (3) UAE Embassy attestation in Manila. (4) MOFA attestation in UAE. (5) Arabic translation if required. The Philippines joined the Hague Convention in May 2019, so apostille replaced the old red ribbon system, but UAE Embassy and MOFA steps remain because the UAE is not a Hague member.

Before the Philippines joined the Hague Convention in May 2019, the DFA issued a 'red ribbon' authentication for international use. Since May 2019, the DFA now issues apostilles for documents going to Hague member countries, and red ribbon authentication for documents going to non-Hague countries. For UAE-bound documents, the DFA can issue either, but practically, the apostille has become the standard. Both are accepted at the UAE Embassy in Manila for the next step in the chain.

Order your PSA birth certificate through the PSA Serbilis online portal or PSA outlet. The PSA certificate must be on Security Paper (SECPA) to be valid for DFA processing. Once you have the PSA-authenticated birth certificate, submit it to the DFA for apostille. After DFA apostille, it goes to the UAE Embassy in Manila, then MOFA in UAE. The entire chain takes approximately 7-15 working days. We handle the full process from PSA to MOFA.

Documents authenticated with the DFA red ribbon before May 2019 are generally still accepted, provided the underlying document remains valid. However, if the receiving UAE authority requests a recently authenticated document, you may need to obtain a new DFA apostille. For new attestation requests, the DFA now issues apostilles as the standard authentication. We can review your existing red ribbon documents and advise whether re-authentication is needed.

NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) clearance certificates require DFA apostille before UAE Embassy attestation. Obtain the NBI clearance first (valid for 1 year from issue date), then submit for DFA apostille, UAE Embassy attestation, and MOFA in UAE. Since NBI clearance has a validity period, it is important to process the attestation chain promptly so the document remains valid when presented to UAE authorities.

Your Transcript of Records from a Philippine university or college needs to be authenticated by the school registrar first. Then submit to CHED (Commission on Higher Education) for verification if required by DFA. After CHED, submit to DFA for apostille, then UAE Embassy in Manila, then MOFA in UAE. Professional license documents from PRC (Professional Regulation Commission) follow a similar route through DFA.

An OEC (Overseas Employment Certificate) is issued by POEA/DMW (Department of Migrant Workers) for Filipino workers going abroad. OEC itself is typically not attested through the standard chain. It is a government-to-government document used at Philippine immigration. However, if a UAE employer or authority specifically requests an attested OEC, it can be processed through DFA and the embassy chain. Most OFWs in UAE need their educational and personal documents attested, not the OEC itself.

Yes. Our agents in Manila handle the complete chain: PSA document procurement, DFA apostille submission, UAE Embassy attestation, and shipping to UAE for MOFA. You can authorize a representative to process on your behalf at DFA and the embassy. Many Filipino residents in UAE use this remote processing route. WhatsApp us your requirements and we coordinate everything.