Translating UAE Documents for a Visa Abroad
Arabic UAE documents into English for UK, US, Canadian and Australian visa files
By an MOJ-licensed legal translator · Timing is confirmed after we see the documents.
Send Your DocumentMany UAE residents apply for visas in the UK, the US, Canada or Australia with Arabic documents issued in the UAE. Each of these countries asks for an English translation, and each states its own format for it. This page sets out what each authority says, with links to its own guidance, and how we prepare the translation.
Which UAE documents usually need English
- Birth certificates: see birth certificate translation
- Marriage certificates: see marriage certificate translation
- Degree certificates and transcripts: see degree certificate translation
- Police clearance certificates: see PCC translation
- Salary certificates and NOC letters from UAE employers
- UAE driving licences: see driving licence translation
United Kingdom (UKVI)
UK Visas and Immigration asks for a full English translation of documents that are not in English or Welsh. According to GOV.UK, each translation must confirm that it is an accurate translation of the original, and show the date, the translator’s full name and signature, and their contact details. Check the supporting-documents guide for your visa type.
Canada (IRCC)
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada says documents not in English or French should be sent with an English or French translation, an affidavit from the person who did the translation, and a certified copy of the original. IRCC explains that the translation affidavit is sworn by the translator before a commissioner authorized to administer oaths in the country where the translator lives. Check the instructions for your programme.
United States (USCIS)
USCIS rules (8 CFR 103.2(b)(3)) ask that any foreign-language document come with a full English translation and a certification from the translator stating that the translation is complete and accurate and that the translator is competent to translate from the foreign language into English.
Australia (Department of Home Affairs)
The Department of Home Affairs asks for English translations of documents in other languages. If a document is translated in Australia, it asks for the translator’s NAATI practitioner number. If it is translated outside Australia, it asks for the translator’s full name, address, phone number and qualifications in the language they translate from. We are not NAATI translators; check whether your application was prepared in Australia or outside it.
How we deliver
Your documents are translated by MOJ-licensed legal translators in the UAE. Each translation includes a translator statement in the format the destination authority describes, and you receive a signed and stamped PDF and a hard copy. We keep names in the spelling on your passport and note where the Arabic original spells them differently.
For prices, see the existing price pages for UAE birth certificates, UAE marriage certificates, police clearance certificates and salary certificates. If you are applying for Japan, see our Japan visa guide.
Get a quote
Send clear photos or PDFs of every page on WhatsApp and tell us the country and visa type. We reply with a quote after we see the documents.
How It Works
Send your documents
Send clear photos or PDFs of every page on WhatsApp, and tell us which country and visa the file is for.
Check the format
We check the translation format the destination authority states for that visa before we quote.
Legal translation
MOJ-licensed legal translators translate the Arabic documents into English, keeping names in your passport spelling.
Delivery
You receive a signed and stamped PDF and a hard copy, with the translator statement your destination asks for.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about our translation services.
Does UKVI need a certified translation?
UK Visas and Immigration asks for a full English translation of any document not in English or Welsh. GOV.UK says the translation must confirm it is accurate, give the date, and show the translator's full name, signature and contact details. Check the guidance for your visa on GOV.UK.
Do I need an affidavit for IRCC?
IRCC asks for an English or French translation. If the translator is not a Canadian certified translator, IRCC asks for a sworn statement (affidavit) from the person who did the translation. Check IRCC's instructions for your application.
Can you translate my Emirates ID and family book?
Yes. Send clear photos of the front and back of the Emirates ID and every page of the family book (khulasat al-qaid). We translate them into English with names in your passport spelling.
Do I need attestation as well?
Some destinations or employers ask for attested documents and others do not. Check what your destination asks for. You can read about the process on our attestation page.
Not Sure What Your Documents Need?
Send your document. We check the requirements, tell you what is needed, and confirm the right path before you spend anything.