MOFA Attestation
Also known as: MOFAIC Attestation, UAE Foreign Affairs Attestation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Attestation, Digital MOFA Attestation
Quick Answer
MOFA attestation is the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs' certification of the signatures and seals on a document, so that it is accepted for official use between the UAE and another country. It applies to personal documents such as degrees and marriage certificates and to commercial documents such as articles of association and powers of attorney.
What MOFA attestation is
Per the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), attestation certifies the authenticity of the signatures and seals on documents issued within or outside the UAE, and the service covers the attestation of MOFA and of the UAE Mission in the destination country. A foreign or UAE-issued document usually has to carry it before a UAE authority, bank, school or a foreign embassy will accept it.
Who needs it
Personal use: degrees and other educational certificates, marriage contracts, birth and death certificates, police clearance (good conduct) certificates, medical reports, employment contracts and work experience certificates, and powers of attorney. Commercial use: articles of association and company set-up contracts, trade licences, board resolutions and meeting minutes, commercial powers of attorney and agency documents, certificates of good standing, financial statements, ISO certificates, price lists, and commercial invoices and certificates of origin. These are document types named in MOFA's own fee guide.
Documents issued outside the UAE
MOFA's service page says to sign in, select attestation through UAE Missions Abroad, complete the form, pay, and keep the confirmation message with your application reference number. The service is available through selected UAE Missions abroad, so check your mission's website to see whether it is online; if not, visit the mission in person. In practice the document is normally first notarised and legalised in the country where it was issued, but the exact steps before the UAE mission differ by country, so confirm them with the mission or the UAE authority that will receive the document.
UAE-issued documents: applying online with UAE PASS
You apply on mofa.gov.ae or in the UAE MOFA smart app and sign in with UAE PASS (non-residents can create an account at uaepass.ae). You choose the destination country, issuing authority and document type, and MOFA's system assigns the route automatically; you cannot choose it yourself. The service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Digital MOFA attestation
This route is for original digital documents issued in the UAE that carry a verification feature such as a QR code, barcode, electronic link or reference number. You upload the original PDF (not a scan or a photo), pay, and download the attested document from My Requests or by email. The attestation appears on the last page with a reference number, date, amount paid and verification element. MOFA's user guide lists birth, death, police clearance, educational, medical and marriage certificates as UAE-issued certificates attested digitally. One application can hold up to five documents, all using the same method.
Courier route
Documents that do not qualify for the digital route are attested through an approved courier service provider. MOFA requires the original document in Arabic or English, or with a legally certified translation, certified or attested by the competent authorities where applicable, and not laminated. You enter the owner's name, mobile number and email, choose a courier and a collection and delivery schedule, pay, and the courier contacts you to deliver the attested document. MOFA's user guide allows up to twenty-five documents in one application on this route.
Commercial invoices and certificates of origin
These are not handled in the standard service. They go through MOFA's Electronic Documents Attestation System (eDAS 2.0): the company registers a primary account with its trade licence, then creates user accounts with UAE PASS. MOFA states the service completes in 2 minutes and that a document you want physically stamped can be uploaded to be stamped with the MOFA seal at no additional fee.
How long MOFA attestation takes
MOFA states: digital attestation of UAE-issued documents within 2 hours during official working hours; attestation through a service provider inside the UAE 1–3 business days, depending on the courier provider; and for documents issued outside the UAE through a service provider, up to 7 business days. Any time spent on the steps before the UAE mission, or by a foreign government office, is not covered by these figures.
Official fees (MOFA Attestations Guide)
Personal certificates, including birth, marriage, educational, police clearance, medical, employment contract and power of attorney documents, are AED 150 per document, whether issued in or outside the UAE. Commercial documents, including articles of association, trade licences, board resolutions, commercial powers of attorney, certificates of good standing and financial statements, are AED 2,000 per document. Commercial invoices are AED 150 each in the same guide, whether issued inside or outside the UAE; MOFA's eDAS FAQ says this flat rate of AED 150 plus service fees has applied to commercial invoice attestation since 1 February 2023. MOFA says the total depends on the number of documents, the completion option chosen, the attestations included and whether the document is personal or commercial, and that the total is displayed before payment. Courier charges are not itemised in the guide, so check the total shown at payment.
MOFA offices and appointments
MOFA states that its Customer Happiness Centres are closed and that it provides all its services electronically, through its website and smartphone application only. Attestation in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah therefore runs through the digital or courier route described above. MOFA's Contact Us page still lists addresses in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah and says appointments for document attestation can be booked through the call centre on 80044444.
Checking status and verifying an attested document
MOFA emails the application status to your registered email address, and you can also check it by logging in to the Ministry's website. To check an attested document, open MOFA Verify (verify.mofa.gov.ae), select Document Status, and enter the reference number and issue date. According to MOFA's FAQ, anyone can submit the application on behalf of the document owner.
Avoiding rejections
The details you enter must match the document exactly: issuing authority, document type and holder details. MOFA cannot amend a submitted or rejected application, so a rejection means a new application. Check the destination country before submitting, because it cannot be changed afterwards, and use the verification page at verify.mofa.gov.ae to check an attested document. MOFA's support line is 80044444.
How ZETUP PRO helps
For mainland companies on a monthly PRO retainer, ZETUP PRO lists document attestation (MOFA, embassy, notary) among the government work it handles for the business, alongside visa, licence and Emirates ID processing. We sell PRO support as a monthly retainer rather than per document; see PRO Services and the pricing page for what the retainer covers. MOFA's own fees above are the government's charges for each document.
Official sources: UAE MOFA: Documents Attestation service · UAE MOFA: Documents Attestation user guide (PDF) · UAE MOFA: Attestations Guide (fee tables) · UAE MOFA: Commercial invoice attestation (eDAS 2.0) · UAE MOFA: FAQs (centres, status, couriers) · UAE MOFA: Contact Us (branches, appointments)
Frequently asked questions
What is MOFA attestation?
MOFA attestation is the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs' certification of the authenticity of signatures and seals on a document issued in or outside the UAE, so it can be used officially between the UAE and another country.
How much does MOFA attestation cost?
According to MOFA's Attestations Guide, personal certificates cost AED 150 per document and commercial documents cost AED 2,000 per document, whether issued in or outside the UAE. Commercial invoices are AED 150 each, inside or outside the UAE (a flat rate since 1 February 2023, per MOFA's eDAS FAQ). MOFA shows the total, which depends on the number of documents and the completion option, before you pay.
How long does MOFA attestation take?
MOFA states digital attestation of UAE-issued documents is completed within 2 hours during official working hours, courier-based attestation inside the UAE takes 1–3 business days depending on the courier, and attestation of documents issued outside the UAE through a service provider may take up to 7 business days.
How do I apply for MOFA attestation in Dubai?
Apply on mofa.gov.ae or in the UAE MOFA smart app, sign in with UAE PASS, select Document Attestation, enter the issuing authority, document type and destination country, upload the document or arrange courier collection, and pay. MOFA assigns the digital or courier route automatically.
Which documents need MOFA attestation?
Personal documents such as educational certificates, marriage and birth certificates, police clearance certificates and powers of attorney, and commercial documents such as articles of association, trade licences, board resolutions and certificates of good standing. Commercial invoices and certificates of origin are attested through MOFA's eDAS system.
Do I need an appointment for MOFA attestation?
Not for the online routes. MOFA states that its Customer Happiness Centres are closed and that it provides all its services electronically, through its website and smartphone application. Its Contact Us page says appointments for document attestation can be booked through the call centre on 80044444.
How do I check MOFA attestation status online?
MOFA emails the application status to your registered email address, and you can also check it by logging in to the Ministry's website. To verify an attested document, open MOFA Verify (verify.mofa.gov.ae), select Document Status, and enter the reference number and issue date.
Is MOFA attestation the same as embassy attestation?
No. MOFA attests documents in the UAE, and the UAE Embassy or Consulate in the destination country is a separate attestation. For some destinations MOFA's digital service can include both in one application, and MOFA shows the available option when you select the destination country.
Does ZETUP PRO handle attestation?
For mainland companies on a monthly PRO retainer, document attestation (MOFA, embassy, notary) is part of the government work ZETUP PRO handles. ZETUP PRO sells PRO support as a monthly retainer, not per document.
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