What is the difference between MEA apostille and MOFA attestation?

MEA apostille/legalisation verifies a document for international use under the Hague Convention. The UAE is not a member, so both Embassy and MOFA attestation are required for document validity in the UAE.

Do I need to translate my documents for MOFA attestation?

Documents not in English or Arabic must be translated to Arabic by a certified translator. Translation must also be attested before MOFA.

Can I track my MOFA attestation status?

Yes. You can track your attestation status via the MOFAIC online portal or through updates from your professional attestation provider.

How long does the full MOFA attestation process take?

Standard processing: 7–15 working days total (India + UAE). Express options are available, reducing this to 3–5 working days, subject to document readiness and holidays.

UAE MOFA Attestation

MOFA Attestation

MOFA attestation is the final authentication step for documents that will be used in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation (MOFAIC) in the UAE verifies the validity of seals and signatures on documents issued in or outside the UAE mofa.gov.ae. This attestation is mandatory for most personal, educational and commercial documents when applying for UAE residence visas, employment, higher education admission, business registration, court cases, bank accounts and other official procedures. For Indian documents, the process requires both home‑country attestation and UAE attestation. Failure to obtain MOFA attestation can lead to visa rejection, delays or legal issues.

What is MOFA Attestation for UAE?

MOFA attestation is the UAE government’s process to confirm the authenticity of documents issued either in the UAE or abroad. It is performed after the issuing country has completed its own attestation chain. MOFA attestation validates the final document for use within the UAE, ensuring that UAE ministries, employers, universities and courts will recognise it. In 2025 the UAE introduced more digital services, allowing online submission and payment for certain documents through the MOFAIC portal.

Why is MOFA Attestation Required?

MOFA attestation is mandatory for anyone relocating to the UAE for work, studies, or family purposes. This attestation verifies that your documents have been authenticated by Indian authorities and are recognized by the UAE government. Without MOFA attestation, your documents may not be legally accepted in the UAE, leading to delays in employment, education, or visa processing.

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Key Documents Requiring MOFA Attestation

MOFA attestation is mandatory for a wide range of personal, educational, and commercial documents used in the UAE. Below is a detailed breakdown of document types, examples, and the reason attestation is required.

1. Personal Documents

Examples and Purpose	Why MOFA Attestation is Required
Birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce decrees, death certificates, adoption papers, police clearance certificates. Used for family residence visas, sponsorships, school admissions, inheritance, etc.	UAE authorities need to confirm that these documents are genuine and issued by the correct Indian authorities.

2. Educational Documents

Examples and Purpose	Why MOFA Attestation is Required
Secondary school certificates, diplomas, degree certificates, transcripts, professional licences. Needed for employment visas, equivalency certificates and higher education admission.	Employers and universities rely on MOFA attestation to verify your educational credentials.

3. Commercial Documents

Examples and Purpose	Why MOFA Attestation is Required
Certificates of incorporation, memoranda of association, board resolutions, powers of attorney, invoices. Required for opening a branch, registering a company, tenders, importing/exporting or court cases.	MOFA attestation confirms the legal status of your business and ensures documents are recognised by UAE courts and ministries.

What is the Process of UAE Mofa Attestation?

Step-by-Step Process for Indian Documents

Prepare your documents in India

1. Notary attestation:

All documents must be notarised by a public notary in the issuing state.

2. State Home Department/HRD attestation:

Personal documents go to the State Home Department or Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) for authentication.
Educational documents go to the state HRD or the Department of Higher Education. Some states require university verification before HRD attestation.
Commercial documents may be notarised and then go directly to the Chamber of Commerce.

3. MEA attestation:

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in India affixes an apostille or stamp verifying the authenticity of the document. This step must be completed before any foreign embassy attestation.

4. UAE Embassy/Consulate attestation in India:

Once MEA attests the document, the UAE Embassy or consulate in India verifies the MEA seal. This is the final step that can be done within India. The MOFA attestation can only be completed in the UAE. This chain ensures the document is legally recognised as valid by both Indian and UAE authorities. Skipping any step may make your document invalid for MOFA attestation.

Apply for MOFA Attestation in the UAE

Registration and Application:

Use the MOFAIC smart services portal or mobile app to register and submit an attestation request.

Fee Payment:

Pay the applicable attestation fee online via credit card, Google Pay or Apple Pay. Fees are detailed below.

Receive SMS Confirmation:

The system sends an SMS confirming that your application was received.

Submit Documents:

For documents issued outside the UAE (e.g., your Indian documents), you must physically submit the originals to the nearest UAE embassy or consulate.
If you are within the UAE, you send the documents via courier to the MOFA office.

MOFA Stamping/Digital Certificate:

MOFA verifies the seals and signatures and either stamps the document or issues a digital attestation. Since June 2025, the MOFA attestation stamp changed from pink to blue and displays the fee amount.

3 – Delivery

If you apply from within the UAE, the attested documents are delivered through a courier service. If you are outside the UAE, you collect them from the UAE embassy or arrange courier delivery.

4 – Optional: Professional Attestation Service

Many Indian residents choose professional attestation companies to manage pickup, notarisation, MEA/embassy attestation and MOFA attestation. When selecting a service, ensure they are authorised and provide transparent pricing.

We offer end-to-end document attestation services trusted by thousands of clients across India and the UAE. With our head office in Dubai and corporate office in Abu Dhabi, with our expert team we are here to assist both Indian and UAE-side attestation seamlessly.

Our Full Attestation Process Includes:

Pickup and delivery of documents from any location in India
Notarisation, HRD, and MEA attestation in India
Embassy or consulate attestation (for UAE and others)
MOFA attestation in the UAE, including the 2025-compliant blue stamp
Digital tracking and real-time status updates
Express service options for urgent cases

MOFA Attestation Fees (2025)

MOFA attestation fees depend on the type of document and whether you opt for standard or urgent processing. The table below shows the typical government fees in AED along with approximate equivalents in INR, based on an exchange rate of ₹1 ≈ AED 0.45 (as of July 2025).

Note: These are UAE government fees only. They do not include India-side attestations or courier/service charges applied by agents or companies.

Document Type	MOFA Fee (AED)	Approx. INR (₹)	Notes
Personal documents	150 – 300 AED	₹3,330 – ₹6,660	Birth, marriage, death certificates, police clearance certificates (PCC)
Educational certificates	150 – 350 AED	₹3,330 – ₹7,770	Degrees, diplomas, transcripts
Commercial documents	500 – 2,500 AED	₹11,100 – ₹55,500	Includes company MOAs, power of attorney, board resolutions
Urgent service surcharge	+50 – 400 AED	+₹1,110 – ₹8,880	Speeds up attestation to 24–48 hrs

Indian Attestation & UAE Embassy Fees

In addition to the MOFA fee, there are charges for notary, state attestation, MEA attestation, and UAE embassy attestation. These vary by document type and issuing state. For example, normal services for Indian educational certificates typically cost around ₹6,000–₹12,000, while urgent services can range from ₹8,000–₹15,000. Marriage or birth certificates usually cost ₹5,000–₹11,000 (normal) and ₹6,000–₹15,000 (urgent). Commercial document attestation can exceed ₹50,000. Our company provides a consolidated quote covering all steps.

Long Does MOFA Attestation Take?

Stage	Standard Timeframe	Accelerated/Express Options
Notary & state attestation (India)	1–7 working days depending on state authority	–
MEA attestation	1–3 working days if submitted via authorised agencies	–
UAE Embassy attestation (India)	2–5 working days; busy seasons may take longer	–
MOFA attestation (UAE)	2–3 working days	24–48 hours (urgent service)
Total process (India + UAE)	7–12 working days for standard service	3–5 working days (express services)

The timelines above are estimates; delays can occur due to national holidays, incomplete documents, or translation requirements. Our company offers document review and translation services to avoid rejection and expedite processing.

Is MOFA Attestation Mandatory for UAE Visas?

Yes. MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) attestation is required for most types of UAE visa applications, including:

Residence visas
Employment visas
Student visas
Family sponsorships

Without MOFA attestation, UAE immigration and other government authorities may reject your application. This final legalization step ensures your document is officially recognized and valid for use in the UAE.

Can I Get MOFA Attestation Done in India?

No, MOFA attestation cannot be done in India. The final attestation is issued exclusively by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MOFAIC) in the UAE.

However, before MOFA can process your documents in the UAE, you must complete the following legalization steps in India:

Notary Attestation
State-level Authentication (HRD or Home Department)
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Attestation
UAE Embassy Attestation in India

After these steps, the documents must be physically sent to the UAE for the final MOFA attestation.

We Handle the Entire Process Start to Finish

What is the New MOFA Attestation Stamp Colour?

From June 2025, the UAE MOFA stamp has changed from pink to blue and now displays the fee amount clearly. Both the pink and blue MOFA stamps remain valid.

This change has been introduced to enhance security and help UAE government officials verify that the correct attestation fee has been paid.

Get Your Indian Documents Attested for Use in the UAE

Looking to get your Indian documents attested for use in the UAE? Whether you’re in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, or any other Indian city, we provide complete, End to End Notary, MEA attestation, UAE Embassy and MOFA attestation services from India to the UAE all without requiring you to visit any office. As a trusted attestation provider with our head office in Dubai and corporate office in Abu Dhabi, we handle the entire attestation process both on the India side and the UAE side. Our services are widely used by clients from:

Major cities: Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune, Kolkata
Emerging hubs: Ahmedabad, Kochi, Jaipur, Lucknow, Chandigarh

We Offer Dedicated Assistance For:

Educational Certificate Attestation: Degrees and diplomas from universities like Delhi University, Mumbai University, Anna University, Osmania, VTU, and more.
Personal Document Attestation: Birth certificates, marriage certificates, police clearance certificates (PCCs), etc.
Commercial and Legal Document Attestation: Documents needed for UAE business setup, legal cases, and regulatory requirements.

Why Choose GloboPrime for Attestation Services in Chennai?

Fast & Reliable: We understand the importance of timely processing. Our experienced team ensures a smooth and efficient attestation process, minimizing delays.
Trusted & Recognized: We are a trusted name in India & UAE for attestation services, known for our reliability and efficiency. Established relationships with embassies allow us to expedite the process.
Competitive Rates: We offer competitive rates for attestation.
End to End Service: We handle the entire attestation process from start to finish, keeping you informed every step of the way.
Client-Centric Approach: We prioritize your needs and keep you informed throughout the process.
Security & Legitimacy: We prioritize secure handling & verification for legitimate UAE attestation of your valuable documents. Our secure processes ensure data privacy and document integrity throughout the entire process.

For those in Chennai looking for documents attestation or professional translation services, our office in Sripuram Colony, St. Thomas Mount, is the ideal choice. Conveniently located near Kathipara Junction, we offer fast and reliable attestation services to meet all your needs, making it easily accessible for both residents and businesses in surrounding areas like Guindy, Velachery, and Adambakkam. Whether you are based in Nanganallur, Saidapet, or Chromepet, We provide prompt attestation services to ensure all your attestation and translation requirements are handled with ease. We also assist clients from across Tamil Nadu for attestation services in Coimbatore, Salem, Tiruchirappalli (Trichy), Madurai, and Vellore.