MOFA Attestation Services for Individuals and Companies

MOFA Attestation UAE for Individuals and Businesses

When an official document is used outside the country that issued it, the receiving authority may require attestation to confirm that the seal or signature on it is genuine. In the UAE, this is handled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

At Instant PRO, we handle MOFA attestation UAE for both personal and commercial documents, completing same-day attestation for documents that meet the requirements, with pickup from your home or office and delivery back to you once attestation is complete – no need to visit any government centre yourself.

We explain the government fees and our service charges before we begin.

What Is MOFA Attestation UAE, and When Do You Need It?

Attestation confirms that the seal or signature on a document is genuine, so the document can be accepted by the authority requesting it; it does not mean the Ministry has reviewed or endorsed the substance of the document. Businesses and individuals need MOFA attestation UAE in two opposite situations: first, a document issued inside the UAE – such as a notarised power of attorney, a board resolution, or a commercial contract – that needs to be used in another country is attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and depending on the destination country’s requirements, it may then need legalisation by that country’s embassy or consulate in the UAE. Second, a document issued outside the UAE – such as a birth certificate or a foreign incorporation document – that needs to be relied on before a UAE authority typically goes through attestation in the country of issue, then legalisation by the UAE embassy or consulate there, then final attestation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs inside the UAE, depending on the issuing country, the type of document, and the requirements of the receiving authority.

A common misconception is that an apostille stamp always replaces this process. The UAE is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, so an apostille stamp on its own is not treated as a substitute for the attestation procedures required to use a document before UAE authorities. The correct route should always be verified against the issuing country, the type of document, and the authority the document will be submitted to.

The applicable fee depends on the type of document and the original issuing authority whose records are checked: personal status documents relate to an individual’s civil or professional status, while commercial documents relate to the company or the transaction itself – a distinction the fees below are built on.

Documents We Attest

First: Personal Documents / Personal Status Documents

This category, per the Ministry’s classification, includes educational certificates, academic transcripts, birth certificates, death certificates, medical reports, good conduct certificates, marriage certificates, court-issued documents, personal powers of attorney, to-whom-it-may-concern letters, employment contracts, job offer letters, bank statements, and similar personal documents as classified by the Ministry. Note that a power of attorney is not automatically classified as personal – it may carry a commercial character depending on its subject matter, which we determine when we receive it.

Second: Commercial Documents

This category, by its nature, includes commercial contracts and agreements, the trade licence, commercial registration, manager appointment resolutions, board resolutions, minutes of partners’ meetings, distribution agreements, trademark registrations, company-related documents, commercial powers of attorney, and other commercial documents classified as such by the Ministry.

Commercial invoices and certificates of origin follow a separate track through the eDAS 2.0 electronic document attestation system, with their own fees and procedure; under current official figures, attesting a commercial invoice or certificate of origin through this system costs AED 150 per invoice or certificate, not the AED 2,000 fee for a general commercial document. This electronic attestation is mandatory for imported goods into the local market valued at AED 10,000 or more.

The document submitted for attestation must be in Arabic or English, or accompanied by a certified legal translation where needed; a document originally issued in English does not require translation on that basis alone, unlike one issued in another language.

MOFA Attestation UAE Fees

The fees below are the base government fees published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and they do not change based on which office or service provider you use – though the total may vary depending on the number and classification of documents.

Document Type	Government Fee
Personal / Personal Status Documents	AED 150
Commercial Documents	AED 2,000

Note: the fees above are government fees only and do not include Instant PRO’s service charges or any additional services your transaction may require. Some commercial contracts or agreements may be treated as more than one document depending on their content, so total fees may vary. Commercial invoices and certificates of origin follow a separate track and fee under eDAS 2.0.

Our service charges are calculated separately from the government fees, alongside any legal translation or prior attestation your document may still need. We disclose every one of these elements in writing before we take your document, so there are no surprises after collection.

Our Attestation Process

Step 1 - Send Your Document

Send a photo of your document via WhatsApp, even if you're not sure which category it falls under.

Step 2 - Confirm Type and Fees

We review the document, confirm its type and requirements, and explain the government fees and our service charges before we start.

Step 3 - We Collect Your Document

We collect the original document from your home or office.

Step 4 - Attestation Is Carried Out

We carry out the attestation procedure with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and follow it through to completion.

Step 5 - Same-Day Completion

We complete attestation the same day for documents that meet the requirements.

Step 6 - Document Delivered

We return your attested document to you once the procedure is complete.

Why Clients Choose Instant PRO for This Service

Same-Day Turnaround

We complete attestation the same day for documents that meet the requirements.

Pickup and Delivery

We collect your document from your home or office and return it once attestation is complete.

Personal and Commercial

We handle both personal and commercial document attestation.

Fees and Charges Upfront

We explain the government fees and our service charges before we start, and follow your transaction through to completion.

Office in Business Bay

Office 805, Opal Tower, Business Bay, for clients who prefer to hand over their document in person.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does MOFA attestation UAE take?

Instant PRO completes attestation the same day for documents that meet the requirements, including pickup from your location and delivery back to you once the procedure is done. A document that still needs translation or a prior attestation step must have that completed first.

What are the fees for attesting personal documents?

AED 150 in government fees for personal documents, not including Instant PRO’s service charges.

What are the fees for attesting commercial documents?

AED 2,000 in government fees for commercial documents, not including Instant PRO’s service charges. Commercial invoices and certificates of origin have a separate fee of AED 150 per invoice or certificate, through the eDAS 2.0 system.

Does the service include document pickup and delivery?

Yes, we collect your document from your home or office and deliver it back to you once attestation is complete.

Do attestation requirements differ by document type?

Yes, a foreign document may need attestation in its country of issue and legalisation by the UAE embassy there before it can be attested locally, depending on the issuing country and document type; a document not in Arabic or English needs a certified translation; and a commercial document may require the trade licence or memorandum of association to verify the signatory’s authority. We check these requirements when we receive your document, not after submission, to avoid rejection.

Next Step

WhatsApp: +971 56 232 7778
Office 805, Opal Tower, Business Bay, Dubai – Monday to Friday, 9 AM – 6 PM