AU
Documents from Australia
Australian certificate attestation in the UAE
Australian certificate attestation in the UAE goes through DFAT, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. For the UAE, DFAT issues an authentication (not an apostille), the UAE embassy in Canberra then stamps it, and MOFA in the UAE adds the final attestation. Before DFAT, many Australian documents need an Australian notary public, because DFAT can only authenticate signatures it holds on record.
1
Home country
The issuing body or a notary
2
Home country
The foreign ministry
3
Home country
The UAE embassy or consulate there
4
In the UAE
MOFA in the UAE
Australians in the UAE usually need this for a degree for a work visa or teacher registration, a marriage certificate for a spouse’s residence visa, or a child’s birth certificate. The same chain applies to company papers for a UAE free zone.
At a glance
- The UAE’s rule for foreign papers: home foreign ministry first, UAE embassy in that country second, MOFA in the UAE last. Source: MOFA FAQ.
- Australia is a Hague country and the UAE is not, which is why you ask DFAT for an authentication for the UAE. Source: HCCH status table.
- DFAT authenticates signatures of Australian public officials and notaries whose signatures it holds.
- MOFA fee: AED 150 per personal document, AED 2,000 per commercial document. Source: MOFA FAQ.
Side by side
What DFAT can and cannot authenticate directly
| Document | Can go straight to DFAT? | Usual route |
|---|---|---|
| Birth, marriage or death certificate from a state or territory registry | Usually yes, if it is an original registry certificate | Registry certificate, DFAT, UAE embassy, MOFA |
| University degree or transcript | Usually no | Australian notary certifies a copy or verifies with the university, then DFAT |
| AFP national police check | Usually yes | DFAT, UAE embassy, MOFA |
| Company documents (ASIC extracts, board resolutions) | Usually no | Australian notary, DFAT, UAE embassy, MOFA |
| Private letters and declarations | No | Signed before an Australian notary, then DFAT |
Degrees and teacher registration
A degree certificate is signed by a university officer, and DFAT does not usually authenticate those signatures. The common route is an Australian notary public certifying a copy of the degree, often after confirming it with the university, then DFAT authenticating the notary’s signature. Ask the UAE employer or regulator whether it accepts an attested notarised copy or needs the original. See degree attestation in Dubai for the UAE side, and educational certificate attestation in Dubai for school records.
Registry certificates for the family visa
Birth, marriage and death certificates come from the registry of births, deaths and marriages in the state or territory where the event was registered. Order a full certificate showing both parents for a child’s visa. Commemorative certificates are not accepted. See birth certificate attestation in Dubai and marriage certificate attestation for a UAE family visa.
Police checks
An AFP national police check for a UAE employer goes to DFAT and then the UAE embassy. UAE offices often want a recent one. See police clearance attestation.
The UAE embassy in Canberra
After DFAT, the UAE embassy in Canberra stamps the document. That step is only available in Australia. If you are already in the UAE, the usual options are an Australian notary or document service that covers DFAT and the embassy, a relative in Australia, or a trip home.
How we help from Dubai
- We tell you which of the routes in the table applies to your document.
- We explain what to ask the Australian notary or service for, so the UAE embassy step is included.
- We take the returned document through MOFA.
- If a UAE office wants Arabic, we handle the legal translation.
Prices
Prices
| Service | Our service price | Government fees, paid on top at cost |
|---|---|---|
| MOFA stage, personal document | From AED 150 | MOFA AED 150 |
| MOFA stage, commercial document | From AED 300 | MOFA AED 2,000 |
| Immigration documents for Australia, notarised in the UAE | From AED 500 | Confirmed at booking |
| Full chain including the Australian side | Quote after we see the document | Australian, UAE embassy and MOFA fees at cost |
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Should I ask DFAT for an apostille or an authentication?
An authentication. The UAE does not work with apostilles, so an apostille will not be accepted by the UAE embassy or MOFA.
Can Australian certificate attestation in the UAE start with my degree as it is?
Usually not. A degree normally needs an Australian notary public first, because DFAT authenticates the notary’s signature rather than the university’s.
Do I need a translation for MOFA?
No. MOFA attests English documents. A UAE court or ministry may ask for Arabic later. Source: MOFA attestation service.
I need Australian visa papers signed in Dubai. Is that the same thing?
No, that goes the other way. Papers signed here for use in Australia usually need a notary public in the UAE, sometimes followed by MOFA. We handle that too.
Get a written quote
Get your Australian document checked
Send a photo of the document and the name of the UAE office asking for it.
- Phone and WhatsApp: +971 52 947 5935
- Email: info@dubainotaryservices.com
Sources for this page
- UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, FAQ (attestation chain and fees): https://www.mofa.gov.ae/en/faqs
- UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, attestation service: https://www.mofa.gov.ae/en/services/attestation
- HCCH, Apostille Convention status table: https://www.hcch.net/en/instruments/conventions/status-table/?cid=41