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Documents from China
China certificate attestation for Dubai
China certificate attestation for Dubai almost always starts at a Chinese notary office, not at the original issuer. The notary office issues a notarial certificate for the degree, birth record or company document, usually with a translation bound in. That notarial certificate is then legalised by China’s foreign affairs authorities, stamped by a UAE mission in China, and attested by MOFA in the UAE.
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
This is different from most countries, where the original certificate itself carries the stamps. In the Chinese system the stamps sit on the notarial certificate that wraps the original. Keep that booklet together; if the binding or seal is broken, offices can refuse it.
At a glance
- MOFA attests a foreign document after the issuing country’s foreign ministry and a UAE mission there have stamped it. Source: MOFA FAQ.
- China joined the Apostille Convention, but the UAE is outside it, so documents for Dubai still go through consular legalisation and the UAE mission. Source: HCCH status table. China’s membership took effect on 7 November 2023.
- Legalisation in China is done by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or an authorised local foreign affairs office.
- MOFA reads Arabic and English, so the Chinese notarial certificate should include an English translation. Source: MOFA attestation service.
- MOFA fee: AED 150 personal, AED 2,000 commercial. Source: MOFA FAQ.
Step by step
The Chinese steps
01
Notary office (gongzhengchu).
Usually in the city where the record is held or where you are registered. It issues a notarial certificate of the degree, birth, marriage or no criminal record certificate, with an English translation.
02
Foreign affairs legalisation.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the authorised local foreign affairs office legalises the notary office’s seal.
03
UAE mission in China.
The UAE embassy in Beijing or a UAE consulate stamps the legalisation.
04
MOFA in the UAE.
We handle this step.
Degrees from Chinese universities
A graduation certificate and a degree certificate are separate documents in China, and a UAE office may want both. Some employers and regulators also ask for an online verification report of the qualification. Plan both certificates in the same notary office visit. See degree attestation in Dubai.
Commercial documents for UAE trade
Dubai importers regularly need Chinese invoices, certificates of origin and company documents attested. These often go through a Chinese trade promotion body or chamber before legalisation, then the UAE mission, then MOFA as commercial documents at AED 2,000 each. See commercial invoice attestation and corporate document legalization.
Hong Kong and Macau
Hong Kong and Macau have their own systems for authenticating documents. A Hong Kong document follows a different route from a mainland one. Tell us where your document was issued before anything is sent.
Family visa documents
Chinese residents sponsoring family in the UAE usually need a notarised marriage certificate and notarised birth certificates for children, legalised and stamped as above. See marriage certificate attestation for a UAE family visa and birth certificate attestation in Dubai.
Working from Dubai
The notary office step usually needs you or an authorised person in China. The Chinese mission in the UAE provides consular services for its citizens but does not add the UAE mission stamp.
How we help
- We look at the notarial certificate and check the translation is included and complete.
- We tell you whether the legalisation and UAE mission stamps are present.
- We take the booklet through MOFA without separating it.
- If a UAE office asks for Arabic, we handle the legal translation of the English text.
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 |
| Full chain including the China side | Quote after we see the document | Notary office, legalisation, UAE mission and MOFA fees at cost |
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Why does my Chinese degree need a notary office first?
Because in China the legalisation is placed on the notary office’s certificate, not on the university’s document. The notarial certificate is what the foreign affairs office and the UAE mission stamp.
China issues apostilles now. Can I use one in Dubai?
No. The UAE is outside the apostille system. Ask for consular legalisation for the UAE, followed by the UAE mission stamp.
Do I need a separate Arabic translation?
Not for MOFA if the notarial certificate has an English translation. A UAE court or ministry may ask for Arabic later.
How much does China certificate attestation for Dubai cost?
MOFA charges AED 150 per personal document; the Chinese notary office, legalisation and UAE mission fees are set by each office. Our MOFA stage service starts from AED 150. All service prices are starting prices and are negotiable. Government fees are paid on top, at cost, exactly as the authority charges them. We confirm your final price before you pay.
Get a written quote
Send us your Chinese document
Share photos of every page of the notarial certificate and tell us which UAE office wants 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 (language requirement): https://www.mofa.gov.ae/en/services/attestation
- HCCH, Apostille Convention status table: https://www.hcch.net/en/instruments/conventions/status-table/?cid=41