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Documents from Spain
Spain certificate attestation for Dubai
Spain certificate attestation for Dubai has one step that surprises most people: pre-legalisation. Before Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs will legalise a document for a non-Hague country like the UAE, the ministry responsible for that type of document signs it first. Justice for civil registry and notarial documents, the education or universities ministry for degrees. Then the foreign ministry legalises, the UAE embassy in Madrid stamps, and MOFA in the UAE attests.
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
Spanish documents are in Spanish, so a translation that MOFA accepts is part of almost every file. Plan it at the start, not after the stamps.
At a glance
- The UAE requires the issuing country’s foreign ministry and a UAE mission there to stamp before MOFA. Source: MOFA FAQ.
- Spain issues apostilles for Hague countries. The UAE is not one of them, so the apostille does not replace legalisation and the UAE embassy stamp. Source: HCCH status table.
- MOFA works in Arabic and English, so a Spanish document needs a legally certified translation. Source: MOFA attestation service.
- MOFA fee: AED 150 for a personal document, AED 2,000 for a commercial one. Source: MOFA FAQ.
Side by side
Pre-legalisation by document type
| Document | Pre-legalisation by | Then |
|---|---|---|
| Birth, marriage and death certificates from the Civil Registry | Ministry of Justice | Foreign ministry, UAE embassy, MOFA |
| Documents signed before a Spanish notario | The notarial association, then Ministry of Justice | Foreign ministry, UAE embassy, MOFA |
| University degrees (títulos) | The ministry responsible for universities | Foreign ministry, UAE embassy, MOFA |
| School certificates | The education authority | Foreign ministry, UAE embassy, MOFA |
| Company documents from the Registro Mercantil | Ministry of Justice or the notarial route, depending on the document | Foreign ministry, UAE embassy, MOFA |
Spanish degrees for UAE jobs
People searching for “spanish degree certificate attestation uae” usually hold an official título. Private or own-title university diplomas (títulos propios) may not follow the same ministry route, and some may need a notario’s certified copy instead. Ask the UAE employer or regulator whether it accepts the document at all before paying for the chain. See degree attestation in Dubai.
Translation: traductor jurado or UAE legal translator
Spain has sworn translators (traductor jurado) appointed by its foreign ministry. A sworn translation into English or Arabic can go through the Spanish chain with the original. Alternatively, a legal translator in the UAE can translate into Arabic after MOFA, if the receiving office agrees. See legalized translation in Dubai.
Spanish company documents for the UAE
Spanish companies opening a UAE branch or bank account usually need a Registro Mercantil certificate, articles and a board resolution or power of attorney. These normally go through a notario and the pre-legalisation and foreign ministry steps, then the UAE embassy, then MOFA as commercial documents at AED 2,000 each. See corporate document legalization for the UAE side.
Family documents
A Spanish marriage certificate for a spouse visa, or a child’s birth certificate for a residence visa, comes from the Civil Registry, then the Ministry of Justice. Order a literal certificate (certificación literal) if the visa office wants full details. See marriage certificate attestation for a UAE family visa and birth certificate attestation in Dubai.
Doing it from Dubai
The Spanish steps and the UAE embassy step happen in Spain. The Spanish consulate in the UAE serves Spanish citizens but does not add the UAE embassy stamp. A family member, a Spanish gestoría or your own trip can cover the Spanish part; we complete MOFA here.
How we help
- We tell you which ministry pre-legalises your document.
- We help you choose between a sworn Spanish translation and a UAE legal translation.
- We take the returned document through MOFA.
- We handle the UAE translation if you choose it.
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 |
| Legal translation | From AED 50 per page | AED 50 per page if notarised with the instrument |
| Full chain including the Spanish side | Quote after we see the document | Spanish, UAE embassy and MOFA fees at cost |
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What is pre-legalisation?
It is a signature check by the Spanish ministry responsible for the document, done before the foreign ministry legalises it. Without it, the foreign ministry will not act on a document for the UAE.
My Spanish certificate has an apostille. Can I use it in Dubai?
No. For Spain certificate attestation for Dubai the apostille does not count, because the UAE is outside the Hague apostille system. You need legalisation and the UAE embassy stamp.
Can the Spanish embassy in Abu Dhabi do the UAE embassy step?
No. The UAE embassy step is done by the UAE embassy in Madrid.
Do I need a translation for MOFA?
Yes, for a document in Spanish. MOFA attests Arabic and English documents, or documents with a legally certified translation.
Get a written quote
Ask about your Spanish document
Send a photo 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
- Cabinet Resolution No. 19 of 2024 on notary fees: https://uaelegislation.gov.ae/en/legislations/2491