# Educational certificate attestation in Dubai, for school admission

Educational certificate attestation in Dubai usually comes up when a family moves here and a school asks for the child's previous school records. A transfer certificate, a last report card or a school leaving certificate issued abroad has to be attested where it was issued, stamped at the UAE mission in that country, and finished at MOFA in the UAE. Dubai schools then use the attested papers to place the child in the right grade.

At a glance

- School papers from abroad follow the same chain as any foreign document: home country offices first, a UAE mission abroad second, MOFA last. Source: [MOFA FAQ](https://www.mofa.gov.ae/en/faqs).
- MOFA charges AED 150 per personal document, and each certificate counts separately. Source: [MOFA FAQ](https://www.mofa.gov.ae/en/faqs).
- Dubai private schools are regulated by KHDA, which sets the admission rules schools follow.
- MOFA attests papers in Arabic or English; anything else needs a legally certified translation. Source: [MOFA attestation service](https://www.mofa.gov.ae/en/services/attestation).

This page is written for parents. It covers which school papers are usually asked for, how to get them attested before you move (the easy way) or after you arrive (the harder way), and what happens when a certificate from a Dubai school has to go abroad. For university degrees, see [degree attestation in Dubai](https://dubainotaryservices.com/degree-attestation-dubai/).

## Which school papers are usually asked for

| Child is joining | Papers schools commonly ask for | Attestation usually needed? |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Early years or first grade | Birth certificate, previous nursery report if any | Birth certificate often yes; reports rarely |
| A middle grade | Transfer certificate or leaving certificate, last report card | Transfer certificate often yes |
| Upper secondary | Transfer certificate, recent report cards, exam results | Yes in many cases |
| University in the UAE | Secondary school certificate and results | Yes, and often Ministry of Education equivalency too |

Every school will give you its own list. Ask for it in writing before you leave your home country, and attest only what is on it.

## The easy way: attest before you move

While you are still at home, the school and the education authority are within reach. The order is:

Ask the current school for a transfer certificate and final report on letterhead, signed and stamped.

Take them through your country's education authority, if it has one, and the foreign ministry.

Take them to the UAE mission that serves your city.

Bring the originals to Dubai. We take them through MOFA.

Our country pages list the home country offices, for example [Indian certificate attestation in the UAE](https://dubainotaryservices.com/india-certificate-attestation-uae/) and [Pakistan documents attestation in the UAE](https://dubainotaryservices.com/pakistan-certificate-attestation-uae/).

## The harder way: you are already in Dubai

If the school asks after you arrive, the papers must go back to your home country. A relative or representative there can take them through the offices with your authority letter, which we prepare. Some schools allow a child to start with a provisional place while attestation is completed.

## Where this page sits

Service hub

[Certificate attestation](https://dubainotaryservices.com/certificate-attestation-dubai/)

Certificate attestation in Dubai is the chain of stamps that makes a degree, marriage certificate, birth certificate or similar paper acceptable to a UAE office.

Also under Certificate attestation

- [Degree attestation](https://dubainotaryservices.com/degree-attestation-dubai/)
- [Marriage certificate](https://dubainotaryservices.com/marriage-certificate-attestation-family-visa/)
- [Birth certificate](https://dubainotaryservices.com/birth-certificate-attestation-dubai/)
- [Death certificate attestation in Dubai](https://dubainotaryservices.com/death-and-divorce-certificate-attestation/)
- [Police clearance](https://dubainotaryservices.com/police-clearance-certificate-attestation/)
- [Medical certificate attestation in the UAE](https://dubainotaryservices.com/medical-certificate-attestation/)
- [Experience certificate](https://dubainotaryservices.com/experience-certificate-attestation-uae/)
- [Certified true copy](https://dubainotaryservices.com/certified-true-copy-attestation-in-dubai/)

## Report cards and transfer certificates: small details that matter

### Letterhead, signature and stamp.

An unsigned printout from an online portal is often refused.

### Name spelling.

It should match the child's passport. If it does not, ask the old school to correct it before attestation.

### Grade and dates.

The transfer certificate should show the last grade completed and the date the child left.

### Language.

Arabic and English are fine. Any other language needs a certified translation.

## Dubai school certificates going abroad

When a family leaves the UAE, the new school abroad may ask for the Dubai school's transfer certificate or results to be attested. The usual route is the relevant UAE education authority, then MOFA, then the destination country's mission in the UAE if it asks. Our page on [legalising UAE documents for use abroad](https://dubainotaryservices.com/document-legalization-uae/) covers the later steps.

## Diplomas and older students

People also search for "mofa attestation diploma" for a vocational diploma or a secondary school diploma used for work. These follow the same chain. If the diploma will be used for a UAE university place, Ministry of Education equivalency may follow. See the [MOE equivalency certificate in the UAE](https://dubainotaryservices.com/degree-equivalency-certificate-uae/).

## The birth certificate

Most schools also ask for the child's birth certificate, and for a residence visa you will need it attested anyway. Doing both in one pass saves a trip. See [birth certificate attestation in Dubai](https://dubainotaryservices.com/birth-certificate-attestation-dubai/).

## How we help families

- We read the school's list and your child's papers and tell you what needs attesting.
- We give you the order of offices for your country.
- We prepare the authority letter if a relative handles the home country steps.
- We take the papers through MOFA and deliver them to you or to the school.
- We handle the translation where a paper is not in Arabic or English.

## Prices

| Service | Our service price | Government fees, paid on top at cost |
| --- | --- | --- |
| MOFA attestation, personal document (each certificate) | From AED 150 | MOFA AED 150 |
| Transcripts and mark sheets copy, notary certified | From AED 400 | Confirmed at booking |
| Legal translation | From AED 50 per page | AED 50 per page if notarised with the instrument |
| Courier pickup and delivery | From AED 80 | None |

How we price

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.

MOFA fee: [MOFA FAQ](https://www.mofa.gov.ae/en/faqs). Fees for the whole chain: [notary attestation fees](https://dubainotaryservices.com/dubai-notary-public-fees/). Other certificates: [certificate attestation in Dubai](https://dubainotaryservices.com/certificate-attestation-dubai/).

## Tell us which school asked

Send photos of your child's papers and the school's list.

- Phone and WhatsApp: +971 52 947 5935
- Email: info@dubainotaryservices.com

## Frequently asked questions

### Does every Dubai school ask for attested school records?

No, it depends on the school and the grade. Ask the school for its written list, and check it against KHDA's rules.

### Can educational certificate attestation in Dubai be done without sending papers home?

Only the MOFA step. The home country and UAE embassy steps happen in the country that issued the papers.

### Is KHDA attestation the same as MOFA attestation?

No. MOFA attests documents. KHDA regulates private schools in Dubai and sets what schools must collect.

### My child's report card is in French. What do we do?

Arrange a legally certified translation into Arabic or English. Ask the school which it prefers.

### Send us your document

Send a photo of your document and the name of the office that asked for it. We reply with the route and a written quote.

Phone and WhatsApp

[+971 52 947 5935](tel:+971529475935)

Email

[info@dubainotaryservices.com](mailto:info@dubainotaryservices.com)

Location

Dubai, UAE

## Send your document and know every step before you pay

Share a photo of both sides on WhatsApp and tell us where it will be used. We reply with the stamps it needs, the order they go in and the price for each one.

## More in this cluster

Service hub

[Certificate attestation](https://dubainotaryservices.com/certificate-attestation-dubai/)

Certificate attestation in Dubai is the chain of stamps that makes a degree, marriage certificate, birth certificate or similar paper acceptable to a UAE office.

Guides

- [MOE equivalency certificate in the UAE](https://dubainotaryservices.com/degree-equivalency-certificate-uae/)

### Sources for this page

- UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, FAQ (attestation chain and fees): [https://www.mofa.gov.ae/en/faqs](https://www.mofa.gov.ae/en/faqs)
- UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, attestation service (language requirement): [https://www.mofa.gov.ae/en/services/attestation](https://www.mofa.gov.ae/en/services/attestation)
- Cabinet Resolution No. 19 of 2024 on notary fees (translation item): [https://uaelegislation.gov.ae/en/legislations/2491](https://uaelegislation.gov.ae/en/legislations/2491)