Guide: MOFA attestation
MOFA attestation verification: how to check it and what to do if it fails
MOFA attestation verification is the check an employer, school, bank or government office makes to confirm that the MOFA stamp or label on a document is real and belongs to that document. Holders use it too, to make sure a document they paid for was attested properly before they hand it in. The check is usually done with the attestation number or the QR code on the MOFA label. MOFA’s own verification site is MOFA Verify, at verify.mofa.gov.ae.
This page is for both sides: the receiver who wants to check, and the holder whose attestation did not verify. It does not walk through any login screen, because those change; it explains what the check tells you and what to do next.
Step by step
What to look at on the document
Before any online check, look at the paper:
01
The MOFA label or stamp
is on the same document the applicant submitted, not on a separate sheet stapled to it.
02
The earlier stamps
(for a foreign document: the home foreign ministry and the UAE mission abroad) are present and readable.
03
The name
on the document matches the person presenting it.
04
The attestation number
and any QR code are clear, not photocopied over.
A MOFA attestation on a photocopy, or a label that looks transferred from another paper, is a warning sign.
The number and the QR code
The attestation number identifies the transaction at MOFA. The QR code, where present, is meant to link to MOFA’s record of that attestation. A receiver should compare what the record shows with the paper in front of them: same document type, same date range, same person.
Use only MOFA’s own channel for the check. A third party website that claims to “verify MOFA attestation” is not the official record.
Side by side
If the check fails
| What happens | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| The number is not found | Typing error, or the record is too recent or too old for the tool | Re-enter carefully; ask the holder for the receipt; contact MOFA MOFA call centre 80044444, or the Contact Us page on mofa.gov.ae |
| The record shows a different document | Wrong number, or a label from another file | Ask the holder for the original receipt and check the paper itself |
| The QR code does not open | Damaged print, or older label without a live code | Use the number instead |
| The record matches but the office still doubts it | The earlier chain (home country or embassy) is in question | Check the earlier stamps with the relevant authority |
If you are the holder and your attestation does not verify, bring us the document and any MOFA receipt. We check the stamps, contact MOFA through its channels, and if the document needs to be attested again, we take care of it.
Why it matters for employers and schools
Offices that accept attested documents usually keep a copy on file. Recording the attestation number with the copy makes later checks easy, and it is often what an auditor or regulator asks for. The same document may also have been used for a visa or licence, so a consistent record helps everyone.
For holders: protect your attestation
- Keep the MOFA receipt with the document.
- Do not laminate an attested document.
- Keep a colour scan of every page and every stamp.
- Do not write on or near the stamps.
Where verification fits in the chain
MOFA is the last stamp for a foreign document and the first UAE stamp for a document going abroad. The full order is on our UAE attestation process guide. If you want to apply online yourself, see MOFA attestation online. The main service page is MOFA attestation in Dubai.
Prices
Prices
| Service | Our service price | Government fees, paid on top at cost |
|---|---|---|
| MOFA attestation, personal document (handling) | From AED 150 | MOFA AED 150 |
| MOFA attestation, commercial document (handling) | From AED 300 | MOFA AED 2,000 |
Checklist
Need a document checked?
Send photos of the document and the MOFA label.
- Phone and WhatsApp: +971 52 947 5935
- Email: info@dubainotaryservices.com
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How do I check a MOFA attestation in the UAE?
Use the attestation number or QR code on the MOFA label with MOFA’s own verification channel, and compare the record with the paper. That channel is MOFA Verify, at verify.mofa.gov.ae.
What does MOFA attestation verification prove?
That MOFA attested the document on record. It does not prove the content of the document is correct; it confirms the chain of signatures.
My employer says my MOFA attestation cannot be verified. What now?
Bring us the document and the MOFA receipt. We find out whether it is a typing issue, an old label or a real problem, and fix it with MOFA.
Can someone check a MOFA attestation from abroad?
Often yes, if MOFA’s channel is open to the public.
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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.
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Service hub
MOFA attestation in Dubai is the stamp of the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (officially the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, shortened to MOFA or MOFAIC) that tells every.
Sources for this page
- UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, attestation service: https://www.mofa.gov.ae/en/services/attestation
- UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, FAQ (fees): https://www.mofa.gov.ae/en/faqs