Guide: Notary and MOFA
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 attestation on a document is real and belongs to that document. Holders use it too, to make sure a document was attested properly before they hand it in. MOFA’s own verification site is MOFA Verify, at verify.mofa.gov.ae, where a completed attestation is looked up by its reference number and issue date.
Many documents that reach MOFA were notarised first: a power of attorney, an affidavit, a declaration, a certified true copy. So a full check often has two parts, the MOFA attestation and the notary seal under it. We have in-house, in person notary public services, online notary public services and home visit notary services, so if a check fails because of the notary step, we can notarise the document again and send it back through MOFA.
Step by step
How to check a MOFA attestation, step by step
01
Look at the paper first.
The MOFA attestation is on the same document the applicant submitted, not on a separate sheet stapled to it.
02
Find the reference number and issue date.
They are on the MOFA attestation. Copy them carefully.
03
Open MOFA Verify
at verify.mofa.gov.ae and enter the reference number and issue date.
04
Compare the result with the paper.
Same kind of document, same date, same person.
05
Keep a record.
Save the reference number with your copy of the document.
A MOFA attestation on a photocopy, or one that looks moved from another paper, is a warning sign.
How to check the notary step under it
When the document is a power of attorney, affidavit, declaration or true copy signed in the UAE, look at the notary part too:
The notary seal and signature
are clear and on the same page as the signed text, or on a page fixed to it.
The names
of the people who signed match their passports or Emirates ID.
The date
of notarisation comes before the date of the MOFA attestation.
Every page
that should be there is there, in the right order.
If the document was notarised with us, send us a photo and we tell you whether we notarised it. For any other notary, contact the notary office that signed it.
Side by side
If the check fails
| What happens | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| The number is not found | Typing error, or a wrong date | Enter it again carefully and ask the holder for the MOFA receipt. Contact MOFA on its call centre, 80044444, or through the Contact Us page on mofa.gov.ae |
| The result shows a different document | Wrong number, or an attestation from another file | Ask the holder for the original receipt and check the paper itself |
| MOFA’s record matches, but the office still doubts it | The step before MOFA is in question | Check the notary seal, or for a foreign document the home country and UAE embassy stamps |
| The notary part has an error, such as a wrong name or missing page | A mistake at signing | The document is notarised again and sent back through MOFA |
Notarise again, in person or online
If the problem sits in the notary step, the fix is a fresh, correct document. We prepare it with you, and you sign it again with our public notary services in person, by video with our online notary, or at your home with our home visit notary. Online notarisation works through the UAE remote notarisation channels, such as the Ministry of Justice e-Notary system and UAE PASS; we tell you if your document can be done online.
The new document then goes to MOFA for a new attestation. See MOFA attestation online for that route.
Common papers we notarise again after a failed check:
- a power of attorney with a wrong name or passport number;
- an affidavit or declaration with a missing page;
- a certified true copy that the office will not accept.
Why it matters for employers and schools
Offices that accept attested documents usually keep a copy on file. Writing the MOFA reference number and issue date next to that copy makes later checks easy, and it is often what an auditor asks for. The same document may also have been used for a visa or licence, so one clear 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 or the notary seal.
Where verification fits in the chain
For a paper signed in the UAE, the order is notary, then MOFA, then the embassy of the country that will receive it, where it asks for it. For a foreign document, MOFA is the last stamp. The full order is in our UAE attestation process guide. Our main page is MOFA attestation in Dubai.
Prices
Prices
| Service | Our service price | Government fee, paid on top at cost |
|---|---|---|
| General power of attorney, notarised | From AED 1,500 | AED 100 per party (federal schedule) |
| Affidavit or declaration, notarised | From AED 600 | AED 300 per affidavit (federal schedule) |
| Certified true copy | From AED 400 | Confirmed at booking |
| MOFA attestation, personal document | From AED 150 | MOFA AED 150 |
| MOFA attestation, commercial document | From AED 300 | MOFA AED 2,000 |
Checklist
Need a document checked?
Send photos of the document, the notary page and the MOFA attestation. Office open Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. WhatsApp and online requests answered 24/7.
- Phone: +971 52 947 5935
- WhatsApp: +971 52 947 5935
- Email: info@dubainotaryservices.com
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How do I check a MOFA attestation in the UAE?
Go to MOFA Verify at verify.mofa.gov.ae and enter the reference number and issue date from the attestation. Then compare the result with the paper in front of you. Use only MOFA’s own site for this check.
What does MOFA attestation verification prove?
It proves MOFA attested the document on record. It does not prove the content of the document is correct. It confirms the chain of signatures, including the notary seal where there is one.
My employer says my MOFA attestation cannot be verified. What now?
Send us the document and the MOFA receipt. We check whether it is a typing issue, a wrong date or a real problem. If the notary step is the problem, we notarise the document again and send it back through MOFA.
Can a notarised document be verified?
Yes, by checking with the notary office that notarised it. If we notarised it, send us a photo and we tell you. The MOFA attestation on top is checked on MOFA Verify.
Notary and MOFA
More guides
Notary and MOFA
Attestation steps
The UAE attestation process is a chain of signatures, each one confirming the one before it.
Notary and MOFA
MOFA online
MOFA attestation online means applying to the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs through its website or the UAE MOFA app, instead of visiting a counter.
Certificates
Degree equivalency
An MOE equivalency certificate in UAE is the name many people use for an official decision on what a foreign qualification is equal to in the UAE system.
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.
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 and channels): https://www.mofa.gov.ae/en/faqs
- MOFA Verify: https://verify.mofa.gov.ae
- Cabinet Resolution No. 19 of 2024 on notary fees: https://uaelegislation.gov.ae/en/legislations/2491