NG
Documents from Nigeria
Nigeria certificate attestation in UAE and notary services for Nigerians
Nigerians in the UAE deal with two kinds of paperwork. Papers from Nigeria, such as a degree, a birth certificate or a police character certificate, must be accepted by a UAE office: that is Nigeria certificate attestation in UAE, and it runs through Abuja. Papers signed here, such as a power of attorney for land in Lagos, an affidavit of support for a relative’s visit or certified copies of a passport, need a notary public 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
We have in-house, in person notary public services, online notary public services and home visit notary services. Nigerian documents are in English, which keeps both sides simpler: there is no translation step for MOFA.
At a glance
- Papers from Nigeria: the Nigerian body behind the document, the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the UAE embassy in Abuja, then MOFA. Source: MOFA FAQ.
- Papers for Nigeria: notary in the UAE, then MOFA and the Nigerian embassy or consulate in the UAE if the office in Nigeria asks.
- The UAE is not a party to the Apostille Convention, and Nigeria does not appear in the HCCH status table either, so the UAE embassy stamp in Abuja is always required. Source: HCCH status table.
- MOFA attests English documents directly. Source: MOFA attestation service.
- MOFA charges AED 150 per personal document and AED 2,000 per commercial document.
Step by step
Notary services for Nigerians in the UAE
01
Power of attorney.
A relative or lawyer deals with land, a house, a vehicle, a bank or a court matter in Nigeria. See power of attorney notarisation.
02
Affidavit of support.
A sworn statement that you will support a relative visiting or living with you. See affidavit of support.
03
Other affidavits and declarations.
For the Nigerian embassy or an office in Nigeria, such as a change of name or marital status statement. See affidavits before a notary.
04
Certified true copies.
Passport data page, residence visa, Emirates ID or degree, certified against the original. See certified true copies.
05
NOCs.
A parent’s consent for a child’s visa or travel. See child travel consent.
The notary public checks your identity, watches you sign and applies the seal. You can sign in person, by video through our online notary public services using the UAE remote notarisation channels such as the Ministry of Justice e-Notary system and UAE PASS, or at your home, office, hospital or care home with our home visit notary service. We tell you if your document can be done online.
Side by side
Nigeria certificate attestation in UAE: the right starting document
What makes Nigerian files slow is usually the first step: getting the right version from the right body.
| You need | Get this version | From |
|---|---|---|
| Degree for a UAE job | The final degree certificate and transcript, not a statement of result | The university |
| Secondary school results | The certificate, with verification if the office asks | WAEC or NECO |
| Birth certificate for a child’s visa | A birth certificate naming both parents | National Population Commission (NPC) |
| Marriage certificate for a spouse visa | A certificate from a marriage registry | Federal marriage registry or local government registry |
| Police record | A police character certificate | Nigeria Police |
After that body, the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs authenticates the document and the UAE embassy in Abuja stamps it. We handle the MOFA stage when it arrives in the UAE.
Statutory and customary marriages
A marriage conducted under the Marriage Act produces a registry certificate that follows the chain easily. A customary or religious marriage may have no registry certificate, and UAE visa offices generally need an official record. If yours is a customary marriage, ask the UAE visa office what it accepts before the file starts. See marriage certificate attestation for a family visa.
Someone in Abuja
The foreign ministry and UAE embassy steps are in Abuja, so a relative or representative must hand the document in there. Ask the embassy whether it accepts a representative, and we notarise an authority letter for them here. Keep scans of every page and stamp before the original travels.
The Nigerian mission in the UAE
People ask about “Nigerian embassy attestation of citizenship” because Nigerians here sometimes need a letter from their own mission, for example for a UAE bank or a school. That is a separate consular service for Nigerian citizens and does not replace the chain above. For a UAE document going to Nigeria, MOFA attests first, then the Nigerian mission. See UAE documents for use abroad.
Uses we see most
Employment visa and licensing:
a degree and transcript. See degree attestation.
Children’s residence visas and school places:
NPC birth certificates. See birth certificate attestation.
Security and health jobs:
a recent police character certificate. See police clearance attestation.
Prices
Prices
| Service | Our service price | Government fee, paid on top at cost |
|---|---|---|
| Power of attorney for use in Nigeria | From AED 1,500 | AED 100 per party (federal item 9); Dubai private notary route AED 100 per party registration plus AED 100 per signature |
| Affidavit of support or other affidavit | From AED 600 | AED 300 per affidavit (federal item 12) |
| Passport copy certified by a notary | From AED 500 | No published figure, confirmed at booking |
| MOFA stage, personal document | From AED 150 | MOFA AED 150 |
| MOFA stage, commercial document | From AED 300 | MOFA AED 2,000 |
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Does my Nigerian degree need translating?
No. Nigerian documents are in English, which MOFA attests directly.
Can I use a statement of result instead of my degree certificate?
Usually not. UAE employers and regulators expect the final certificate. Ask the receiving office if the certificate has not been issued yet.
Can Nigeria certificate attestation in UAE be completed without anyone in Nigeria?
No. The foreign ministry and UAE embassy steps are in Abuja, so a relative or representative must submit the document there.
Can I sign a power of attorney for land in Nigeria from Dubai?
Yes. We draft and notarise it here. If the office in Nigeria asks, it then goes to MOFA and the Nigerian embassy or consulate in the UAE.
Which birth certificate should I use for my child’s visa?
The NPC birth certificate showing both parents. Check that the names match both parents’ passports.
Get a written quote
Talk to us about your Nigerian paperwork
Send a photo of the document and tell us which office asked for it. We reply with the steps and a price.
- Phone: +971 52 947 5935
- WhatsApp: +971 52 947 5935
- Email: info@dubainotaryservices.com
Office open Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. WhatsApp and online requests answered 24/7. Other countries: embassy attestation.
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 status table, which lists neither the UAE nor Nigeria as a party: 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
- Dubai Media Office, private notary fees: https://mediaoffice.ae/en/news/2025/december/29-12/dubai-courts-is-preparing-to-implement-the-decision-regulating-the-fees-of-the-private-notary-public