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Documents from Russia
Russian certificate attestation in Dubai
Russian certificate attestation in Dubai starts in Russia. A Russian diploma, birth certificate or marriage certificate is accepted by a UAE employer or visa office only after it has been legalised in Russia, stamped by the UAE embassy in Moscow, and then attested by MOFA in the UAE. An apostille, which Russian offices issue for many countries, does not do this job for 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
Russian files have one extra layer that surprises people: most of the work is done on a notarised copy with a translation, not on the original document. Getting that copy and translation right in Russia saves a second trip.
At a glance
- MOFA is the last stamp, never the first: the Russian foreign ministry and the UAE embassy in Moscow must both have acted before it. Source: MOFA FAQ.
- The UAE is outside the Apostille Convention, so Russian documents need legalisation for the UAE, not an apostille. Source: HCCH status table.
- A document in Russian needs a certified translation into Arabic or English for MOFA. Source: MOFA attestation service.
- MOFA fee: AED 150 personal, AED 2,000 commercial. Source: MOFA FAQ.
Step by step
The usual Russian route
The order below is the one we plan Russian files around. Offices and names can change, so we check each step for your document before you start.
01
A notary in Russia
makes a certified copy of the original and certifies the translator’s signature on a translation, often bound together as one document.
02
The Ministry of Justice
(or its regional office) confirms the notary’s signature and seal.
03
The Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
legalises the document.
04
The UAE embassy in Moscow
adds its stamp.
05
MOFA in the UAE
completes the attestation.
Side by side
Document by document
| Document | Where it comes from | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| University diploma and supplement | The university | Legalise the supplement with the diploma if the UAE office wants your subjects and hours. |
| School certificate (attestat) | The school | Needed mainly for a child joining a UAE school. |
| Birth or marriage certificate | The civil registry office (ZAGS) | An old Soviet style certificate may need a new copy issued first. |
| Certificate of no criminal record | The Ministry of Internal Affairs | Often has a short useful life at the receiving office. |
| Company documents | The tax service registry extract, the company | Commercial class at MOFA. |
Translation: in Russia or in Dubai
You have two workable choices. The first is a translation into English made in Russia and certified by a Russian notary, which then goes through every stamp with the copy. The second is to legalise the Russian document on its own and translate it into Arabic in the UAE after MOFA, using a legal translator. The first saves time in Dubai. The second gives you an Arabic version that UAE government offices read without question. We help you pick before anything is signed in Russia. See legalized translation in Dubai.
Transliterated names are the other risk. Your name in Latin letters on the translation must match your passport exactly. Give the translator a passport copy.
If you are already in Dubai
The Russian steps need someone in Russia. That can be you on a visit, a relative, or someone holding a power of attorney for the job. If a power of attorney is needed, it can be signed in Dubai and legalised for use in Russia. See attestation for a power of attorney in Dubai.
Documents going to Russia, and the Russian consulate in Dubai
A UAE document for use in Russia, such as a Dubai birth certificate for a Russian passport application, travels in reverse: MOFA attests it here, then the Russian consulate or embassy in the UAE where it asks for legalisation. The Russian consulate also offers notarial services to Russian citizens, which is what many people mean by “Russian notary Dubai”. For the UAE side, see legalising UAE documents for use abroad.
Step by step
How we help with Russian files
01
We read your document and name the Russian office that has to act first.
02
We explain what the notarised copy and translation should contain, so the UAE office accepts it.
03
We prepare an authority letter or power of attorney for the person doing the Russian steps.
04
We take the legalised document through MOFA in the UAE.
05
We book an Arabic legal translation here if you choose that route.
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 |
| Full chain including the Russian side | Quote after we see the document | Russian notary, ministry, UAE embassy and MOFA fees at cost |
Checklist
Contact us about a Russian document
Send a photo of the original, the translation if you have one, and the name of the UAE office asking for it.
- Phone and WhatsApp: +971 52 947 5935
- Email: info@dubainotaryservices.com
Questions
Frequently asked questions
I already have an apostille on my Russian diploma. Is that enough?
No. The apostille is for countries in the Apostille Convention, and the UAE is not one of them. The diploma needs Russian legalisation, the UAE embassy stamp in Moscow, and MOFA.
Can I attest my Russian diploma at the Russian consulate in Dubai?
No. The consulate serves Russian citizens and documents going to Russia. A diploma for UAE use has to go through the Russian ministries and the UAE embassy in Moscow first.
Which copy does MOFA stamp, the original or the notarised copy?
It depends on how the Russian side legalised the document. Often it is the notarised copy with the translation attached. Keep the bundle together and do not remove staples or seals.
My degree is for a UAE professional licence. Is attestation all I need?
Not always. Some regulators also ask for an equivalency certificate or their own verification. See degree attestation in Dubai and degree equivalency in the 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.
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