Attesting South African Documents for the UAEIf you need to use your South African documents in the UAE, you will need to have them attested. Whilst you could do this yourself, we can take away all the hassle associated with this long-winded process for you. Whether you have a South African degree or other qualification, a birth, marriage or death certificate, or in fact any other personal or company document originating from South Africa, find out below what’s involved so you avoid any costly errors. How does it work?Attesting a document issued in South Africa can be complicated, especially as the requirements can change depending on who you need to present it to, and exactly what type of document it is. It’s harder still if you are no longer in the country. Fortunately, most documents follow a similar pattern which we’ve broken down for you. There are however some situations where things are a little different, so if you want to make sure that you are fully informed, speak to one of our advisers and we’ll look at your individual circumstances free of charge. Pre-Legalisation Official VerificationIn some cases, your first step is to get your document verified by one official body or another. In the case of a degree or higher-education diploma qualification it will need to be verified by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) using their VeriSearch system. Notarisation Certification by a South African Notary PublicFor those documents that don’t go through official verification, including birth, marriage, death certificates, high school, secondary and matric certificates and transcripts, these will need to be notarised by a South African Notary Public. The notary will take a copy of the original document and certify that it is a true copy. They will then attach a notarial cover sheet to the document with a seal before signing and stamping it. Pre-Authentication Authentication by High CourtFor any document that has been notarised, these bundled documents must be presented to a registrar of the High Court for the notary’s signature to be authenticated. Once authenticated, the registrar will sign and seal the document. DIRCO Legalisation in South Africa South African Government AuthenticationOnce a document has been properly authenticated or verified, it is then presented to the Department of International Relations & Co-operation (DIRCO). Their office will check that the seal and signature of the relevant department matches their official record and authenticates it accordingly. Once authenticated, DIRCO will issue a Certificate of Authentication and this page will be bound by a green ribbon to the notarial page and copy of the document. UAE Embassy in Pretoria UAE Embassy AttestationThe final step in South Africa is for the document to be attested by the UAE Embassy in Pretoria. An official UAE-government sticker and seal is attached alongside the authentication by DIRCO during this stage. This authentication sticker confirms to the UAE authorities that the document has gone through all the necessary steps in South Africa. Ministry of Foreign Affairs (UAE) ![]() MoFA Attestation (UAE)In the UAE, another attestation stamp is needed which is handled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in any of the UAE emirates. The addition of this stamp confirms that the processes in South Africa have been completed correctly. Some employers will do this for you, so we would advise that you check with them to avoid paying for anything unnecessarily. For anyone handling this themselves, you will now need a PCR test to enter a government building. We can arrange this for you. This is the final step needed to use your document in the UAE if it does not need translation (see the following section below). Translation Translation from English into ArabicOften, your document may also need to be translated into Arabic. Again, your employer may handle this for you so we would recommend checking with them. If it is needed, the whole document and all of its stamps are translated from English into Arabic. This must be done by a recognised certified translator. Once translated, then everything has been done to allow you to use it within the UAE. Attestation Notes
How much does it cost?Prices can vary based on the type of document you have, and the processes it will have to go through to be fully attested. We've put a general guideline below based on two of the most popular document types, but it's best to get in touch for a personalised quote. Birth, Marriage & Death CertificatesFrom 1130 AEDPer Document This service includes:
Education CertificatesFrom 2050 AEDPer Document This service includes:
DisclaimerMoFA Attestation and Translation of documents are not included in the above pricing, and will incur an extra fee if required. Exchange rates may also vary which can drive the price up or down at any given time. For the most accurate quotation for your circumstances, please get in touch. Why choose Vital Certificates?Acceptance GuaranteeWe guarantee your document will be valid in the country for which it was attested. Document CheckingYour documents will be checked prior to submission to ensure they are accepted. Service UpdatesRegular service updates mean you always know where your documents are. Industry Leading StaffOur advisers undertake regular training so the advice they give is always up-to-date. Scanning ServiceGet a digital copy of your completed documents prior to receiving shipment. Fully Inclusive PriceFees always include all charges, shipping and VAT (where applicable). Docs from any country...We're able to attest a range of documents for use in the UAE, no matter where you're from. You can rest assured that by using our service, your attested documents will be accepted within the UAE. EuropeAsia/OceaniaDon't see your country on the list?Don't worry! We can attest documents from over 150 different countries worldwide. Get in touch to find the solution that's right for you. Request a QuoteRequest a CallbackFill in the form and one of our specially trained advisors will get in touch as soon as possible, within normal working hours (Monday to Friday, 08:30 - 17:30). |