Fees and steps checked on
Algeria certificate attestation changed shape in 2026, and the change does not reach the UAE. Since 9 July 2026 Algeria issues apostilles for Convention countries, through apostille.gov.dz or the ministries themselves. The UAE is not a Convention country, so an Algerian diploma, birth certificate or marriage certificate still follows the legalisation route: Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UAE Embassy in Algiers, then MOFA attestation.
Price: send a copy on WhatsApp and you get the total price plus VAT, all official fees included, before any work starts. See attestation fees.
The July 2026 apostille, explained for UAE users
Algeria named five ministries, with their central and local services, as apostille authorities: Interior, Justice, Higher Education, National Education and Vocational Training. The apostille is bilingual, Arabic and English, and can be requested online. It is useful if your document is going to France, Spain or another Convention country. For Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Sharjah, it is the wrong stamp. If your relative in Algeria is offered an apostille "for the Emirates", ask for legalisation instead. The attestation vs apostille guide covers the difference.
Algeria to UAE, step by step
- Issuing office. University, school directorate, commune civil registry (état civil) or court, depending on the document.
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Algeria. Legalises the document for use in a country outside the Convention.
- UAE Embassy in Algiers. Attests the Algerian ministry stamp. The embassy sits in Hydra.
- MOFA in the UAE. MOFA attests personal and commercial documents.
Any earlier stamp needed for a particular document, such as a higher education ministry check on a university diploma, is confirmed when you send a copy.
Arabic, French and translation
Here Algeria has an advantage. Many Algerian civil records and diplomas are issued in Arabic, and MOFA accepts Arabic without translation. Documents issued only in French, common for some university and professional records, need a certified translation into Arabic or English. If a UAE court asks for an Arabic version of a French document, a translator licensed by the UAE Ministry of Justice prepares it in Dubai.
Common Algerian documents
| Document | Usual issuer | UAE use |
|---|---|---|
| Licence, master, doctorat | University | Work permit, degree certificate attestation |
| Baccalauréat certificate | National Education | University admission in the UAE |
| Extrait d'acte de naissance | Commune civil registry | Child visa, birth certificate attestation |
| Acte de mariage | Commune civil registry | Spouse visa |
| Casier judiciaire | Ministry of Justice | Employment or licensing |
| Procuration | Notary | Property, bank or company matters |
Mistakes we see with Algerian files
- Stopping at the apostille after July 2026, assuming it now covers the UAE.
- Extract or full copy. Algerian communes issue both. Ask the UAE office which one it wants before the document is legalised, because a swap later means a new chain.
- Name order. Algerian records may show family name first and use French spellings. The UAE file should follow your passport.
- Lamination. MOFA does not accept laminated documents.
From inside the UAE
You do not need to travel to Algiers. A relative can collect fresh copies from the commune and take them through the ministry, or the originals travel by courier. Morocco follows a different, digital embassy route; see Morocco certificate attestation if you hold Moroccan documents too.
