Fees and steps checked on
Armenia certificate attestation for the UAE turns on one question: is the document an original from an Armenian authority, or a notarised copy or translation? Notarised documents bound for a country outside the Hague Convention must first be certified by the head of the Notary Division at Armenia's Ministry of Justice. After that, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs legalises the document, the UAE Embassy in Yerevan attests it, and MOFA attestation makes it valid in Dubai and every other emirate.
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 Armenian chain
VFS Global, MOFA's attestation service provider, lists Armenia like this, and the Armenian foreign ministry's own notes fit the same order:
- Notary. Copies, translations into English or Arabic, and powers of attorney are certified by an Armenian notary.
- Ministry of Justice. The head of the Notary Division certifies the notary's signature. This step is needed for notarised documents going to non-Hague countries.
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Consular Department. Legalises the document. For diplomas and their extracts, the Consular Department legalises them directly. The ministry gives a time of 2 working days, and can extend that while it checks a document with the issuer.
- UAE Embassy in Yerevan. Attests the Armenian foreign ministry's stamp. The application goes through the MOFA website.
- MOFA in the UAE. Final stamp, unless the embassy issues it digitally with MOFA. We confirm which for your file.
A quick guide by document
| Document | Notary and Ministry of Justice? | Then |
|---|---|---|
| Original university diploma | No, straight to the MFA Consular Department | UAE Embassy Yerevan, MOFA |
| Notarised copy of a diploma | Yes | MFA, UAE Embassy Yerevan, MOFA |
| Birth or marriage certificate with notarised translation | Yes | MFA, UAE Embassy Yerevan, MOFA |
| Power of attorney | Yes | MFA, UAE Embassy Yerevan, MOFA |
| Company documents | Usually yes | MFA, UAE Embassy Yerevan, MOFA |
Official fees
Every official fee and the courier are included in the total price you get before any work starts. That covers the notary, Ministry of Justice and translation charges too.
Armenian-specific issues
- Armenian script. MOFA needs Arabic, English or a certified translation. The translation is usually done in Armenia and notarised, which is why the Ministry of Justice step appears so often. For extra Arabic copies in the UAE we use legal translation in Dubai.
- Name endings. Surnames ending in -yan or -ian can be written differently in older documents and newer passports. Ask the translator to follow your passport.
- Apostille instead of legalisation. Armenia has been in the Apostille Convention since 1994, so apostilles are common. An apostille is fine for Europe but does not replace the UAE steps.
- Verification delays. If the foreign ministry asks the issuing office to confirm a document, the 2-day time is extended.
Holding a second set of papers from Georgia? The route is on Georgia certificate attestation, and both sets can go into one request.
If you live in the UAE
Many people need an Armenian degree certificate attestation for a work permit, a marriage certificate attestation to sponsor a spouse, or a birth certificate attestation for a child's visa. In each case you keep living and working in the UAE while the original travels to Yerevan and back.
