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For skilled roles in the UAE, the work permit normally needs your degree attested: first in the country that issued it, then by the UAE embassy there, then by MOFA. The guidelines for work permits issued under Ministerial Resolution No. 46 of 2022 (Administrative Resolution No. 38 of 2022) list an attested educational certificate for skilled job categories, and exclude certificates issued in the UAE. Your employer's PRO will tell you which category your job falls into.
When a work visa needs degree attestation
| Situation | Degree attestation needed? |
|---|---|
| Skilled role, degree from abroad | Usually yes, full chain ending in MOFA |
| Skilled role, degree from a UAE university | Not under the work permit guidelines; MOFA only if someone asks |
| Role that does not need a degree | Usually no |
| Regulated profession (teacher, nurse, engineer and others) | Check with the licensing body as well as the employer |
| Golden visa, skilled professional route | Yes, plus degree recognition |
The MOHRE skill levels that trigger the requirement are described differently by different sources, so we do not quote a level here. Ask your employer: they file the work permit and know the category.
How degree attestation for a work visa works
- Check the degree. It must be the original, not laminated, and in Arabic or English or with a legal translation.
- Home country steps. Typically a notary or university verification, then the foreign ministry. In the Philippines, CHED verifies the diploma first. In South Africa, SAQA does. In the UK, a degree is certified by a solicitor or notary before FCDO legalisation.
- UAE embassy. The embassy in that country attests the degree. For the UK, USA and several other countries, this is now digital: the embassy and MOFA attestation are issued together, usually 2 to 3 working days for that stage.
- MOFA. Where the embassy step was not digital, MOFA attests the degree in the UAE.
- Give it to your employer. The attested degree goes into the work permit and visa file.
More detail is on degree certificate attestation.
What it costs and how long it takes
Our prices are totals with every official fee and the courier included, plus VAT:
| Degree from | Usual time | Our price |
|---|---|---|
| UK, premium | 12 to 14 working days | from AED 1,600 |
| UK, standard | 22 to 24 working days | from AED 985 plus VAT |
| USA | about 7 weeks | from AED 1,025 plus VAT |
| Canada | 4 to 6 weeks | from AED 1,900 plus VAT |
| UAE university (MOFA only) | 2 to 3 working days | from AED 250 plus VAT |
| Other countries | depends on the country | quoted after you share a copy |
For a country not in the table, send a copy on WhatsApp and you get the total price, all official fees included, before any work starts. See attestation fees for the full list.
Country routes for degrees
- UK degree attestation: solicitor or notary, FCDO, UAE Embassy London (digital with MOFA).
- USA degree attestation: notary, Secretary of State where needed, US State Department, UAE Embassy (digital with MOFA). The university must be US-based and recognised by a regional accreditor.
- Canada degree attestation: Global Affairs Canada or the provincial authority, UAE Embassy Ottawa, MOFA.
- Philippines degree attestation: CHED CAV, DFA apostille, UAE Embassy Manila, MOFA.
- South Africa degree attestation: notary, SAQA, DIRCO, UAE Embassy Pretoria, MOFA.
All other countries are on attestation by country.
Degree attestation, recognition and experience letters
These three are often confused:
- Attestation proves the degree certificate is genuine, through a chain of stamps. This is what the work permit asks for.
- Recognition (the old "equivalency certificate") is issued by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research after primary source verification. Some employers, licensing bodies and the golden visa ask for it. See equivalency certificate in the UAE.
- Experience certificates are attested separately when an employer or licensing body asks. See experience certificate attestation.
If you might apply for a golden visa later, read attestation for the golden visa now, so you attest the right documents once.
Plan around your start date
Attestation abroad is usually the slowest part of a new job in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Sharjah. If you have an offer letter, start the degree attestation straight away. If you are still abroad, it is often simpler to do the home country steps before you move, but the whole chain can also run while you are already in the UAE.
Teachers have extra steps with KHDA, ADEK or MOE, set out in teacher certificate attestation in the UAE.
Common reasons a degree is refused
- Laminated certificate. MOFA rejects it.
- Apostille only. The UAE still needs the embassy and MOFA steps.
- Missing education check. Some countries need verification by an education authority before the foreign ministry.
- Unaccredited institution. For US degrees, the UAE embassy requires a US-based institution recognised by a regional accreditor.
See why attestation gets rejected for more.
