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For the UAE golden visa as a skilled professional, your degree must be attested and, if it was earned abroad, recognised by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MoHESR). The Abu Dhabi government page for this route lists an attested bachelor's degree or equivalent, a MOHRE skill level of 1 or 2 and a monthly salary of at least AED 30,000. Attestation through the home country, the UAE embassy and MOFA is the first step, and usually the longest.
This guide covers the skilled professional route, the one most tied to degree attestation. Other golden visa categories have their own document lists, so check the category you are applying under with GDRFA or ICP.
Golden visa document checklist (skilled professional)
| Requirement | What it means for your documents |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or equivalent | Original degree, attested through the full chain |
| Recognition of a foreign degree | MoHESR Certificate of Recognition, issued after attestation |
| MOHRE skill level 1 or 2 | Set by your job classification, not by attestation |
| Salary of at least AED 30,000 a month | Shown by your employment contract and salary proof |
Graduates of UAE universities have been exempt from the recognition step, according to an April 2024 immigration advisory. Their degrees, if attestation is asked for, need MOFA only.
Step by step: from degree to golden visa
- Attest the degree in its home country. Notary or university verification where needed, then the foreign ministry. An apostille alone is not enough, because the UAE is not in the Apostille Convention.
- UAE embassy attestation. The UAE embassy in that country attests the degree. For the UK, the USA and several other countries this is digital, with the embassy and MOFA attestation issued together.
- MOFA attestation. Where the embassy step was not digital, MOFA attests the degree in the UAE.
- Primary source verification. An approved partner, such as Dataflow, checks the degree directly with the university. See Dataflow verification.
- Recognition by MoHESR. You apply on the MoHESR portal for the Certificate of Recognition, the document that used to be called the equivalency certificate. See equivalency certificate in the UAE.
- Golden visa application. Submit the attested degree, the recognition certificate and your employment and salary documents.
MoHESR updated its recognition rules under Ministerial Resolution No. 34 of 2025 and cut the required documents from 14 to 4, so the recognition stage asks for less paperwork than it used to.
Who acts at each stage
| Stage | Who does it |
|---|---|
| Home country chain | Notary, education authority, foreign ministry |
| UAE embassy | UAE mission in the issuing country |
| MOFA | UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
| Primary source verification | Approved partner (for example Dataflow) |
| Recognition | MoHESR, handled by our equivalency service, from AED 985 |
Our attestation prices are totals with every official fee and the courier included, plus VAT:
- UK degree: from AED 1,600 on the premium service (12 to 14 working days), from AED 985 plus VAT on the standard route (22 to 24 working days)
- USA degree: from AED 1,025 plus VAT (about 7 weeks)
- Canadian degree: from AED 1,900 plus VAT (4 to 6 weeks)
- UAE degree, MOFA only: from AED 250 plus VAT (2 to 3 working days)
For any other country, send a copy on WhatsApp and you get the total price, all official fees included, before any work starts. See attestation fees.
Which degree to attest
The route asks for a bachelor's degree or equivalent. If you hold a master's or doctorate as well, some applicants attest the highest degree. Ask the immigration authority which certificate they want before you attest, so you only pay for the one you need.
Attest the degree certificate itself. Some recognition applications also ask for the transcript, so if you are unsure, send both and we confirm what to attest.
Country routes for golden visa degrees
- UK degree attestation
- USA degree attestation
- Canada degree attestation
- Philippines degree attestation
- South Africa degree attestation
Others are on attestation by country.
Already attested for your work visa?
If your degree was attested for your original work permit, you may not need to attest it again. Check that it carries the MOFA attestation (you can verify it at verify.mofa.gov.ae with the reference number and issue date), and if the authority accepts it, move straight to recognition. Our guide on degree attestation for a UAE work visa explains the first stage.
Common golden visa document problems
- Apostille without UAE attestation. The most frequent gap on degrees from Hague countries.
- Laminated degree. MOFA rejects laminated documents; get a replacement from the university.
- Name differences between the degree and the passport, for example after marriage.
- Starting recognition before attestation. The recognition application relies on the attested degree.
