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Attestation usually gets rejected for one of six reasons: the document is a copy, it is laminated, an earlier stamp in the chain is missing, it only has an apostille, it is in a language MOFA does not accept without translation, or it went through the wrong channel. Each of these can be fixed, and most can be avoided by checking the document before the first step. If MOFA rejects an application, its fees are refunded within 14 working days.
Rejection reasons and fixes at a glance
| Reason | Where it is caught | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Photocopy or scan instead of the original | MOFA, embassy | Use the original or a new official copy from the issuer |
| Laminated document | MOFA | Order a replacement; lamination cannot be undone |
| Not attested by the issuing authority first | MOFA | Complete the home country steps, then reapply |
| Apostille only, no UAE embassy stamp | MOFA, UAE office | Add UAE embassy attestation, then MOFA |
| Not in Arabic or English | MOFA | Add a legal translation |
| Wrong route (for example invoices on the attestation route) | MOFA portal | Use eDAS 2.0 for commercial invoices |
| Digital file is a scan, photo or password-protected | MOFA digital route | Download the original PDF with its QR code from the issuer |
| Several documents under one apostille (USA) | UAE mission | Apostille each document separately |
1. The document is not the original
MOFA attests originals, or digital originals with a QR code. A photocopy, even a certified one, is not attested by MOFA as if it were the original. If you have lost the original, ask the issuing authority for a new official copy. When a copy must be used in the home country chain, it has to be certified there first: in the UK, for example, copies, qualification certificates and powers of attorney are certified by a UK notary or solicitor before FCDO legalisation. See certified true copy in Dubai.
2. The document is laminated
MOFA does not attest laminated documents. Degrees and birth certificates are often laminated to protect them, and this is one of the most frustrating rejections because there is no way to reverse it. The only fix is a replacement certificate from the university or registry. If you are unsure, send a photo before you start.
3. A step in the chain is missing
MOFA expects a foreign document to be attested by the issuing authority, then the UAE embassy in that country. Typical gaps:
- No education check. Some countries need an education authority step first, such as CHED in the Philippines or SAQA in South Africa.
- No notary. Some documents need a notary or solicitor before the foreign ministry will act.
- No UAE embassy stamp. Without it, MOFA cannot attest a foreign document.
The fix is to complete the missing step and resubmit. The route for each country is on attestation by country.
4. Only an apostille
The UAE is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention. Some websites claim it joined, but it is not on the convention's status table. An apostille from the UK, USA, Canada, the Philippines or any other member is only the home country step. The document still needs UAE embassy attestation and MOFA. See attestation vs apostille.
5. The language
MOFA accepts documents in Arabic or English, or with an officially certified translation. A certificate in French, Spanish, Russian or any other language needs a legal translation in Dubai by a translator licensed by the Ministry of Justice, or a certified translation from the home country where the route allows it.
6. The wrong channel or a portal error
- Commercial invoices and certificates of origin do not go through the normal attestation route. They use eDAS 2.0, where an unpaid invoice attracts an AED 500 fine after the 14-day grace period.
- UAE digital documents must be the original PDF with a verification feature (QR code, barcode, link or reference number), from a supported issuer, not password-protected. Scans and photos are refused. Up to 5 documents go in one application, and all must be for the same route.
- No edits after submission. A digital application cannot be modified after it is submitted, and the destination country cannot be changed later. A mistake means a new application.
The full list is on MOFA attestation requirements.
Country-specific rejections
- USA: bundled apostilles are not accepted; each document needs its own apostille. For degrees, the institution must be US-based and recognised by a regional accreditor.
- South Africa: DIRCO warns about people falsely claiming to act in its name, so only use a service that does not pretend to be DIRCO.
- Medical documents: sick leave must be submitted for attestation within one month of issue, and Dubai-issued sick leave goes through the Dubai Health Authority first. See sick leave attestation.
What happens to your money
- MOFA rejections: fees for rejected or undelivered applications are refunded within 14 working days.
- UAE missions digital route: if the embassy rejects the document, the attestation fee is refunded automatically, but the service fee, including delivery, is not.
Most refusals come from a short list of errors, covered in common MOFA attestation mistakes. If the problem is a name spelled differently across your papers, see name mismatch in attestation.
How to avoid a rejection
- Send a clear photo of the whole document, front and back, before you start.
- Confirm it is an original, not laminated, and in Arabic or English.
- Confirm the full chain for the country, including any education or notary step.
- Keep names consistent: if the passport and certificate differ, prepare linking documents.
- After attestation, check the result at verify.mofa.gov.ae with the reference number and issue date. See MOFA attestation verification.
If your document has already been rejected, send us a photo of it and the rejection message on WhatsApp. You get the cause, the fix and the total price, all official fees included, before any work starts.
