Fees and steps checked on
Canada high school diploma attestation lets a Canadian Grade 12 diploma count in the UAE for university entry, school equivalency or a job that asks for secondary school. A Canadian notary certifies it, the province or Global Affairs Canada adds an apostille, the UAE Embassy in Ottawa attests it, and MOFA completes it in the UAE.
Price: from AED 1,900 plus VAT per document, 4 to 6 weeks, with every official fee and courier inside the price. See attestation fees.
Which diploma you hold and who issued it
Secondary school belongs to the provinces. The name of the diploma and the office behind it change from one province to the next, and the province also decides who signs the apostille.
| Province | Diploma | Issued or reissued by |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario | Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) | Ontario Ministry of Education, through your school; the Ontario Student Transcript stays with the school board |
| British Columbia | Certificate of Graduation, known as the Dogwood | Ministry of Education and Child Care; extra copies through the StudentTranscripts Service |
| Alberta | Alberta High School Diploma | Alberta Education; extra copies of awarded credentials through myPass |
| Quebec | Diplôme d'études secondaires (DES) | Ministère de l'Éducation, Direction de la sanction des études |
Diplomas from the other provinces and territories come from their own education departments.
Why the UAE asks for it
- University admission. UAE universities want proof that you finished secondary school, often with the final marks attached.
- School equivalency. A school certificate from abroad is attested in its home country and then goes to the Ministry of Education for equivalency. See MOE attestation.
- Students joining a UAE school. Teenagers moving from Canada into the senior grades may need attested records. Check the school's list first, and see attestation for school admission. Certificates issued by Dubai schools follow a local process on KHDA attestation.
- Jobs needing Grade 12. Some employers ask for proof of secondary school for roles that do not need a degree.
The four stamps on a Canadian diploma
- Canadian notary. A notary public in Canada certifies the diploma so that a Canadian authority can check the signature.
- Apostille. Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan run their own apostille offices for papers issued or notarised there. The rest of the country uses Global Affairs Canada, which does not charge a fee and has no express lane.
- UAE Embassy in Ottawa. The embassy adds its stamp after the apostille. It is booked through the MOFA portal and VFS Global, takes online payment only and needs at least 3 to 5 business days.
- MOFA in the UAE. MOFA attestation is the last stamp, and after it the diploma is ready for the university, school or employer.
Canada has issued apostilles since 11 January 2024. The UAE is not part of that convention, which is why steps 3 and 4 remain.
What to send us
- The original diploma, not laminated.
- A copy of your passport.
- The final transcript if the university or MOE listed it. It is a separate document, explained on Canada transcript attestation.
- The name of the office that asked and your deadline.
We pick up and deliver free anywhere in Dubai.
Problems we see with school diplomas
- Lost diploma. Get a replacement before you start. BC graduates order copies of the Dogwood online, Alberta graduates use myPass, and Quebec graduates ask the Ministère de l'Éducation for a duplicate.
- Closed school. In Ontario, records of closed schools are usually kept by the school board. Its transcript office can help.
- French wording. A DES is usually in French, so a legal translation is added once it is back in the UAE.
- Report card sent instead. A school report card is not the diploma. In Quebec, the Ministry's relevé des apprentissages is also different from the school's report.
- Name changed since school. Bring the marriage certificate or change of name record that links both names.
Degrees, marriage and birth certificates from Canada go through the same chain, listed on Canada certificate attestation.
Official sources
Links below were checked on .
