Fees and steps checked on
Canada medical certificate attestation makes a sick note, fitness certificate or medical report from a Canadian doctor or hospital usable with a UAE employer, insurer, school or health regulator. Because a clinic is a private source, a Canadian notary certifies the document first. After that come the Canadian apostille, the UAE Embassy in Ottawa and MOFA attestation.
Price: from AED 1,900 plus VAT, 4 to 6 weeks, all official fees and courier included. See attestation fees.
Medical documents we see from Canada
- Sick notes and medical leave certificates written by a family doctor or walk-in clinic
- Hospital discharge summaries and specialist reports
- Fitness or clearance letters for work, sport or school
- Vaccination and immunisation records from a clinic or public health unit
The document must be signed by the doctor and, where the clinic uses one, stamped. Global Affairs Canada does not authenticate photocopies, laminated pages or papers with no original signature. Checked on .
Why UAE offices ask for it
- Medical leave from a UAE job. If you fell ill while in Canada, your employer may want the leave certificate attested before it accepts the absence. UAE-issued sick leave follows a different path on sick leave attestation.
- Insurance claims. A UAE insurer may ask for an attested report for treatment you had in Canada.
- DHA or DOH licensing files. If the licensing body for health workers in Dubai or Abu Dhabi asks for a medical document from Canada, it goes through this chain. The wider licensing file is covered in attestation for medical professionals.
- School. A school may want a medical history or fitness letter for a child joining from Canada.
Notary first: who apostilles which medical document
For a private document, the place where the notary signs decides the apostille office. Global Affairs Canada lists the provinces it covers for notarised papers, checked on .
| Where the notary signs | Apostille issued by |
|---|---|
| Alberta, Ontario or Saskatchewan | that province's competent authority |
| British Columbia or Quebec | we confirm the office from your copy |
| Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, the three territories | Global Affairs Canada |
The four-stage route
- Notary Public in Canada. A Canadian notary certifies the signed medical report or makes a notarised copy of it.
- Apostille. The competent authority from the table above. Global Affairs Canada, formerly DFAT, charges no fee, offers no expedited service and currently handles requests received about 25 business days earlier, plus 5 to 10 business days in the post.
- UAE Embassy in Ottawa. The appointment goes through the MOFA portal and VFS Global, payment is online only, and the embassy needs at least 3 to 5 business days.
- MOFA UAE. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs adds the last attestation in the UAE.
Canada became part of the Apostille Convention on 11 January 2024, but the UAE did not join. The embassy and MOFA stages stay. How long attestation takes breaks down the timing.
What to send
- The original signed medical certificate or report
- A copy of your passport
- The name of the UAE employer, insurer or regulator, so we know which pages they need
- Your Emirates ID copy, if the document is for a UAE employer
Common problems with Canadian medical papers
- Portal printouts. A page printed from a patient portal has no original signature. Ask the clinic for a signed paper copy.
- Missing doctor details. A note without the doctor's name or the clinic's details may be queried by the UAE office.
- Late leave certificates. The 4 to 6 weeks can clash with your employer's deadline. Tell HR the expected date at the start.
- French reports. A report from Quebec in French needs a legal translation for MOFA.
- Confidential details. Only send the pages the UAE office asked for.
Medical reports issued in the UAE and other countries are on medical certificate attestation. For degrees and personal records, see Canada certificate attestation.
