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Chinese degree attestation makes a bachelor, master or doctoral degree from a mainland Chinese university valid in the UAE for a work permit, a professional licence or a Ministry of Higher Education equivalency. Chinese degrees are not sent abroad as they are. A Chinese notary office first issues a notarial certificate, usually with an English translation bound in. That certificate is authenticated by the Chinese foreign affairs authority, attested by the UAE embassy or a UAE consulate in China, and finished with MOFA attestation in the UAE.
Price: There is no fixed price for China. Send a copy on WhatsApp and you get the total price plus VAT, all official fees included, before any work starts.
We are a private document service, not MOFA, an embassy or a government office. Free document pickup and delivery anywhere in Dubai is part of the service.
Two certificates, one file
Chinese universities normally issue a degree certificate and a separate graduation certificate. The degree certificate proves the academic award. The graduation certificate proves you completed the programme. Many UAE files, especially equivalency, look for both, and an employer may also ask for the transcript. Each one is notarised and passes the same chain, so it pays to decide at the start which papers you need.
The Chinese degree chain for the UAE
- Verification, if needed. For some files a CHSI online verification report issued by CSSD is prepared first, so the notary or the UAE side can confirm the degree.
- Notarial certificate. A Chinese notary office issues a notarial certificate for the degree, usually a certified copy with an English translation.
- Chinese foreign affairs authentication. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs or an authorised local foreign affairs office authenticates the notarial certificate. Applications usually go through an appointed agency or notary office, not directly by the graduate.
- UAE embassy or consulate in China. The UAE mission attests the Chinese foreign affairs stamp.
- MOFA in the UAE. The final stamp that MOHRE, licensing bodies and the Ministry of Higher Education check.
Since 7 November 2023, Chinese offices issue apostilles for Convention countries. For the UAE, make sure the file is marked for consular authentication, or it will come back with the wrong stamp.
Documents you need
- The original degree certificate and graduation certificate.
- The transcript, if your equivalency or licence asks for it.
- A copy of your passport and, for Chinese citizens, your ID card.
- A power of attorney if a relative in China applies at the notary office for you.
Equivalency and the UAE Ministry of Higher Education
For a UAE equivalency certificate the Ministry looks at the programme and the study period, not only the title. Chinese degrees earned partly online, or through part time and adult education programmes, can raise questions. Tell us how you studied when you send the copy, so we can flag issues before the attestation is paid for.
Common problems with Chinese degrees
- Wrong stamp after November 2023. The file was processed for an apostille instead of consular authentication. For the UAE, the foreign affairs step usually has to be done again as consular authentication.
- Pinyin spelling. Your name in the translation must match the pinyin in your passport, including the order of surname and given name.
- Translation errors in the degree title. The English title in the notarial certificate must match what the university uses. A loose translation of a major can cause a problem at equivalency.
- Only one certificate attested. The graduate attests the degree certificate, and the employer then asks for the graduation certificate too.
Timing
The Chinese notary and foreign affairs steps, and the UAE mission, set most of the time. Your timeline is confirmed with your quote. Once the certificate is in the UAE, MOFA usually finishes in 1 to 3 business days.
Other Chinese documents
Families moving to the UAE often also need Chinese marriage certificate attestation and Chinese birth certificate attestation. The full route for every document is on China certificate attestation, and rules for degrees from every country are on degree certificate attestation.
