Fees and steps checked on
Diploma certificate attestation is the chain of stamps that makes a non-university diploma valid in the UAE: a vocational or technical diploma, a polytechnic diploma, a high school diploma, or a professional diploma from an institute or awarding body. It is needed for a work permit, a trade licence, a school or college place, or an equivalency file. The route is the diploma's own regulator first, then that country's foreign ministry, the UAE embassy, and MOFA attestation. If you hold a bachelor's, master's or doctorate, read degree certificate attestation instead.
Price: from AED 985 plus VAT for a UK diploma on the standard route, AED 1,025 plus VAT for a USA diploma, from AED 1,600 on the UK premium route, and from AED 1,900 plus VAT for a Canadian diploma, all official fees and courier included. A UAE-issued diploma that only needs MOFA is from AED 250 plus VAT. Diplomas from other countries are quoted after you share a copy. See attestation fees.
Which diplomas this page covers
| Type of diploma | Examples | Who checks it first |
|---|---|---|
| Technical and vocational | TESDA national certificates, polytechnic diplomas, trade certificates | The national technical or skills authority |
| High school | Grade 12 certificates, school-leaving diplomas, US high school diplomas | The school board or education ministry |
| Professional | Diplomas from institutes and awarding bodies, nursing or hospitality diplomas | The awarding body, then a notary where the country requires it |
| College and associate | Two-year college diplomas, associate degrees | The college or education authority |
A university degree, even if it is called a "diploma" in the local language, follows the degree route.
Country rules that change the first step
- Philippines. Technical and vocational certificates need a TESDA certification (CAV) before the DFA apostille; school records go through DepEd. See the Philippines degree attestation page for how the DFA and UAE Embassy Manila steps work.
- India. Diplomas are authenticated by the state education department (the HRD step), then the Ministry of External Affairs. See HRD and MEA attestation.
- UK. Qualification certificates must be certified by a UK solicitor or notary before the FCDO, then the UAE Embassy in London adds its stamp and MOFA's together on the digital route. See UK diploma and professional qualification attestation.
- USA and Canada. A notary and the state Secretary of State come first in the USA, then the US Department of State. See USA high school diploma attestation. In Canada, a notary then Global Affairs Canada or the provincial authority. Then the UAE embassy.
Step by step
- Check the original. Not laminated, in Arabic or English or with a legal translation, and the name matching your passport.
- Regulator or board verification in the issuing country, as above.
- Notary, where that country requires one for educational certificates.
- Foreign ministry legalisation or apostille.
- UAE embassy, now digital for many countries, which includes the MOFA stamp.
- MOFA in the UAE, where the older paper route still applies.
- Equivalency, if needed. School certificates go to the Ministry of Education; see MOE attestation and equivalency certificate in the UAE.
Diploma plus transcript
Many employers and colleges want the marks as well as the certificate. A transcript or marksheet is a separate document with its own MOFA fee. Tell us at the start so both travel together: see transcript attestation.
UAE-issued diplomas going abroad
A diploma from a UAE institute or school is attested by the issuing authority, then by MOFA, then usually by the embassy of the destination country in the UAE. The MOFA courier route takes 1 to 3 business days.
Common problems with diplomas
- Diploma sent on the degree route. A technical certificate that skips TESDA or the state board is returned at the foreign ministry.
- Laminated certificates. Common with vocational cards. MOFA will not attest them.
- Provisional certificates. Check that your UAE employer or school will accept a provisional certificate before attesting it; if the final one is available, attest that instead.
- Name mismatch. Short names or missing middle names on school diplomas cause rejections. Bring a passport copy.
For a work permit, read degree and diploma attestation for an employment visa.
