Fees and steps checked on
How long attestation takes depends mainly on the issuing country. A UAE document that only needs MOFA attestation usually takes 2 to 3 working days. A document from abroad takes longer because of the home country steps: 12 to 14 working days for a UK personal document on the premium service, 4 to 6 weeks for Canada and about 7 weeks for the USA.
Price: UK and USA personal documents from AED 1,025 plus VAT, Canada from AED 1,900 plus VAT, all official fees included. See attestation fees.
Attestation timelines by country
These are our usual total times, from receiving the original to returning it attested.
| Country | Document | Usual time |
|---|---|---|
| UK, premium | Personal documents | 12 to 14 working days |
| UK, standard | Personal documents | 22 to 24 working days |
| UK | Commercial documents | 22 to 24 working days |
| UK | Board resolution and power of attorney | about 24 working days |
| USA | Personal documents | about 7 weeks |
| USA | Commercial documents | about 7 weeks |
| Canada | Personal documents | 4 to 6 weeks |
| UAE document, MOFA only | Personal or commercial | 2 to 3 working days |
| Every other country | Any | depends on the country |
How long each step takes
The total is the sum of the steps. The slowest step is almost always the home foreign ministry.
| Step | Who stamps it | Official time |
|---|---|---|
| UK legalisation, standard paper | FCDO | up to 25 working days plus postage |
| UK legalisation, e-Apostille | FCDO | up to 2 working days |
| US authentication | US Department of State | about 5 weeks by mail |
| Canada authentication | Global Affairs Canada | about 25 business days plus 5 to 10 for mailing |
| New Zealand authentication | Category A, which covers the UAE | within 15 working days, urgent within 5 if eligible |
| Philippines apostille | DFA | about 4 working days, next business day expedited |
| UAE embassy plus MOFA, digital route | UAE embassy and MOFA together | usually 2 to 3 working days |
| MOFA, UAE document, digital | MOFA | within 2 hours in working hours |
| MOFA, UAE document, courier | MOFA | 1 to 3 business days |
| MOFA, courier from outside the UAE | MOFA | up to 7 business days |
| Commercial invoice via eDAS | MOFA | about 2 minutes once submitted |
Country by country routes are on attestation by country.
Why the digital route saves time
For the UK, the USA, Jordan, Nigeria and several other countries, the UAE embassy and MOFA now attest a document in one step. You apply on the MOFA portal, a courier collects the original, and the document comes back by email attested by both, usually within 2 to 3 working days for that stage. There is no separate MOFA step after the document reaches the UAE.
On the older paper route, the embassy stamps the original and it then travels to the UAE for MOFA. That adds courier time and a second application.
How long does MOFA attestation take in the UAE?
For a document issued in the UAE, MOFA's digital route returns an eligible digital document within 2 hours during working hours. Paper documents go through MOFA's courier route, which takes 1 to 3 business days depending on the courier. Allowing for collection and return, plan on 2 to 3 working days with us. See MOFA attestation online.
What slows attestation down
- A missing first step. A UK degree that has not been certified by a solicitor or notary cannot go to the FCDO.
- Laminated or damaged originals. MOFA does not accept laminated documents, so a new certificate has to be ordered from the issuer.
- Language. A document not in Arabic or English needs a certified translation first.
- Bundled apostilles. For the USA, each document must be apostilled on its own.
- Wrong office. In the USA, business documents start at the local Secretary of State, personal documents at the State Department.
- Rejection and refund. If MOFA rejects an application, the refund takes up to 14 working days and the document has to be fixed and resubmitted.
More on refusals in why attestation gets rejected.
How to plan around a visa or job deadline
- Start before you move. If you are still abroad, the home country steps are easier to start there.
- Attest everything together. Degree, marriage certificate and children's birth certificates can run in parallel, so the total time is set by the slowest one.
- Send a copy first. A photo on WhatsApp lets the route be checked before the original moves, which avoids most delays.
- Ask your employer or school which documents they need attested. A family visa and a work visa ask for different papers.
MOFA's stamp has no expiry date, though some offices want a recently issued document: see does attestation expire.
Can I speed up attestation?
Partly. In the UK, the premium route is quicker than the standard one. In New Zealand and the Philippines, an urgent or expedited service exists if eligible. Global Affairs Canada has no expedited service. Beyond that, the quickest route is a correct document the first time. The fastest real option for each country is on quick attestation in Dubai.
