Fees and steps checked on
Iceland does not give a plain apostille for the UAE. Because the UAE is outside the Hague Convention, the Icelandic Ministry for Foreign Affairs issues chain authentication instead. A UAE mission accredited to Iceland follows, then MOFA attestation.
Price: The MOFA fee and all official fees are included in our quote. Send a copy of your document for your exact total.
This covers:
- every stamp your document needs in Iceland
- the UAE embassy or consulate step
- the MOFA UAE fee (AED 150 per personal document, AED 2,000 per commercial document, paid to the UAE government)
- our service, courier and VAT
No extra charges. We confirm your exact total from a copy of your document before you pay.
Photograph the paper and message us. You receive one total including VAT before any work. See attestation fees for the government share.
What are the two outcomes on the Icelandic portal?
The public services portal publishes two results. Documents for Hague countries receive an apostille. Documents for other countries receive chain authentication confirmed by the Ministry's stamp. The UAE falls in the second group, so name the UAE as the receiving country on the request.
What are the steps for an Icelandic document?
- The issuing authority. Registers Iceland for civil records, a university such as the University of Iceland or Reykjavik University for degrees, the Register of Enterprises for companies.
- Notarisation by a District Commissioner, for statements and powers of attorney.
- The Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Appointments are required through the Noona booking system from 26 October 2026, at the Capital Area District Commissioner in Kopavogur.
- The UAE mission. The ambassador for Iceland is non-resident, and we confirm which mission handles the stamp.
- MOFA in the UAE.
Can I apply for Icelandic legalisation from abroad?
The online form requires an Icelandic kennitala, the national ID number. People living abroad use the front desk form or email, stating the receiving country and the number of documents. That is a main reason many Icelanders in the UAE hand the job to us.
Which Icelandic documents do people send?
| Paper | Source | Extra note |
|---|---|---|
| Degree and transcript | University registrar | Authentication by the Ministry |
| Birth or marriage certificate | Registers Iceland | Authentication by the Ministry |
| Criminal record certificate | District Commissioner | Paper original, not a printout |
| Power of attorney | District Commissioner | Authentication by the Ministry |
| Company certificate | Register of Enterprises | Authentication by the Ministry |
| Driving licence | Icelandic Transport Authority | We confirm the route |
School leaving papers, such as the studentspróf certificate, also come up for children's admission.
Do Icelandic documents need a translation?
Documents are in Icelandic. MOFA accepts Arabic or English, so a certified translation is needed. Iceland's own rule says a translation for Icelandic use is by a certified translator and notarised by a District Commissioner. We arrange legal translation in Dubai when the UAE side needs it.
How are Icelandic names handled?
Icelandic names are patronymic, with no family surname. A passport may show a patronymic as the surname while a certificate lists it differently, so we compare before submission.
Which mistakes should I avoid with Icelandic papers?
- Foreign documents sent to Reykjavik. The Ministry does not authenticate them.
- Printouts. A printed digital certificate may be refused, so bring the paper original.
- A request that does not say UAE as the receiving country.
- Laminated originals.
When does an Icelandic notary come first?
For a power of attorney or a statement, the District Commissioner notarises first, and only then does the Ministry authenticate. Doing it in the wrong order means paying twice. Documents already issued with a printed digital signature should be requested again as paper originals. If you live outside Iceland, a family member can attend the Kopavogur desk with your authorisation, and we handle the UAE end from the moment the stamped original reaches us.
