Fees and steps checked on
Indian birth certificate attestation makes a birth certificate issued in India valid in the UAE, mostly for a child's residence visa or a school admission. The route is: Home Department of the state or union territory, MEA attestation, then the UAE Embassy in New Delhi, which adds MOFA attestation in the same digital step. It is not an MEA apostille.
Price: India is quoted per document. Send a copy on WhatsApp and you get the total price plus VAT, all official fees included, before any work starts. See attestation fees.
When you need it
- A child's residence visa. The UAE dependent visa list includes an attested birth certificate for each child. See attestation for a family visa.
- School admission in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Sharjah. Schools may ask for the attested birth certificate at registration. See attestation for school admission.
- Your own birth certificate. Adults sometimes need it when a UAE authority asks for proof of birth details.
Step by step
- Check the certificate. It should come from the municipal body or registrar of births, show the child's name, and not be laminated.
- State Home Department. The Home Department of the state or union territory where the birth was registered authenticates the certificate. This is the step MEA itself names for birth certificates.
- MEA attestation. MEA attests the Home Department signature in New Delhi or at a branch secretariat. Documents reach MEA through its collection agencies.
- UAE Embassy New Delhi and MOFA. Filed on the UAE MOFA website with UAE PASS. The original birth certificate is collected in India and attested digitally by both offices, usually in about 2 to 3 working days. The original is returned by courier.
Documents you need
- The original birth certificate (the UAE route accepts only originals for birth certificates).
- A copy of the child's passport and a parent's passport.
- If the parents' names on the certificate differ from their passports, an affidavit or corrected certificate.
Timing at a glance
| Step | Office | Usual time |
|---|---|---|
| State authentication | State Home Department | varies |
| MEA | Ministry of External Affairs | no published time |
| UAE Embassy and MOFA | Digital, both together | about 2 to 3 working days |
Every official fee and the courier are included in the total price you get before any work starts.
Attesting it from inside the UAE
The Indian side cannot be done in the UAE: the state Home Department and MEA only work in India. What can happen here is the last part. Once the certificate carries both Indian stamps, the Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi or the Consulate General in Dubai can attest it, and the embassy has said UAE MOFA accepts that for birth certificates. Since 22 July 2026 this runs through Indian Consular Application Centres booked at consularsevainuae.com.
The other path is the digital UAE Embassy New Delhi route, where the embassy and MOFA attest the certificate together and the copy is emailed to you. Both end at a document valid in every emirate. We pick the one that fits your dates and the office asking for the certificate.
How long it takes
The state step is the slowest and varies by state. MEA publishes no fixed time. The UAE Embassy and MOFA digital step usually takes about 2 to 3 working days after collection. If your child's visa has an entry or renewal deadline, send the date with your first message.
Born in the UAE or in another country?
A UAE-issued birth certificate does not go to MEA: it is attested by MOFA here. A birth certificate from a third country follows that country's route. See birth certificate attestation for both cases.
Common problems
- No name on the certificate. Common on older Indian birth certificates. Get the name added first.
- Delayed registration certificate. Send it to us first so we can check that the state will authenticate it as issued.
- Wrong state. The Home Department must be the one of the state where the birth was registered.
For degrees and marriage certificates from India, start at Indian certificate attestation.
