Fees and steps checked on
KHDA attestation is the smart (QR) attestation that the Knowledge and Human Development Authority adds to school documents from Dubai private schools, mainly transfer certificates (TC). The school requests it, it usually takes 1 working day, and the fee is paid to the school. School certificates from abroad follow a different route: the home education authority, foreign ministry, UAE embassy and MOFA attestation.
Price: the KHDA step itself is requested through your school and paid to it. A Dubai school document that then needs MOFA is from AED 250 plus VAT. School certificates from the UK are from AED 985 plus VAT, from the USA from AED 1,025 plus VAT and from Canada from AED 1,900 plus VAT, all official fees included. See attestation fees.
Two different jobs: KHDA and school certificate attestation
| You need | Who does it | Usual time | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| KHDA-attested transfer certificate from a Dubai school | The school, through KHDA | usually 1 working day | paid to the school |
| Dubai school document for use abroad | MOFA, then the destination embassy | 2 to 3 working days for MOFA | from AED 250 plus VAT for the MOFA stage |
| School certificate from abroad for a UAE school | Home authorities, UAE embassy, MOFA | weeks, by country | from AED 985 plus VAT (UK), AED 1,025 (USA) |
| School equivalency | Ministry of Education | depends on the case | quoted after you share a copy |
KHDA transfer certificate, step by step
- Tell the current school you are leaving, either for another Dubai school or for a school outside Dubai.
- The school requests the TC from KHDA and pays or passes on the fee.
- KHDA attests it digitally with a QR code, usually within 1 working day.
- If the next school is abroad, take the attested TC to MOFA and, if asked, the destination embassy. See attesting UAE documents for use abroad.
School certificates from abroad
Many students joining a Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Sharjah school bring report cards, transfer letters or a Grade 12 certificate from their home country. Whether these need attestation depends on the country and the school: schools often accept certificates from the USA, Canada, Western Europe, Australia and New Zealand with the school stamp only, while others ask for the full chain. Ask the new school in writing. See attestation for school admission.
When the full chain is needed, it runs:
- Home education authority, for example the education ministry or regional office.
- Foreign ministry of the issuing country.
- UAE embassy, now combined with MOFA on the digital route for the UK and the USA.
- MOFA in the UAE for countries still on the paper route.
| Country | Usual time | Our total price |
|---|---|---|
| UK, standard | 22 to 24 working days | from AED 985 plus VAT |
| UK, premium | 12 to 14 working days | from AED 1,600 |
| USA | about 7 weeks | from AED 1,025 plus VAT |
| Canada | 4 to 6 weeks | from AED 1,900 plus VAT |
| Other countries, see attestation by country | depends on the country | quoted after you share a copy |
School equivalency
Students entering a UAE school from abroad often need an equivalency from the Ministry of Education, which stays responsible for Grade 12 and below. The certificates must be attested by the Ministry of Education and/or the issuing country's education authority, and translated by a legal translator if not in Arabic or English. See MOE equivalency in the UAE, MOE attestation and equivalency certificate in the UAE.
UAE public school certificates
Certificates from UAE public schools are issued digitally through the Emirates Schools Establishment. They then go through MOFA and UAE embassy attestation.
Documents you need
- The transfer certificate or school certificate (original, not laminated)
- The child's passport copy and, for UAE schools, the child's attested birth certificate if the school asks for it
- The next school's written list of required documents
- A legal translation if the certificate is not in Arabic or English
Moving a child from a school abroad? The transfer certificate rules are in school transfer certificate attestation.
Common problems and how to avoid them
- Asking KHDA directly. The transfer certificate is requested through the current school, so start there.
- Attesting more than needed. Many Dubai schools accept Western school records with the school stamp only, so check first.
- Late start on equivalency. It needs attested certificates, so begin the chain early if term starts soon.
