Fees and steps checked on
MOFA invoice attestation is the step that lets UAE customs and your buyer accept a commercial invoice for imported goods. It is done online through eDAS, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' electronic attestation system. We are a private document service. We are not MOFA and we are not a government office, and we handle the filing on your behalf.
Price: the official MOFA charge for an eDAS invoice is stated as a flat AED 150 plus service fees, and our total price includes all official fees. The fee in MOFA's guide depends on the invoice amount, so we confirm one total for your invoice before work starts. See attestation fees.
What eDAS is
The importer enters the invoice details online, pays, and downloads the attested invoice. MOFA states that the electronic attestation became mandatory for imported goods valued at AED 10,000 and above from 1 February 2023, under Cabinet Resolution No. 38 of 2022.
The same system covers certificates of origin. Invoices and certificates of origin are not taken on the regular MOFA attestation route.
Who needs it
- Importers bringing goods into the UAE mainland from any country.
- Free zone companies shipping goods to the mainland.
- Shipments from GCC countries to the mainland, and import for re-export.
- Anyone clearing goods at customs who needs the attested invoice in the file.
MOFA lists two exceptions: documents that already carry a clear MOFA stamp, and third country transit shipments from one country to another. If your shipment is borderline, send us the papers and we tell you whether it is covered.
Fees and deadlines
| Item | What MOFA states | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Invoice on eDAS | Flat AED 150 plus service fees; guide says it depends on invoice amount | MOFA FAQ |
| Payment window | 14 days from the Bill of Entry date | MOFA FAQ |
| Late payment | Extra fine of AED 500 per invoice | MOFA FAQ |
| Other commercial documents | AED 2,000 per document | MOFA FAQ |
| Personal documents | AED 150 per document | MOFA FAQ |
The 14-day window is where most importers lose money. On a busy month, AED 500 on each late invoice adds up quickly. Our price includes the official fees, so you do not pay MOFA separately.
How we handle it
- You send the invoice and shipping papers on WhatsApp: the commercial invoice, the certificate of origin and the Bill of Entry date.
- We check them for the points that cause rejection, listed below.
- We confirm the total price in one message. Nothing is filed before you agree.
- We file on eDAS. Where a certificate of origin applies, it is attested and paid first, because MOFA ties the invoice payment to it.
- We return the attested invoice to you or your clearing agent.
The chamber of commerce step for documents from abroad
A supplier abroad often needs its own country's chamber of commerce to issue the certificate of origin, and some exporting countries also stamp the invoice. That happens before the goods reach the UAE. The UAE side of the file is the eDAS attestation described here.
If you are the UAE exporter sending goods out, the route differs. Dubai Chambers issues certificates of origin, usually in about 2 hours, and attests signatures for member companies. See chamber of commerce attestation. If you are the one shipping from the UK or the USA, see UK commercial documents attestation and USA commercial documents attestation.
What to send us
- The commercial invoice, as a clear PDF or photo
- The certificate of origin, where it applies
- The Bill of Entry date, so we can count your 14 days
- The importer's trade licence copy and the company name used on eDAS
- The destination, if the goods leave the UAE again after import
Mistakes that get invoices rejected
- Paying after 14 days. The AED 500 fine is added per invoice.
- Skipping the certificate of origin. MOFA requires its payment before the related invoice request.
- Sending invoices to the regular MOFA route. They are only accepted on eDAS.
- Name or value mismatches. The invoice, the Bill of Entry and the trade licence should show the same company name and the same totals.
- Splitting one declaration. MOFA states that each declaration number needs a separate certificate of origin attestation. Group the papers by declaration.
If an attestation is refused, why attestation gets rejected explains the common reasons.
Invoices and other commercial documents
Contracts, agency agreements, board resolutions and incorporation papers are not invoices and do not go through eDAS. They follow the commercial route covered on commercial document attestation and company documents attestation, where MOFA's commercial fee of AED 2,000 per document applies.
How to verify
Ask for the attested invoice with its MOFA reference. The reference can be checked on verify.mofa.gov.ae. Customs and banks can do the same.
Official sources
- UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs: FAQ, read 30 Oct 2026
