Fees and steps checked on
UK degree attestation makes a British university degree valid in the UAE for a work permit, a golden visa or degree recognition. The route is fixed: a UK solicitor or notary certifies a copy of the degree, the FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) legalises it, and the UAE Embassy in London attests it digitally together with MOFA. No separate MOFA stamp is needed in Dubai afterwards.
Price: standard service from AED 985 plus VAT (22 to 24 working days), express from AED 1,200 (18 working days) or premium from AED 1,600 (12 to 14 working days), all official fees and courier included. See attestation fees.
All three services work from a certified copy, so you keep your original. A clear PDF of the degree is all we need to start, with the payment in advance.
Who needs UK degree attestation
- New jobs in skilled roles. The UAE work permit for skilled positions requires an attested education certificate. See degree attestation for a UAE work visa.
- Golden visa applicants. The skilled professional route asks for an attested bachelor's degree or equivalent. See attestation for the golden visa.
- Degree recognition. The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research recognises foreign degrees, which replaced the old equivalency certificate. An attested degree is the starting point.
UK degree attestation step by step
- Solicitor or notary certification. A UK solicitor or notary certifies a copy of your degree certificate. The FCDO requires this for qualification certificates.
- FCDO legalisation. The FCDO confirms the solicitor's or notary's signature and attaches its apostille.
- UAE Embassy London, digital. The application is filed on the MOFA portal and an approved provider collects the document in the UK. The embassy and MOFA attest it together, usually in 2 to 3 working days.
- Delivery. You receive the digitally attested degree by email.
Timing for each stage
| Stage | Who stamps it | Usual time |
|---|---|---|
| Certified copy | UK solicitor or notary | varies |
| Legalisation | FCDO | up to 25 working days |
| Embassy and MOFA | UAE Embassy London, digital | usually 2 to 3 working days |
The FCDO, embassy and MOFA fees and courier all sit inside our from-price. The full chain for other UK documents is on the UK certificate attestation page.
Why the UK apostille is not enough
The UAE has not joined the Hague Apostille Convention, so the FCDO apostille only covers the UK side. The UAE Embassy and MOFA stamps make the degree usable in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and the northern emirates. The difference is explained in attestation vs apostille.
UK degree attestation cost and time
The cost is per document and depends on the speed you choose. The figures below include the solicitor's certified copy, the FCDO fee, the UAE Embassy and MOFA fees and courier.
| Service | Time | Price per degree |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | 22 to 24 working days | AED 985 plus VAT |
| Express | 18 working days | AED 1,200 |
| Premium | 12 to 14 working days | AED 1,600 |
The FCDO publishes its own fees on GOV.UK: £45 for standard postal legalisation, £40 for the next-day service (registered businesses only), £35 for an e-Apostille and £100 for urgent handling (registered businesses only) (2025 figures). You do not pay those separately with us. If you send your degree to the FCDO yourself you pay them directly, and you still need the UAE Embassy and MOFA stage afterwards. For other UK documents see attestation fees and the wider degree attestation cost in the UAE.
What to send us for a UK degree certificate
- A clear PDF of the degree certificate, front and any back page. The original stays with you.
- The photo page of your passport, so the name can be matched.
- A marriage certificate or deed poll if your name has changed since graduation. See UK deed poll attestation.
- The date you need it by, and the UAE office it is for.
UK degree attestation in Dubai
Dubai employers, free zones and the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research all accept the same digitally attested UK degree. You do not visit a MOFA office in Dubai: the embassy in London and MOFA attest it in one step, and the result reaches you by email. Postgraduate and undergraduate certificates follow the same chain. For a diploma or foundation certificate rather than a degree, see UK diploma attestation. For transcripts or a HEAR, see UK transcript attestation.
Common problems and how to avoid them
- Sending the degree straight to the FCDO. It is returned without legalisation. Certification by a solicitor or notary comes first.
- Laminated certificates. MOFA does not accept laminated documents. Order a replacement from your university if yours is laminated.
- Name changed since graduation. If your passport name differs from the degree, attest your marriage certificate too. See UK marriage certificate attestation.
- Paper or e-Apostille. We plan for the paper FCDO route in the UK, worked from your PDF, so you never post the degree yourself.
- Transcripts forgotten. Some employers and the recognition process ask for transcripts. Each one is a separate document with its own fees, so decide before you start.
After attestation
Your degree carries a reference number and issue date that anyone can check at verify.mofa.gov.ae. If you also need recognition, the next steps are primary source verification and the Certificate of Recognition, covered under degree certificate attestation.
