Fees and steps checked on
To use a US death certificate in the UAE, order a certified copy from the vital records office of the state where the death was registered, then have it authenticated by that state's Secretary of State and by the US Department of State. The UAE Embassy in Washington and MOFA attest it last, in one digital step. Families need it to close a UAE bank account, release an end of service payment, transfer a property title in Dubai or settle shares in a UAE company.
Price: AED 1,025 per certificate plus VAT, with the federal fee, the UAE Embassy and MOFA fees and courier included. Plan on about 1 month and 3 weeks. We start from a clear scan, so the paper copy stays with the family. See attestation fees.
Where to order the certificate
There is no federal death certificate. The CDC's vital records directory lists the office for each state, with its fees and rules. Some states issue copies only through the state registrar, others also through the city or county. California, for example, asks for a notarised sworn statement before it issues a certified copy to a relative.
Order the certified version with the registrar's signature and seal. A funeral home summary, an informational copy or a hospital notice cannot be authenticated.
Order several certified copies at once. A UAE bank, a court and a registry may each want to keep one, and every copy is attested as its own document.
Who uses it in the UAE
- Banks. A UAE bank usually asks for the attested certificate before it deals with the heirs on an account.
- Courts and inheritance. An estate case in a UAE court needs proof of death that the court can rely on.
- Employers and pensions. End of service benefits owed to the family are released against it.
- Property and companies. Property and company registries ask for it before a title deed or shares move to the heirs.
One heir often acts for the rest through a power of attorney signed in the US. See USA power of attorney attestation.
The chain for a US death certificate
| Stage | Office | What it confirms |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | State or county vital records | Issues the certified copy |
| 2 | Secretary of State of that state | The registrar's signature |
| 3 | US Department of State, Office of Authentications | The state official's seal |
| 4 | UAE Embassy in Washington, through VFS Global, with MOFA | Attestation for use in the UAE, issued digitally |
In New York, a copy signed by a local registrar goes to the County Clerk before the Secretary of State. Certificates signed by the state registrar skip that step. We check which applies from the scan.
Documents to send
- A colour scan of the certified death certificate, both sides if anything is printed on the back
- A copy of the passport of the person applying
- The name of the UAE office that asked for it, so the translation question is settled early
What goes wrong
- Short form or informational copy. States mark some copies "not valid for legal purposes". Those are refused at the Secretary of State.
- Cause of death left pending. Some states issue a first certificate with the cause marked pending. Banks may accept it; courts sometimes ask for the amended one. Ask before you attest.
- Names that differ from the UAE records. If the passport, the Emirates ID and the certificate spell the name differently, the bank or court may ask for an affidavit linking them.
- Stopping at the apostille. The UAE is not in the Apostille Convention, so a state apostille alone does not work here.
The steps for death certificates from other countries are on death certificate attestation, and every other US document is on USA certificate attestation.
