Equivalency Certificate UAE: Process, Cost & Documents
An equivalency certificate in the UAE is now issued as a Recognition Report by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research for university degrees earned outside the UAE. You verify the degree through an accredited partner, apply online with UAE Pass, and pay the government fee for your degree level.
Your employer has asked for an equivalency certificate UAE authorities will accept, but the first results you find still name the Ministry of Education (MOE, the ministry for school certificates). For university degrees earned abroad, the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MOHESR, the federal ministry that issues recognition reports for foreign degrees) now handles the request, because MOE covers school certificates only. This guide shows which ministry applies, what degree equivalency costs and how to apply.
Degree Equivalency at a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Who handles it | Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MOHESR) |
| Official service name | Recognition of university certificates issued from outside the UAE |
| Where to apply | MOHESR online service, signed in with UAE Pass |
| Government fee | AED 100 (bachelor’s or below), AED 150 (master’s), AED 200 (doctoral), per application |
| Result | Recognition Report |
Which Ministry Issues Degree Equivalency Now
This section settles whether your degree goes to MOHESR or to MOE.
| Qualification | Authority | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Diploma, bachelor’s, master’s or doctorate issued outside the UAE | MOHESR | Result is a Recognition Report |
| School or Grade 12 certificate | MOE | Separate MOE equivalency service |
| University degree issued inside the UAE | MOHESR | Separate service; graduates of some UAE universities receive automatic recognition |
According to the UAE Government Portal (u.ae), MOHESR runs the University Qualifications Recognition service for qualifications from accredited higher education institutions outside the UAE. Visa and residency files can also ask for the resulting report, so check the UAE visa and residency requirements that apply to you.
MOE handles school certificates, not university degrees.
As of 2026, a certificate from a short training course, or a vocational certificate that involves no study, cannot be recognised, and the final decision on every file rests with MOHESR.
Documents You Need Before You Apply
MOHESR cut the number of required documents from 14 to four under Ministerial Resolution No. (34) of 2025, so each item has to be right the first time.
- Degree verification report from DataFlow, QuadraBay or VFS Global
- Degree certificate (graduation certificate), original or legalised copy
- Transcript (degree mark sheets) for a bachelor’s degree or diploma, or a research abstract for a graduate degree
- Legal translation of any document not in English or Arabic
Your file usually holds these items, and MOHESR may ask for more in some cases. If a certificate needs a legal translation, document and attestation services can arrange it.
- A certificate in another language submitted without a legal translation
- A university that was not accredited in its own country when you enrolled
- Paying the partner’s verification fee and assuming the ministry fee is included
How to Get the Equivalency Certificate Step by Step
These four steps follow the order the portal asks for.
Step 1: Check That Your Degree Qualifies
The university must have been accredited by the official authority in the country of study when you enrolled. You must also have met the attendance and study-duration requirements.
Step 2: Verify Your Degree with an Accredited Partner
On the MOHESR service page for Recognition of university certificates issued from outside the UAE, select Start New Application. Choose DataFlow, QuadraBay or VFS Global, and sign in with UAE Pass, the UAE’s national digital identity. Upload your documents and pay the partner’s verification fee.
The partner carries out primary source verification, which means it contacts your university to confirm the degree. VFS Global states that this typically takes about 18 days after all documents are submitted, and longer for certain countries.
Step 3: Submit the Recognition Request
When verification is complete, enter the reference number from the first stage into the recognition stage, pay the ministry fee and submit. The ministry fee is separate from the partner’s verification fee.
Step 4: Receive the Recognition Report
MOHESR reviews the application and issues the Recognition Report. In some exceptional cases it refers an application for further review, which extends processing time.
Applicants are often slowed down by small mismatches between the university name on the certificate and the name typed into the application. Copy the name exactly as printed, and keep the verification reference number beside it.
Equivalency Certificate UAE Cost: What You Pay and to Whom
The equivalency certificate UAE cost has two parts: the ministry fee and the verification partner’s fee.
According to Cabinet Resolution No. (81) of 2025, the ministry charges these amounts per application for certificates issued outside the UAE:
| Qualification | Ministry fee | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree or equivalent and below | AED 100 | Per application |
| Master’s degree | AED 150 | Per application |
| Doctoral degree | AED 200 | Per application |
| Verification partner | Set by the partner | Charged separately from the ministry fee |
Fees are set by Cabinet resolution and can change, so read the current amount on the MOHESR portal before you pay. If you hand the file to government PRO services, ask for the government fees and the service charge to be listed separately.
If Your Case Is Different: A degree from a country with slow verification, a university that has closed or been renamed, or an earlier rejected application needs a case-by-case look. You can book a consultation to go through your file.
Your Next Move
- Confirm your university is accredited in the country where you studied.
- Gather your certificate, transcript and a legal translation if needed.
- Start the application on the MOHESR portal with UAE Pass.
Common Questions
Is an equivalency certificate mandatory in the UAE?
It depends on who is asking. An employer, a university, a licensing body or a visa file may require it, but not every resident needs one. The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MOHESR) issues the Recognition Report for degrees earned abroad, so ask the requesting party exactly which document it wants.
Can I get recognition for a distance learning or online degree?
Yes, it can be. MOHESR has stated that it considers university, open, e-learning and correspondence degrees issued outside the UAE, provided the institution is accredited in the country of study and you followed the study method the university approved. The final decision rests with MOHESR.
Does a UAE equivalency certificate help with a Golden Visa application?
The recognition report serves as an official document for employment, further studies, visas and government services, according to the UAE Government Portal. Whether a particular Golden Visa category asks for it depends on the criteria the visa authority sets for that category, so confirm the requirement before you start verification.
Does the process differ between Dubai and the other emirates?
No. University degree recognition is handled online by MOHESR, a federal ministry, so the same service applies whether you live in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah or another emirate. Dubai residence files go through the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA Dubai), but the recognition application does not.
Getting an equivalency certificate UAE employers and universities accept comes down to applying to the right ministry, verifying your degree first and paying the fee for your degree level.
Last verified: October 2026 · Sources checked: Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research; UAE Government Portal (u.ae); UAE Legislation portal (Cabinet Resolution No. (81) of 2025); Emirates News Agency (WAM).
