MOFA Attestation Online UAE: Steps, Fees, Timing
MOFA attestation is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ confirmation that the signatures and seals on a document are genuine. For documents issued in the UAE, you apply on the ministry’s website or the UAE MOFA app, sign in with UAE Pass, pay online, and receive the result digitally or through an approved courier.
Your degree, marriage certificate or company paper is ready, and the office asking for it wants MOFA attestation before it accepts anything. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA, the federal ministry that attests documents) runs the service, and the route you get depends on your document rather than your preference. This guide shows how to apply online, what the fees depend on, how long each route takes and where applications go wrong.
MOFA Attestation at a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Who handles it | Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), a federal ministry |
| Where to apply | MOFA website or the UAE MOFA smart app |
| Sign-in | UAE Pass |
| Typical cost | Depends on documents and route; MOFA shows the total before payment |
| Typical processing time | Digital: within 2 hours in official working hours. Courier inside the UAE: 1–3 business days |
| Documents per application | Up to five, all through the same attestation method |
MOFA Attestation Is a Federal Service, Not a Dubai One
This section settles who issues the attestation and which name to search for.
According to MOFA, attestation certifies the authenticity of signatures and seals on documents issued within or outside the UAE.
MOFA’s service page describes one online service and lists no emirate-specific versions. Residence visa bodies such as GDRFA Dubai and ICP do not attest documents.
You may see this service called MOFAIC attestation. It is the same ministry service, and some guides still use that abbreviation while the official website names the ministry the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Employers, schools and visa or business files often ask for attested papers, and the receiving office decides which ones it needs. Our documents and attestation guides cover the other steps that usually come before and after.
Documents You Need Before You Apply Online
MOFA sets the route automatically, so what you hold decides what you do.
Digital attestation needs an original digital PDF issued in the UAE by a supported authority. It must carry a verification feature such as a QR code, barcode, electronic link or reference number, and the file must open and not be password-protected.
Courier-based attestation needs the original document in Arabic or English, or with a legally certified translation. It must already be certified or attested by the relevant competent authorities where applicable, and it must not be laminated.
A scan or photograph of a digital document is not accepted for digital attestation.
Commercial invoices and certificates of origin cannot go through this service, because MOFA handles them through its Electronic Documents Attestation System (eDAS).
If the document is for a family file, check the requirements on our UAE visas and residency hub first.
How to Apply for MOFA Attestation Online
These steps follow MOFA’s own service page for documents issued in the UAE.
Step 1: Sign In With UAE Pass
UAE Pass, the UAE’s digital identity, is required to sign in. If you are not a UAE resident, you can create an account at uaepass.ae.
Step 2: Select the Service and Document
Open the MOFA website or the UAE MOFA app and choose Attestation Services in the UAE. Confirm the document was issued in the UAE, then select the issuing authority and the document type.
You cannot choose between digital and courier attestation, because MOFA assigns the route from your answers.
Step 3: Complete the Route and Pay
For digital attestation, select the destination country, upload the original digital document, confirm the declaration and pay. For courier-based attestation, enter the document owner’s name, mobile number and email, pick an approved courier provider and schedule, then confirm and pay.
You can include up to five documents in one application, but only if all of them use the same attestation method.
Step 4: Collect the Result
A digitally attested document arrives by email or under My Requests on the MOFA website. For courier attestation, the courier provider you selected contacts you to deliver the document.
- Uploading a scan or photo instead of the original digital PDF
- A laminated paper original
- Issuing authority, document type or holder details that do not match the document
An application cannot be edited after it is submitted.
Applicants are often caught out by the destination country field, because it cannot be changed once you submit. Confirm the country and the attestation option with the receiving office before you open the form.
MOFA Attestation Fees and Processing Time
MOFA does not publish one flat fee. The amount depends on the number of documents, the attestation option, the attestations included and whether the document is personal or commercial.
The total is displayed before you pay. As of 2026, the fee table sits in the Attestations Guide on the MOFA website, and fees can change, so read the current amount there.
For birth and death certificates ordered through the digital channels of the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP), MOFA lists a total of AED 300: AED 150 for MOFA and AED 150 for the UAE Embassy in the destination country.
Delivery fees are not refundable.
| Route | Processing time | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Digital attestation of UAE-issued documents | Within 2 hours in official working hours | Download by email or My Requests |
| Courier attestation inside the UAE | 1–3 business days | Depends on the courier provider |
| Outside the UAE, through a service provider | Up to 15 business days | Depends on the courier provider |
The MOFA Attestation Stamp, Embassies and Checking Your Result
This section explains what the attested document shows and whether more steps follow.
Digital attestation is not an electronic version of a paper stamp. It is an official attestation applied electronically to the last page, showing the attestation reference number, date, amount paid and a verification element.
For some countries, you choose between MOFA attestation alone and MOFA followed by the UAE Embassy or Consulate in that country. Choosing the first means any attestation required by the destination country’s own embassy in the UAE is a separate step.
If a download fails or the file looks incomplete, do not use it. Open MOFA Verify, the ministry’s document verification service, or call MOFA on 80044444 with your application reference number.
If Your Case Is Different: If your document was issued abroad, needs several authorities before MOFA, or its issuing authority is not listed in the application, a general guide cannot settle it. You can book a consultation to review your file.
A company file for business setup may mix personal and commercial papers, so check which route each one takes before you pay.
Your Next Move
- Confirm with the receiving office which documents and destination country it requires.
- Check whether each document is an original digital PDF or paper.
- Sign in with UAE Pass and apply on the MOFA Documents Attestation service.
Common Questions
Is MOFAIC attestation the same as MOFA attestation?
Both names refer to the attestation service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Some guides still use the MOFAIC abbreviation, but the service you apply for is Documents Attestation on the ministry’s website and the UAE MOFA app, and it requires a UAE Pass sign-in.
Can I use MOFA attestation online without UAE Pass?
No. According to MOFA, UAE Pass is required to sign in and access the service. If you are not a UAE resident, you can create an account at uaepass.ae. MOFA Customer Service on 80044444 is the contact if sign-in fails.
Do I also need embassy attestation after MOFA attestation?
It depends on the destination country. For some countries, MOFA offers either its own attestation alone or MOFA followed by the UAE Embassy or Consulate in that country. If the destination country’s embassy in the UAE must also attest, that is a separate step you complete yourself. Ask the receiving office which sequence it accepts before choosing.
Is MOFA attestation different in Dubai than in Abu Dhabi or Sharjah?
MOFA’s service page describes one online service and lists no emirate-specific versions, so the application works the same from Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Sharjah. What varies by file is any earlier certification the document needs from its issuing authority, which MOFA requires where applicable.
What happens if MOFA rejects my attestation application?
A rejected application cannot be amended or reopened. MOFA’s rejection notice states the reason, so correct that issue, such as the wrong document type or details that do not match the file, and submit a new application. You can reapply immediately, and refund eligibility follows MOFA’s own procedures.
MOFA attestation is a short process once the document, issuing authority and destination country are right, so settle those three before you open the application.
Last verified: October 2026 · Sources checked: Ministry of Foreign Affairs (UAE).
