An apostille is a certification that verifies and confirms the origin of a public document and allows it to be recognised in another signatory country without further legalization. It is issued by a designated authority in a signatory country, and each consists of a standard form. Obtaining an apostille involves submitting the original document and any necessary fees and supporting documents to the designated authority. Once issued, an apostille is valid for use in any signatory country without any further verification process.
Certificate Apostille Process in the UAE
The process for obtaining an apostille for a certificate can vary depending on the country in which the certificate was issued and the country where it will be used. However, it typically involves submitting the certificate to the designated authority in the issuing country, along with any required fees and supporting documentation. Once the certificate apostille is issued, it is valid for use in any signatory country that recognises certificate apostille.
The purpose of the apostille is to simplify and expedite the process of recognising and accepting certificates issued by foreign countries.
What is the use of apostille certificates in the UAE?
The use of apostille certificates in the UAE (United Arab Emirates) is to simplify and expedite the process of recognising and accepting public documents issued by foreign countries. The UAE is a signatory to the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement for Legalization for Foreign Public Documents. This means that apostille certificates are accepted and can be used in the country.
The goal of apostilling certificates
In the UAE, apostille certificates are typically used for legal and administrative purposes, such as for work or residency visa applications, business registration, and other official uses. For example, if someone from another country wants to apply for a work visa in the UAE, they may need to provide a birth certificate, a degree certificate, or all educational certificates, and/or a criminal record check from their home country. In order for these documents to be recognised and accepted by the UAE authorities, they will need to be verified and apostilled in the home country before they are submitted to the UAE.
A list of certificates that must be apostille before they can be used in the UAE.
The specific types of certificates that need to be apostilled for use in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will depend on the purpose and type of the certificate and the requirements of the UAE authorities. However, the following general types of certificates may need to be apostilled for use in the UAE:
Educational certificates, non-educational certificates such as professional, birth/marriage/death, police clearance, powers of attorney, and commercial documents may all require apostilling for use in the UAE. It's important to confirm the specific requirements with the relevant authorities before submitting the documents for apostille to use them in the UAE.
How long does it take to get certificates apostilled in the UAE?
The time it takes to get certificates apostilled in the UAE can vary from days to several weeks or months, depending on the type of certificate, the issuing country, and the specific requirements of the UAE authorities or the requesting authorities in the UAE. It's recommended to plan ahead and allow plenty of time for the apostille process to complete, especially if the certificate is needed for time-sensitive matters like visa applications or business transactions.
Countries Accepting Apostilles:
The Hague Convention Eliminating the Need to Legalize Foreign Public Documents was signed by the following countries, so they accept apostille certificates:
Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Chile, China (Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions), Colombia, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Eswatini, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Republic of, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, and Zambia.