Marriage certificate attestation is a crucial process for couples planning to live or work in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It is a legal requirement to validate the authenticity of a marriage certificate issued by a foreign country and ensure its recognition by the UAE authorities. This step-by-step guide aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the process involved in obtaining a marriage certificate attestation in the UAE, enabling couples to navigate through the necessary procedures smoothly.
✔️ Step 1: is to get a copy of your marriage licence. To initiate the attestation process, couples must possess an original marriage certificate issued by the relevant authority in their home country. It is essential to have the original document before proceeding with the subsequent steps.
✔️ Step 2: Authenticate the marriage certificate Before submitting the marriage certificate for attestation, it must undergo authentication in the home country. This involves visiting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) or the designated authority responsible for verifying the document’s authenticity. The marriage certificate will be scrutinised, and an official stamp or seal will be affixed to signify its validity.
✔️ Step 3: Attestation at the UAE embassy or consulate in your home country The authenticated marriage certificate must then be submitted to the UAE embassy or consulate in the couple’s home country. This step ensures the recognition of the marriage certificate by the UAE authorities. The couple will need to present the document, along with the required attestation fees and any additional documents requested. The embassy or consulate will perform the attestation by affixing their official stamp or seal to the marriage certificate.
✔️ Step 4: Translation (if required) Depending on the requirements of the UAE authorities, the attested marriage certificate may need to be translated into Arabic. In such cases, couples should engage the services of a certified translator to ensure an accurate translation of the document.
✔️ Step 5: Attestation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in the UAE Upon arriving in the UAE, the couple must submit the attested and translated marriage certificate to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) for further attestation. Presenting the document, paying the applicable attestation fees, and providing any additional documents the MOFA requests are all part of this step.
✔️ Step 6: Optional: Attestation by the respective consulate Depending on the purpose of the attestation, couples may be required to visit the consulate or embassy of their country in the UAE for additional attestation. It is advisable to contact the respective consulate to determine if this step is necessary.
✔️ Step 7: Final attestation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in the UAE The final step in the attestation process involves submitting the document, along with any required fees and supporting documents, to the MOFA in the UAE. The MOFA will verify the previous attestations performed by the home country’s authorities and affix their official stamp or seal on the marriage certificate, rendering it fully attested and recognised by the UAE authorities.
Obtaining a marriage certificate attestation in the UAE is a multi-step process that involves authentication, attestation at the UAE embassy/consulate, translation if required, and final attestation by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Following this step-by-step guide will enable couples to navigate through the intricacies of the process smoothly and ensure the recognition of their marriage certificate by the UAE authorities. It is essential to consult the relevant authorities and stay updated with any specific requirements that may vary based on the couple’s country of origin.
