Attesting Netherlands Documents for the UAE
To use a document that was issued within the Netherlands in the UAE, it will first need to be attested. Whether it is a birth, marriage or death certificate, an educational qualification or in fact any other personal or company document that originates from the Netherlands, let us take the hassle away for you and save your precious time.
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How does it work?
Attesting Dutch documents to be used in the UAE can be a highly complex matter. Depending upon the type of document, which language it has been written in, as well as which authority it needs to be presented to, there are multiple requirements that are needed which change from document to document. The following sections lay out a typical set of processes that may be needed. However, you are advised to contact us to confirm the specific requirements needed for your own situation.
Initial
Certification
UAE Embassy Attestation
The final step in the Netherlands is to have the document stamped, known as attested, by the UAE Embassy in The Hague (Den Haag). During this stage an official UAE-government sticker and seal is applied to the document. This confirms to the authorities in the UAE that the document has completed all the required steps in the Netherlands.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
(UAE)
Ministry Certification
For some documents, prior to translation and legalisation, they will need to be certified by the relevant government ministry. In the case of an educational qualification, this is the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (Ministerie van Onderwijs, Cultuur en Wetenschap). During this stage, the Ministry will confirm that the document is valid.
Certified
Translation
Translation into English & Certification
As the UAE Embassy only accepts documents written in either English or Arabic, any documents, and their supporting ministerial certifications, that are not already in English will need to be translated. The original documents are translated from Dutch to English, then the translator will make an affidavit to swear that the translation is accurate. The original document and its translation are then bound together to then be certified by the Ministry of Justice and Security (Ministerie van Justitie en Veiligheid). It is this certified bundle that is attested.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
in the Netherlands
Dutch Legalisation
Once a document has been certified by the relevant parties, and translated where required, it can then be presented to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken) for legalisation. During this process, the officials will add a legalisation stamp to the document which is their validation that the necessary certification has been completed correctly.
UAE Embassy
in the Netherlands
UAE Embassy Attestation
The final step in the Netherlands is to have the document stamped, known as attested, by the UAE Embassy in The Hague (Den Haag). During this stage an official UAE-government sticker and seal is applied to the document. This confirms to the authorities in the UAE that the document has completed all the required steps in the Netherlands.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
(UAE
MoFA Attestation (UAE)
Once the document has reached the UAE, it requires a further attestation stamp by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the UAE which validates that your document has been processed correctly in the Netherlands. Some employers make arrangements to handle this for you, so you should check whether this needs to be completed by you or not. If you prefer to handle this process yourself, we can arrange for the required PCR test to be carried out before you attend. If your document does not require a final Arabic translation (see the next section), then once this stamp has been applied you can then use the document in the UAE.
Translation
Translation from English into Arabic
In certain circumstances, your document may also require translation into Arabic. Again, your employer may handle this for you so best to check. If required, the whole document and its relevant stamps are translated from English into Arabic by a recognised certified translator. Once the translation has been done, then everything has been completed to make it fully useable within the UAE.
Reminders
- Birth, marriage or death certificates, and some other documents such as an ACRO certificate do not require the initial certification process as they MUST be processed on the original document.
- You may be advised that these documents have to be notarised by a Notary Public rather than a solicitor. This information is incorrect. We choose to use a solicitor for client documents as this is cheaper for you. If you prefer a notary to carry this out then we can arrange this for an additional fee. Whichever solicitor or notary is used, they must be registered with the FCDO otherwise there will be a delay processing the Apostille. Our solicitors and notaries are all correctly registered for your convenience.
- The UK legalisation office name changed from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in 2020. It was previously also known simply as the Foreign Office.
- Arabic translation is usually required for use in all emirates other than Dubai, and also if the document is to be used within one of the Dubai Free Zone authorities including (but not limited to) the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC).
- The UAE Embassy in London will reject any documents that have been bound behind a Notarial cover sheet.
- When processing a UK birth certificate, it must be the long-form (A4) version that includes parent names on it otherwise it will be rejected.
- For any Power of Attorney (PoA) to be attested, these must be signed in the presence of an FCDO-registered solicitor or notary public to be valid. They cannot be witnessed by anyone else.
Documents from any Country.
We’re able to attest a range of documents for use in the UAE, no matter where you’re from. You can rest assured that by using our service, your attested documents will be accepted within the UAE.
United Kingdom
Italian
German
French
Portugal
Netherlands
Spain
Irish
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