Schools in the UAE often ask for a child's previous school certificates to be attested before confirming admission, especially when the child is transferring from abroad. We prepare the certificates and follow the route through to the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), which adds the final attestation once the home-country authorities and the UAE embassy have added theirs.
When your child joins a UAE school from abroad, the school may ask for attested copies of earlier records, such as the transfer certificate, the latest report card or a school leaving certificate. The same documents can matter years later, when a student applies to university or for a job and needs proof of finishing school.
A foreign school certificate often goes through an education authority in the issuing country first, then the foreign ministry, the UAE embassy or consulate there and MOFA. That first step varies widely, so we confirm it for your country and school. UAE-issued school certificates go to the issuing body and then MOFA, and some are now issued with a digital MOFA attestation.
Your child is joining a UAE school and the school has asked for attested records.
You need your own school certificate attested for university admission or a job.
Your certificate was issued here and you want to know whether it already carries a digital attestation.
Clear boundaries, so you know exactly what you're paying for and who decides each step.
Some schools and education authorities ask for specific records or forms; we confirm the list with the school's request in mind.
Government fees, paid at cost
MOFA charges AED 150 for each personal document, including school certificates. Education authority, foreign ministry and embassy fees in the issuing country vary and are paid at cost.
Global Sky PRO service fee
Quoted in writing before we start, so you know the full cost up front.
Timing
Timing depends on the issuing country and school. It helps to start well before the school's deadline, and we give you a realistic estimate once we know the route.
Each step shows who does what, so you always know where things stand.
Send us the list the school gave you and photos of each certificate.
We confirm the stages for the issuing country and quote our fee in writing, with government fees itemised separately.
The education authority where required, then the foreign ministry and the UAE embassy, attest the certificate.
MOFA completes the UAE attestation.
We return the attested certificates and keep you posted throughout, so you can plan around the school's dates.
A number of school certificates issued in the UAE now carry a digital MOFA attestation from the moment they are issued, which you can verify through UAE PASS. If your child's certificate has one, there may be nothing further to do for use in the UAE. Older certificates, or ones without it, go to the issuing body and then MOFA, and we check which applies before you pay.
Short answers here. Your situation may differ, so ask us before you decide.
Many do, particularly when a child transfers from a school abroad. The school, and the education authority it answers to, decide which records must be attested and for which grades. Ask the school for its written list, send it to us, and we'll confirm the route for each document.
The ones requested most often are transfer certificates, school leaving certificates and recent report cards, along with final certificates for older students. Exactly which records apply depends on the school and the grade your child is joining. We work from the school's own list so you only attest what's needed.
Some are. Certain UAE school certificates are issued with a digital MOFA attestation, which you can check through UAE PASS. Others, including many older certificates, still need the issuing body's attestation and then MOFA's. Send us a photo and we'll tell you which applies to your child's certificate.
MOFA charges AED 150 per document. Fees for the education authority, foreign ministry and UAE embassy in the issuing country vary and are paid at cost. Our service fee is quoted in writing before we start and always appears separately from the government fees.
Certificates from the Emirates Schools Establishment (ESE), which covers public education, can be issued with MOFA's digital attestation in one procedure through ESE, signing in with UAE PASS. MOFA lists AED 15 for ESE attestation, AED 150 for MOFA and AED 150 for the UAE embassy in the destination country, plus AED 15 for a delivered hard copy. MOFA attestation follows about 3 minutes after issue, and once paid with the embassy option, the request can't be cancelled or refunded.
Source: MOFA: attestation FAQs
No. MOFA's FAQs state that there is no expiry date on an attested school certificate, so the attestation itself doesn't lapse with time. A school, university or employer still decides which documents it accepts, so check its list before reusing an older attestation. If a certificate was attested by MOFA in the past and you no longer have the attested copy, MOFA says you should apply for a new request.
Source: MOFA: attestation FAQs
Either parent can apply, and so can someone acting for you, because MOFA says anyone can attest documents on your behalf. For a public school certificate issued through ESE, the applicant signs in with UAE PASS. Education authorities abroad may set their own rules on who can request a child's records, so we check those for the issuing country and tell you early if a parent's signature is needed.
Source: MOFA: attestation FAQs
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Attestation is performed by the issuing authorities, the relevant embassy and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We handle preparation, submission and collection. Last reviewed 31 October 2026 by the Global Sky PRO team.