Master’s Degree Attestation in UAE
Got a master’s degree from outside the UAE? Before your employer can process your work visa, before a university can admit you to a PhD programme, and before immigration can finalize your residency that degree needs to be attested. We handle the entire masters degree attestation process from start to finish. You hand us your documents. We coordinate everything notarization, ministry approvals, embassy stamps, and final MOFA attestation and return your fully attested certificate, ready to submit.
120+ countries covered | Abu Dhabi office | Express service available
What is Degree Certificate Attestation?
Master's degree attestation is the process of getting your postgraduate certificate verified and stamped by a chain of government authorities starting in the country where you earned the degree and ending with the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).
Each stamp in the chain confirms one thing: the degree is genuine, issued by a real university, and the previous authority has verified it. Without this chain of authentication, the UAE government has no way to confirm whether a foreign master's degree is legitimate or fabricated.
The UAE requires attestation for all foreign educational qualifications. This isn't optional. No attestation means no employment visa for skilled positions, no admission to doctoral programmes, and no equivalency certificate from the Ministry of Education.
When Do You Need Your Master's Degree Attested in the UAE?
Employment Visas: Required by MoHRE to issue labor cards for skilled or managerial roles.
Job Upgrades: Necessary to justify title changes and salary reclassification.
PhD Admissions: Mandatory for doctoral programs at UAE universities.
MoE Equivalency: Needed for professional licenses in teaching, engineering, and healthcare.
Golden Visas: Essential to qualify for the 10-year residency visa.
Family Sponsorship: Confirms professional standing to sponsor dependents.
Documents Required for Master's Degree Attestation
Before you start the process, get these documents together:
Original master’s degree certificate the physical certificate issued by your university
Original academic transcripts (all semesters/years) some embassies now require transcripts alongside the degree certificate
Passport copy of the degree holder (bio page)
UAE visa copy (if you’re already residing in the UAE)
Two passport-sized photographs (white background)
Authorization letter: giving us permission to process attestation on your behalf
Important notes:
The original degree certificate is required at every stage. Photocopies are not accepted for attestation (though some UK universities allow certified copies — check below).
If your degree is in a language other than English or Arabic, you’ll need a certified legal translation before submitting to the UAE embassy.
Laminated certificates are rejected. If your certificate is laminated, you’ll need to request a replacement from your university first.
Academic transcripts are now mandatory for labor card applications in the UAE. Don’t skip them.
Masters Degree Attestation Process
If you plan to work, study, or apply for a residence visa in the UAE, your master’s degree must be officially attested. The process follows a strict sequence. Each stage validates the previous one skipping any step can result in rejection by UAE authorities..
- Step 1: Notarization in Your Home Country
A licensed notary public (or solicitor, depending on the country) verifies the degree certificate is authentic and stamps it. - Step 2: Education Authority / Ministry Verification
The relevant education authority in your country confirms the degree was issued by an accredited institution. In India, this is the State HRD department. In the Philippines, it’s CHED. In the UK, this step is replaced by an FCDO apostille. - Step 3: Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Home Country)
Your country’s foreign affairs ministry stamps the document, confirming all prior verifications are legitimate. This is called MEA attestation in India, DFA authentication in the Philippines, and FCDO apostille in the UK. - Step 4: UAE Embassy or Consulate Attestation
The UAE embassy in your home country reviews the document and applies its own stamp, confirming the degree is verified and ready for use in the UAE. As of 2025, UAE embassy attestation for several countries (including India) is now processed digitally. - Step 5: MOFA Attestation in the UAE
The final stamp. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs applies the last attestation, making your master’s degree legally valid for all official purposes in the UAE. This can be done digitally through the MOFA website or the UAEMOFA app.
Once all five stamps are in place, your master’s degree is fully attested and accepted across the UAE — by employers, universities, immigration, and licensing authorities.
Master’s Degree Attestation by Country
The exact steps vary depending on where your degree was issued. Here’s how the process works for the most common countries:
India
- Notarization by a public notary
- State HRD (Human Resource Development) or Home Department attestation
- MEA (Ministry of External Affairs) attestation
- UAE Embassy attestation (now digital — processed within 36–48 hours after MEA)
- MOFA attestation in the UAE
Typical processing time: 10–15 working days
Key detail: SDM (Sub-Divisional Magistrate) attestation may be required in some states instead of HRD. Confirm your state’s requirement before starting.
United Kingdom
- Solicitor or notary public certification (for most UK degrees, solicitor certification is sufficient)
- FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office) apostille
- UAE Embassy attestation via VFS Centre in London (digital attestation system)
- MOFA attestation in the UAE
Typical processing time: 5–10 working days
Key detail: UK degrees from universities with UAE campuses (Heriot-Watt, Middlesex, etc.) follow the same UK attestation route. Online degrees from UK universities are accepted but confirm the institution is fully accredited.
United States
- Notarization by a licensed US notary
- County Clerk or Secretary of State authentication
- US Department of State Authentication Office — contact (202) 647-4000 Ext. 3
- UAE Embassy or Consulate attestation
- MOFA attestation in the UAE
Typical processing time: 12–18 working days
Key detail: Each US state has slightly different procedures. Some states require both county and state-level authentication before federal.
Canada
- Notarization by a Canadian notary public
- Provincial Authentication Office verification
- Global Affairs Canada authentication (Ottawa)
- UAE Embassy or Consulate attestation
- MOFA attestation in the UAE
Typical processing time: 10–15 working days
Key detail: Documents must be authenticated at the provincial level before being submitted to Global Affairs Canada.
Philippines
- Verification by CHED (Commission on Higher Education)
- DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) Red Ribbon authentication
- UAE Embassy attestation in Manila
- MOFA attestation in the UAE
Typical processing time: 10–14 working days
Key detail: Documents are typically sent to the UAE Embassy in Manila via DHL. The Red Ribbon seal from DFA is the Philippine equivalent of apostille.
China
- Notarization by a Chinese notary office
- CHSI (China Higher Education Student Information) verification
- MFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) China attestation
- UAE Embassy attestation in Beijing
- MOFA attestation in the UAE
Typical processing time: 15–20 working days
Key detail: Chinese degrees often require certified English or Arabic translation before embassy submission.
Pakistan
- HEC (Higher Education Commission) verification
- MFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) Pakistan attestation
- UAE Embassy attestation in Islamabad
- MOFA attestation in the UAE
Typical processing time: 10–14 working days
Egypt
- Verification by the Egyptian Ministry of Higher Education
- MFA Egypt attestation
- UAE Embassy attestation in Cairo
- MOFA attestation in the UAE
Typical processing time: 12–16 working days
Don’t see your country? We process master’s degree attestation from over 120 countries.
Contact us with your degree details and we’ll walk you through the exact steps for your case.
Types of Master’s Degrees Required for Attestation
We process attestation for all types of master’s-level qualifications, including:
Business & Management
- MBA (Master of Business Administration)
- MSc Management
- MIB (Master of International Business)
- MFin (Master of Finance)
Engineering & Technology
- MSc / MTech in Electrical Engineering
- MSc / MTech in Mechanical Engineering
- MSc / MTech in Civil Engineering
- MSc in Computer Science
- MSc in IT
- MSc in Software Engineering
Science
- MSc in Biology
- MSc in Chemistry
- MSc in Physics
- MSc in Environmental Science
- MSc in Data Science
- MSc in Mathematics
Arts & Humanities
- MA in English Literature
- MA in History
- MA in Philosophy
- MA in Fine Arts
- MA in Linguistics
- MA in Media Studies
Education
- MEd (Master of Education)
- MA in Teaching
- Master of Educational Leadership
Healthcare
- MPH (Master of Public Health)
- MSc Nursing
- MSc Pharmacy
- MSc Clinical Research
Law
- LLM (Master of Laws)
Social Sciences
- MA in Psychology
- MA in Sociology
- MA in Political Science
- MA in Economics
- MA in International Relations
Architecture & Design
- MArch (Master of Architecture)
- MA Interior Design
- MA Urban Planning
Attestation vs Equivalency What's the Difference?
People often confuse these two processes. They're related but serve different purposes.
Attestation verifies that your degree is genuine that it was actually issued by the university named on the certificate. It's required for employment visas, labor cards, and general official use.
Equivalency (also called "recognition") goes a step further. It confirms that your foreign degree meets UAE academic standards and is comparable to a UAE-issued qualification at the same level. This is handled by the UAE Ministry of Education.
When you need attestation only:
General employment visa processing, family visa sponsorship, changing profession on your visa.
When you need both attestation and equivalency:
Golden Visa applications, UAE government jobs, teaching positions, engineering licensing (Society of Engineers card), healthcare licensing, PhD admissions.
Attestation always comes first. You cannot apply for equivalency without a fully attested degree.
For equivalency services, see our UAE Equivalency Certificates page.
Equivalency Certificate UAE | MOE Equivalency Process & Requirements
Need urgent document attestation and translation services in Abu Dhabi?
We offer expedited attestation services in Abu dhabi and fast legal Translation services in Abu Dhabi for urgent all educational documents and legal documents. Contact us for a quote. Our translations are accepted by all government departments and embassies.
How GloboPrime Handles Your Master's Degree Attestation
Step 1: Share your documents.
Send us scanned copies of your degree, transcripts, and passport via WhatsApp, email, or in person at our Abu Dhabi office. We'll review everything and give you a quote with a clear timeline.
Step 2: We collect your originals.
We arrange pickup from your location anywhere in the UAE — Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Al Ain, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, or Umm Al Quwain.
Step 3: We manage every step.
From notarization in your home country to embassy attestation and final MOFA stamping — we coordinate the entire chain. You get regular updates throughout.
Step 4: We deliver your attested documents.
Once your master's degree is fully attested, we deliver it back to you — wherever you are in the UAE.
GloboPrime UAE Corporate Services in Prime Abu Dhabi Location
For those in Abu Dhabi looking for fast and reliable attestation for uae and professional translation services, our office in Al Khazna Building is the ideal choice. Conveniently located near Al Wahda Mall, we offer fast and reliable attestation services to meet all your needs, making it easily accessible for both residents and businesses in the surrounding areas including Al Nahyan and Madinat Zayed.
