The UAE Golden Visa offers long-term residency to individuals who contribute to the UAE’s growth across various sectors such as entrepreneurship, investment, specialized talents, and education. However, before you can enjoy the benefits of the Golden Visa, you must go through a document attestation process to prove the authenticity of your qualifications, professional achievements, and personal information.
Document attestation is the process of authenticating the genuineness of documents. For the UAE Golden Visa, this process confirms that your documents have been verified and are valid in both your home country and the UAE. Attestation typically involves multiple stages, including verification from local authorities, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), and the UAE embassy in the applicant’s home country.
The UAE Golden Visa is available to various categories of individuals, including:
Regardless of the category, applicants will need to have their documents attested before submitting them for the Golden Visa application.
Here are the key types of documents that typically require attestation for a UAE Golden Visa application:
The attestation process is typically carried out in multiple steps, often in the following the steps below:
Start by getting your documents notarized by a registered notary in your home country. This step ensures that your documents are ready for further verification.
Next, submit the documents for verification by the respective ministries, such as the Ministry of Education (for educational documents) or Ministry of Justice (for legal documents).
Once verified by your home country’s ministries, the documents should be submitted to the UAE Embassy or Consulate in your country for further attestation. This step is crucial as it validates the document for use in the UAE.
After your documents have been attested by the UAE embassy in your home country, they must undergo the final stage of attestation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in the UAE.
If your documents are not in Arabic or English, you will need to have them translated by an approved legal translator.
Some countries may have additional steps or specific procedures for attestation. Always check with your home country’s authorities and the UAE embassy to ensure you are following the correct procedure.
Attestation can be a time-consuming process, taking anywhere from a few days to several weeks, depending on your home country and the number of documents. Start the process well in advance of your visa application.
Attestation services may involve multiple fees at various stages. Ensure you have a clear understanding of the costs involved, including notary fees, ministry fees, embassy fees, and MOFA fees.
The equivalency certificate is a crucial part of the UAE Golden Visa application process, especially for individuals applying under specific categories like professionals (doctors, engineers, teachers), and individuals with educational qualifications obtained outside the UAE.
An equivalency certificate is a document that confirms your foreign educational qualification is recognized and comparable to the standards of the UAE Ministry of Education. It’s needed for certain professions to ensure that their qualifications meet UAE standards and are recognized locally.
If you are applying for the UAE Golden Visa under categories like professionals (doctors, engineers, teachers) or you have a degree obtained outside the UAE, you will need an equivalency certificate from the Ministry of Education (MOE). This ensures that your foreign degree meets UAE standards and is recognized locally.
Not all Golden Visa applicants need an equivalency certificate. It is mostly required for individuals who are applying based on their educational qualifications. Here are some of the key categories of people who typically require an equivalency certificate:
For individuals applying for the UAE Golden Visa under the managerial category, attestation of degrees is a critical requirement. Managers and professionals in this category must ensure their educational qualifications are both attested and equivalency-certified to confirm that their degrees are recognized in the UAE. This process helps validate the qualifications of individuals in high-level managerial positions, ensuring that their education aligns with UAE standards.
When applying for the UAE Golden Visa under the managerial category, it is mandatory to have your educational qualifications attested. The attestation process involves multiple steps to authenticate the legitimacy of your degree and ensure it is recognized by UAE authorities. Here’s a breakdown of the key steps:
Notary Attestation in the Home Country: The first step is to get your degree attested by a notary or relevant authority in your home country. This step ensures that your degree is valid in your country of issuance.
Home Country Ministry Attestation: Following notary attestation, you will need to have your degree attested by the Ministry of Education (or equivalent) in your home country.
UAE Embassy Attestation: The attested degree then needs to be submitted to the UAE Embassy in your home country for further verification. This ensures the document is acceptable for use in the UAE.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) Attestation in the UAE: Once you arrive in the UAE, the final step is to have the document attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) to legalize it for use in official applications such as the Golden Visa.
Equivalency Certificate: After attestation, some applicants, especially those in the managerial category, need to obtain an equivalency certificate from the Ministry of Education (MOE) in the UAE. This confirms that your foreign degree meets UAE educational standards.
In addition to having your degree attested, another essential factor for Golden Visa eligibility in the managerial category is your salary. The UAE government has set specific salary thresholds for Golden Visa applicants, particularly for high-level professionals in leadership or managerial roles.
Here’s what you need to know about the salary requirements:
Minimum Monthly Salary:
Salary Documentation:
Bonuses and Allowances:
Profession-Specific Salary Thresholds:
Educational Verification:
Income Validation:
Smooth Processing:
If you are applying for the UAE Golden Visa under the managerial category, it’s essential to ensure that your degree is fully attested and recognized by the UAE authorities. This involves multiple steps, from notary attestation in your home country to UAE embassy verification and final MOFA attestation in the UAE.
Additionally, you must meet the salary threshold of AED 30,000 or more to be eligible for the Golden Visa in the managerial category.
Document attestation is a critical step in securing the UAE Golden Visa. Whether you are an investor, entrepreneur, or specialized talent, ensuring that your documents are properly attested will streamline the visa application process and prevent delays or rejections.
Moreover, if you are applying with foreign educational qualifications, obtaining the MOE equivalency certificate is essential to have your qualifications recognized in the UAE.
Not necessarily. Only essential documents related to your application category need to be attested, such as educational certificates for professionals or business licenses for entrepreneurs.
No, attestation is a mandatory part of the Golden Visa process to confirm the authenticity of your documents.