Attesting a marriage certificate in the UAE is essential if you need to use it for official purposes such as visa applications, family sponsorship, inheritance claims, or legal proceedings. Whether your marriage certificate was issued in the UAE or abroad, it must go through a proper attestation process to be legally recognized.
This guide explains step-by-step how to attest a marriage certificate in the UAE, including the requirements, fees, and how a professional service like Best Attestation UAE can make the process easier.
1. Why Do You Need to Attest a Marriage Certificate in the UAE?
Marriage certificate attestation is required for:
- Family visa applications (sponsoring a spouse)
- Applying for dependent visas for children
- Inheritance or property rights
- Insurance and legal matters
- Changing marital status on official records
Without attestation, your marriage certificate will not be accepted by UAE government departments or courts.
2. Attesting a UAE-Issued Marriage Certificate
If your marriage took place in the UAE, follow these steps:
Step 1 – Attestation from the UAE Ministry of Justice (MOJ)
Visit the Ministry of Justice or apply online for attestation of the Arabic marriage contract issued by the UAE courts.
Step 2 – Translation (If Needed)
If your certificate is in Arabic and needs to be used abroad, it must be translated into the required language by a legal translator approved by the UAE Ministry of Justice.
Step 3 – Attestation from MOFAIC (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation)
Submit the original marriage certificate to MOFAIC for final attestation. This makes the document legally valid for use abroad or within the UAE for visa and legal purposes.
3. Attesting a Foreign-Issued Marriage Certificate for Use in the UAE
If your marriage certificate was issued outside the UAE, the process is slightly longer:
Step 1 – Attestation in the Country of Origin
- Get the certificate attested by the relevant local authority (e.g., Ministry of Justice or Home Affairs).
- Then have it attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of that country.
Step 2 – UAE Embassy Attestation in the Country of Origin
- Submit the document to the UAE Embassy or Consulate in that country for attestation.
Step 3 – MOFAIC Attestation in the UAE
- Once in the UAE, submit the attested certificate to MOFAIC for final legalization.
4. Fees for Marriage Certificate Attestation in the UAE
- MOFAIC attestation fee (personal documents) – AED 150 per document
- Additional fees apply for translation, notary services, and pre-attestations abroad.
5. How Long Does Marriage Certificate Attestation Take?
- UAE-issued certificates: Usually 1–3 working days
- Foreign-issued certificates: 5–15 working days, depending on country of origin and embassy processing times
6. Get Professional Help – Best Attestation UAE
The attestation process can be time-consuming, especially for foreign-issued marriage certificates. Best Attestation UAE, a MOFA-approved service center, can:
- Handle all attestations in the home country and UAE
- Provide certified translations
- Offer document pickup and delivery
This saves you multiple trips to ministries and embassies.
Final Thoughts
Whether issued in the UAE or abroad, marriage certificate attestation is a necessary step for legal recognition in the UAE. By following the right process — or using a trusted attestation service — you can ensure your documents are ready for official use without delays.
