Effective since 24th February 2025, the UAE Embassy in London – in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) – has introduced a Digital Attestation process. Although fees have slightly increased, the new pricing now includes MOFA attestation.
This guide explains our complete service offering, the document processing steps, fees, eligibility criteria, and essential submission details.
1. Our Services & How It Works
We handle all aspects of UAE embassy attestation for various documents, including personal, educational, police clearance, export, and business papers. Our most popular services are:
- Apostille & UAE Embassy Attestation
- Certification, Apostille, & UAE Embassy Attestation
- We also offer standalone UAE attestation for documents already carrying an apostille certificate.
How It Works:
- Submission: Deliver your documents by post, email, or in person to our office
- Certification: If required, we will certify or notarise your documents.
- Apostille: We secure the apostille certificate for your documents.
- Embassy Submission: Your documents are then submitted to the UAE Embassy.
- MoFA Submission: We also forward documents to MoFA in Dubai where necessary.
- Digital Attestation: Upon completion, you receive the original document and a digitally attested copy, which can be verified online at http://verify.mofa.gov.ae by entering the Attestation Reference Number and Issued Date.
Discounts are available for applications involving three or more documents.
2. Document Processing & Verification Requirements
Certification & Legalisation Process
Step-by-Step:
- Some documents must be first certified or notarised.
- Non-UK documents require initial attestation by the issuing country (exceptions apply).
- The FCDO legalises the certified documents.
- Finally, they are submitted to the UAE Embassy in London for attestation.
Separate Processing: Each document must be processed individually.
Bundled apostilled documents are not accepted (except for a Certificate of Incorporation and its Change of Name certificate for the same company).
Invoices: Must be processed separately and certified by the Arab British Chambers of Commerce.
Verification for Specific Documents
The UAE Consulate requires additional verification for:
Powers of Attorney, Board Resolutions, Authorisations of Agent, Affidavits, and Consent Letters.
The requirements are:
- Cover Letter: Each signatory must provide a cover letter confirming that the document was signed in the presence of a UK notary public or solicitor.
- Passport Copy: Attach a copy of the signatory’s passport.
- Contact Information: Include personal email and telephone number.
- Multiple Signatories: Every signatory must provide a separate cover letter with signatures matching those on the document and passport.
- Cooperation: The Consulate may contact the signatory for further verification.
3. Fees & Charges
In addition to Certification, Apostille, UAE Consulate, and MoFA fees, the following charges apply:
VFS Admin Processing Fee:
- £42 (AED 196 plus third-party transaction fees) per application covering up to 5 documents from the same individual/direct family member or company.
- This fee is non-refundable if the UAE Consulate rejects the application.
Additional Charges for Company Documents:
- In cases involving a court order where a company is party to the process, the Consulate may charge £72 (AED 300 plus third-party transaction fees) per document.
Note: Recent fee adjustments now include the MOFA attestation as part of the overall service.
4. Submission Guidelines & Eligibility Criteria
Document Submission
VFS Legalisation Centres:
- Effective since 13th May 2024, all documents must be submitted through the VFS Legalisation Centres.
- Each application is limited to a maximum of 5 documents. For individual or direct family member applications, proof of relationship (e.g., marriage or birth certificate) is required. For commercial documents, all papers must relate to the same company.
Foreign Documents:
- The issuing country must attest documents originating from outside the UK before submission.
- Documents from the British Overseas Territories require apostille by the relevant government, followed by legalisation through the UK FCDO, then submission to the UAE Embassy.
- Once apostilled in their region of origin, documents from Crown Dependencies are accepted directly by the UAE Embassy (no further UK FCDO apostille is required).
Special Cases:
- Foreign educational documents are not accepted under any circumstances.
- Documents related to non-profit organisations (UK charities) must be pre-approved via email by the Consulate before submitting the apostilled originals for legalisation.
- For documents relating to a foreign entity, the notarial certificate must state that the document was signed in the presence of a UK notary public (or within the UK, Crown Dependencies, British Overseas Territories, or the Republic of Ireland) to be accepted.
Additional Requirements
- Separate Processing: Every document is to be processed independently; bundled submissions are not allowed.
- Notarisation: Companies House documents (e.g., IN01(ef) Form) are considered multiple documents and must each be notarised and legalised individually.
- Invoices & Commercial Papers: Must follow specific certification guidelines as provided by the Legalisation Team.
Read our article for requirements for degree attestation with the UAE embassy.
5. Processing Times & Important Considerations
Estimated Turnaround:
- Apostille processing typically takes 1-2 working days.
- UAE Embassy processing usually takes around 8 – 10 working days. (Overall turnaround may range from 8-10 working days, but delays can occur if additional verification or approvals are required.)
Peak Periods: Expect possible delays during Ramadan and Eid.
No Expedited Service: The UAE Embassy does not offer an expedited service.
6. Digital Attestation & Verification
With the new Digital Attestation process.
How It Works:
- After the UAE Embassy and MoFA complete attestation, you receive a digitally attested copy along with the original document.
- This digital copy is valid for use in the UAE and can be verified online.
Verification Process:
- Visit http://verify.mofa.gov.ae.
- Enter the provided Attestation Reference Number and Issued Date to confirm authenticity.
7. Payment & Operating Hours
Payment:
- All payments must be made online.
Operating Hours:
- UAE Consulate in London: 9:30 am to 12:30 pm, Monday to Friday.
- VFS Legalisation Centre: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday.
Please note that our submission and collection of documents are performed by VFS Centre.
Need Assistance?
Whether you require help with the entire process or have already completed some legalisation steps, our experienced team liaises with the UAE Embassy in London daily. We understand their requirements and can help process your documents without rejection.
Don’t hesitate to contact our office today for the fastest answers on costs, requirements, and turnaround times.
