Indian Degree Certificate Attestation for UAE

Major 2025 Update

Since September 2025, the UAE Embassy in India now conducts both UAE Embassy attestation and MOFA attestation simultaneously within India. The attestation is fully digital with QR code verification. Physical stamps have been replaced by a digital certificate. Documents no longer need to be sent to the UAE for separate MOFA processing. This saves 1–2 weeks of processing time and eliminates international courier costs entirely.

Here is the complete, updated step-by-step process for getting your Indian degree certificate attested for UAE in 2026:

STEP 1

Notary Public Attestation (India)
The first step is having your original degree certificate notarized by a Notary Public in India. This is the initial legalization that eliminates fraudulent certificates. A Notary Public is a legally authorized official who verifies the document’s authenticity and applies their seal and signature. This can be done from any authorized notary in your city.

1–2 days    ₹500 – ₹1,000

STEP 2

State HRD / SDM Attestation
After notarization, your degree must be authenticated by the state authority where it was issued. You have two routes:

HRD (Human Resource Development) Route: The traditional path through the State Education Department. Processing varies by state (7–15 working days).

SDM (Sub-Divisional Magistrate) Route: A faster alternative accepted by the UAE Embassy. Only 3–4 days processing. Recommended when you have urgent deadlines. See detailed comparison below ↓

HRD: 7–15 days | SDM: 3–4 days    ₹500 – ₹2,000

STEP 3

MEA Attestation (Ministry of External Affairs)
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in India provides national-level verification, confirming the state-level attestation is genuine. This is a critical step for international recognition. MEA attestation can be done physically at MEA offices or digitally via the e-SANAD portal (esanad.mea.gov.in). By 2026, approximately 40% of attestation tasks in India are handled through e-SANAD’s automated digital processes. MEA offers both standard attestation and Apostille services, though for UAE specifically, standard attestation is required (not Apostille, as UAE is not a Hague Convention member).

3–5 working days    ₹18–22 (govt fee) + agency fee

STEP 4

UAE Embassy + MOFA Attestation (Combined   NEW!)
This is where the biggest change happened in September 2025. Previously, UAE Embassy attestation and MOFA attestation were two separate steps — Embassy in India, then MOFA in the UAE. Now, both are processed simultaneously in India at authorized centers.

How it works now: Submit your MEA-attested documents to the authorized center handling UAE Embassy attestation. They process both the Embassy verification and MOFA attestation consecutively. You receive a digitally signed attestation certificate with a unique reference number and QR code for instant verification. Physical stamps and stickers on the back of documents have been discontinued.

Submission centers: UAE Embassy (New Delhi), UAE Consulates (Mumbai, Hyderabad, Trivandrum/Thiruvananthapuram).

5–7 working days    ₹3,500 – ₹4,700 (embassy fee)

STEP 5

Receive Fully Attested Documents
Your Indian degree certificate is now fully legalized and accepted by all UAE authorities — immigration, MOHRE (Ministry of Human Resources), universities, licensing bodies, and courts. You will receive a digital attestation certificate which serves as the official proof of attestation. You can also verify the attestation online by scanning the QR code or entering the reference number on the UAE MOFA portal (mofa.gov.ae). Your documents are ready for employment visa processing, family visa sponsorship, university admission, professional licensing, or any other official purpose in the UAE.

COMPLETE  Ready for UAE

Pro Tip: Although MOFA now offers digital means for application and attestation, physical submission of original documents is still required at the UAE Embassy. The “digital” part refers to the attestation output (digital certificate with QR code) rather than the submission method. Plan accordingly and never send only photocopies.