True Copy Attestation in Dubai and UAE Made Easy

Get your True Copy Attestation of your documents in Dubai and other Emirates done at ease.

For only AED699 for first document

AED150 for each additional document

3 Simple Steps

Get true copy attestation of your documents in Dubai and UAE in just 3 Simple Steps.

Step 1

Fill in our quick online form and make the payment.

Step 2

We will collect the document and attest the copy.

Step 3

We return your document and attested copy back to you.

Difference Between Legalisation, Notarisation And True Copy Attestation In Dubai And UAE

We continue to receive enquiries from the UAE residents asking about the difference between true copy attestation, legalisation and notarisation of documents. All UAE residents at some point are asked to present one of these attestations for transactions either inside or outside the UAE.

For example, your employer will ask you for an ‘attested’ or ‘legalised’ degree certificate to obtain your UAE residence visa. On the other hand, if you intend to do a transaction outside the UAE, you may be asked to present ‘true copies’ or ‘notarised copies’ of your passport and utility bills.

The use of terms true copy attestation, legalisation and notarisation in the UAE is thus often found confusing. Here are some basic differences:

The Difference

What is True Copy Attestation in Dubai and UAE?

A true copy attestation in Dubai and across the UAE is carried out by a lawyer. For this attestation, the lawyer verifies the original document in question, makes a photocopy of the document and certifies on the photocopy stating that it is a true and correct copy of the original. Typically, a lawyer places his/her stamp confirming that the document is a true copy, signs and dates the photocopy. In some cases, you may be asked to have your document notarised. This is confusing as the notary public in the UAE does not carry out true copy attestations and the attestations carried out by lawyers instead are accepted throughout the world as an alternate.

Typical documents requiring true copy attestation in the UAE include passports, utility/DEWA bills, employment certificates and any other documents issued inside or outside the UAE.

In some instances, if required, a true copy attestation of a passport may involve the lawyer confirming that the photo on the passport is a true likeliness of the person. To meet this requirement, the person is required to be present before the lawyer to carry out the required attestation.

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Rule of thumb

If your document is required to be used outside the UAE, you are most likely required to obtain a true copy attestation of the document issued by a lawyer. The use of term ‘notarisation’ in this context refers to true copy attestation in Dubai, UAE that is carried out by a lawyer.

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The Difference

What is Document Legislation?

The process of legalisation is required to be completed for documents such as degree certificates, marriage certificates, birth certificates, powers of attorney etc. that are issued outside the UAE but are required to be used inside the UAE for obtaining residence visa or for carrying out a transaction in a government department or court.

The process includes the following steps:

  • Notarisation by the notary public. Notarisation is a form of legal certification that certifies that a document is authentic.
  • Legalisation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country of origin.
  • Attestation by the UAE Embassy in the country of origin.
  • Attestation by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
  • Attestation by the UAE Ministry of Justice (after Arabic translation if the document is required to be translated into Arabic).

Rule of thumb

If your document is required to be used outside the UAE, you are most likely required to obtain a true copy attestation of the document issued by a lawyer. The use of term ‘notarisation’ in this context refers to true copy attestation in Dubai, UAE that is carried out by a lawyer.

The Difference

What is Notarisation?

Notarisation is a process where a notary public witnesses the signing of a document or verifies the authenticity of a document. The notary public in the UAE witnesses a limited number of documents such as powers of attorney, signatures, memorandum of association of limited liability companies and certain types of affidavits. All documents signed in the presence of a notary public are required to be translated into Arabic. However, the notary public does not issue true copies of documents such as passports and utility bills.

Rule of thumb

If your document is required to be signed before a notary public, it must be drafted either in Arabic language or in English and Arabic (bilingual format with attestation by a legal translator). If your document is required to be used outside the UAE, some countries do accept documents that are issued in English language and witnessed by a lawyer instead of a notary public. The documents include powers of attorney, affidavits and different types of application forms. You should verify the requirement in the relevant country before proceeding with signing the document.

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Passport True Copy in Dubai and UAE

A certified true copy of passport in Dubai or other Emirates is a true copy of the original passport issued by a lawyer.

A certified true copy of passport in Dubai or other Emirates is a true copy of the original passport issued by a lawyer. To issue the true copy, the lawyer verifies the original document in person, makes a copy of the passport and then certifies the copy stating that it is a true and correct copy of the original passport. The lawyer typically places his/her stamp for this true copy attestation in Dubai and across the UAE. The certification may be required for various processes or transactions carried out outside the UAE. Typical examples of these transactions include opening bank accounts, incorporating companies, immigration and property transfers.

If the lawyer is required to verify the photo on your passport, you will need to visit the lawyer in person so he/she can certify that the photo on the passport is a true likeness of yourself. If the photo is not required to be certified, any other person can present your passport to the lawyer for the purposes of this attestation.

As the notary public does not certify true copies of passports in the UAE, this attestation is carried out by lawyers. Hence, if you are required to notarise your passport in the UAE, it essentially means that you are required to have a true copy of your passport issued by a lawyer in the UAE.

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FAQ

Any Questions? Answered

Here are some answers to some of the most common questions related to True Copy Attestation in Dubai and UAE.

A certified true copy in Dubai refers to the original document’s photocopy that has been verified by a lawyer as authentic.
You can get in touch with a true copy attestation service like vOffice and have your documents signed/stamped. All you need to do is provide your original documents and a lawyer will attest your photocopied documents.
The true copy attestation fee in Dubai starts at just AED699. vOffice provides a highly affordable price for attesting true copies of a variety of documents.
Attesting true copies is required for a number of purposes such as business setup, immigration, bank account opening, property-related transactions, etc.
Only a certified lawyer/solicitor can certify documents as true copies in Dubai.
True copy attestation of certificates in the UAE can be completed in a few minutes. Place an order through vOffice’s website, schedule an online or in-person meeting, and a lawyer will seamlessly complete the attestation process.
A true copy is an exact photocopy of the original document without any alterations and variations.
A true copy is the original document’s exact photocopy. A true copy that has been verified and attested by a qualified lawyer is a certified true copy.
A lawyer cross-checks a photocopy of the original document and stamps it as a certified true copy. On the other hand, Notary Public notarization involves witnessing signatures and verification of its authenticity.
Below are some of the common documents that usually require attestation:
  • Passports
  • Educational certificates
  • Tenancy contracts
  • Bank statements
  • Photos

Government Departments

We can help you with the processes in the following government departments.

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