Degree attestation is the process of getting official stamps on your degree certificate so that a foreign government accepts it as genuine. For a UAE work permit, your qualifications must be attested by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) (u.ae). Because the UAE is not a party to the Apostille Convention, that usually means a chain of stamps in the country that issued your degree before the UAE stamp. Saudi Arabia joined the Apostille Convention, in force since 7 December 2022, so a single apostille from a member country can replace embassy legalisation (HCCH).
This guide explains the chain for each country, the steps from India, Pakistan and the UK, typical costs and timelines, and how to avoid delays. Requirements differ by country, university and employer, and they change, so check with your employer and the official pages linked below. This is general information, not legal advice.
Why you need degree attestation
- UAE work permit. The employer’s work permit application needs your qualifications attested by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (u.ae).
- Your MOHRE skill level. Under MOHRE rules, a job counts as skilled only if you hold a certificate above secondary level and it is “attested by the competent authorities” (u.ae). Your skill level affects your work permit category and your eligibility for the Green and Golden Visas.
- UAE Golden Visa. The skilled professionals route asks for an “attested bachelor’s degree or equivalent” (ADRO). See our UAE Golden Visa guide.
- Saudi Arabia. Whether your degree must be authenticated for the work visa depends on your profession and employer, so ask your employer early.
Degree attestation for the UAE: the chain
For a degree issued outside the UAE, the usual chain is:
- Authentication in the issuing country. A local authority confirms the document is genuine: for example a state education department, a national higher education body, or a notary or solicitor, depending on the country.
- The issuing country’s foreign ministry. It legalises the signature of the local authority.
- The UAE embassy or consulate in that country. MOFA calls this “Attestation through UAE Missions Abroad”. It is available electronically through selected missions; otherwise you visit the mission in person (MOFA UAE).
- MOFA in the UAE. The final UAE attestation, which “certifies the authenticity of the signatures and seals on documents issued within or outside the United Arab Emirates” (MOFA UAE).
You apply to MOFA through its website or the UAE MOFA smart app, and you sign in with UAE PASS; non-residents can create a UAE PASS account (MOFA UAE).
How many days does UAE degree attestation take?
MOFA says attestation of documents issued outside the UAE, through a service provider, “may take up to 7 business days” (MOFA UAE). That is only the last step. The steps in your home country usually take longer, so allow several weeks in total, and more if your university is slow to respond.
Degree attestation cost in the UAE
MOFA calculates its fee from the number of documents, the attestation route and whether the document is personal or commercial, shows the total before you pay, and refers to its Attestation Guide for amounts (MOFA UAE). Add the fees of each authority in your home country, the UAE mission and any courier or agent. Ask your employer whether it reimburses attestation: the UAE government says recruitment costs are borne by the employer (u.ae).
Degree attestation for Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia acceded to the Apostille Convention on 8 April 2022, and it entered into force for Saudi Arabia on 7 December 2022 (HCCH). Between member countries, an apostille replaces the old chain of foreign ministry and embassy legalisation.
So the chain depends on where your degree was issued:
| Your degree was issued in | What Saudi Arabia usually needs |
|---|---|
| An Apostille Convention country (for example India, Pakistan, the Philippines, the UK) | An apostille from that country’s competent authority |
| A country outside the Convention | Legalisation by that country’s foreign ministry and the Saudi embassy or consulate |
Pakistan’s membership entered into force on 9 March 2023, India’s in 2005 and the Philippines’ in 2019 (HCCH). Check the HCCH status table for your own country.
Your employer then uses the documents for your work visa through the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs visa platform and Qiwa. Ask your employer whether your job title also needs registration with a Saudi professional body, which may check your degree separately.
Degree attestation from India for the UAE and Saudi Arabia
India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) runs two services (MEA):
- Apostille, for Apostille Convention countries, such as Saudi Arabia. It covers educational documents.
- Normal attestation, for countries that are not members or don’t accept the apostille, such as the UAE.
The steps:
- Authentication in India first. Documents go through authentication at Regional Authentication Centres; the MEA then legalises them based on the signatures of designated authorities of state governments or union territories (MEA). For degrees, this is normally the state education authority where your university is.
- MEA apostille or attestation. Since July 2012, the MEA doesn’t accept documents directly from individuals; you submit through its outsourced agencies or the Branch Secretariats and Regional Passport Offices, available in 16 cities since January 2019 (MEA).
- For the UAE: UAE embassy or consulate in India, then MOFA in the UAE.
- For Saudi Arabia: the MEA apostille is normally the final step.
MEA fees: an apostille costs Rs 50 per sticker plus the agency’s Rs 84 per document and Rs 3 per page. Normal attestation has no MEA fee, but the same agency fee applies (MEA). State authority, embassy and courier fees are extra. The MEA also runs e-Sanad for electronic verification and attestation of some documents.
Degree attestation from Pakistan
Pakistan joined the Apostille Convention with effect from 9 March 2023 (HCCH), so for Saudi Arabia an apostille is normally enough. For the UAE, which is not a member, you still need the legalisation chain ending with the UAE embassy in Pakistan and MOFA in the UAE. Check the current steps and fees with Pakistan’s Higher Education Commission (HEC) and Ministry of Foreign Affairs before you start; we could not reach their sites to confirm them.
Degree attestation from the UK
In the UK, the FCDO Legalisation Office attaches an apostille to UK public documents. A degree certificate must first be certified by a UK “public official” such as a notary or solicitor. Fees are £45 per document for the standard paper service (usually up to 25 working days plus postage) or £35 for an e-Apostille (up to 2 working days) (GOV.UK).
- For Saudi Arabia, the apostille is normally enough.
- For the UAE, the apostilled document still goes to the UAE embassy in London and then MOFA in the UAE.
Other countries
The pattern is the same everywhere: authentication at home, then either an apostille (for Saudi Arabia, if your country is a member) or the full legalisation chain through the UAE or Saudi mission. For Qatar, Qatar Visa Centres in some countries list attestation among their services (Gulf Times); our guide to tech jobs in Qatar covers the visa steps.
Tips to avoid delays
- Start as soon as you begin applying. Attestation can take longer than the visa itself. Our work visa guide shows how fast the visa steps can be once documents are ready.
- Attest the right document. Employers usually want the degree certificate; some also ask for transcripts. Ask which.
- Check names match your passport. Spelling differences between documents can cause problems at each step.
- Use official channels or the agencies the ministries list. In India, the MEA names its outsourced agencies. Be careful with agents who promise unrealistic timelines.
- Do your family documents at the same time. Marriage and birth certificates often need the same chain for family visas.
- Keep scans of every stamp, and keep the originals safe.
Find a job that sponsors your visa
Once your documents are in hand, look at jobs with visa sponsorship, jobs you can apply for from abroad, and tech jobs in Dubai and Riyadh. Our guide to tech jobs in Saudi Arabia shows who is hiring there.
Frequently asked questions
Is degree attestation required for a UAE work visa?
Yes. The UAE government’s guide to recruiting on the mainland says the work permit application needs the employee’s qualifications attested by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. MOHRE also counts a job as skilled only if your certificate is attested, which affects your work permit and visa options.
How many days does degree attestation take for the UAE?
MOFA says the final step, attestation of documents issued outside the UAE through a service provider, can take up to 7 business days. The steps in your home country, such as state authentication, the foreign ministry and the UAE embassy, usually take longer. Allow several weeks in total.
Does Saudi Arabia accept an apostille?
Yes. Saudi Arabia joined the Apostille Convention, which entered into force for it on 7 December 2022. If your degree comes from another member country, such as India, Pakistan or the UK, an apostille from that country normally replaces embassy legalisation.
Does the UAE accept an apostille?
Not on its own. The UAE is not listed as a party in the HCCH Apostille Convention status table, so documents still need legalisation through the UAE mission in the issuing country and attestation by MOFA in the UAE.
How much does degree attestation cost?
It depends on your country and route. In India, the MEA charges Rs 50 per apostille plus an agency fee of Rs 84 per document and Rs 3 per page. In the UK, an apostille costs £45 (paper) or £35 (e-Apostille). UAE MOFA calculates its fee per application and shows it before payment. Embassy, state and courier fees come on top.
Who pays for degree attestation?
Often you, at least up front. Ask your employer whether it reimburses the cost. The UAE government says recruitment costs are borne by the employer, and Article 40 of the Saudi Labour Law makes the employer pay recruitment and permit fees, so it is reasonable to ask.