First and foremost, congratulations on your marriage! In case you plan to reside within the UAE, or for any official business in which the presentation of a marriage certificate will be necessary, it requires attestation. Attestation is the act of giving an opinion on the genuineness of a document, a fact, or an event. UAE attestation of marriage certificates is just one such process that sounds very horrendous, but with the support of professional service, it runs easily and quickly. In this article, we will take you through the process of attesting your marriage certificate for use in the UAE.
Why Attest the Marriage Certificate?
Attestation is a vital procedure for many things, for example:
- Visa and Residency Applications: If either of you intends to sponsor a residency visa in the UAE for you or your spouse, you will require an attested marriage certificate.
- Opening a Joint Bank Account: Many banks in the UAE require an attested marriage certificate to open a joint account for the couple.
- Transactions in Properties: A notarized marriage certificate might be needed while buying property or renting a place by a married couple.
- Legal: Documents with your marital status need to be attested for most legal processes, inheritance, and other official matters.
Understanding the Attestation Process
Marriage certificate attestation is the act of verifying the authenticity of your marriage certificate for official purposes in a foreign country, which, in this case, is the United Arab Emirates. It basically certifies that you receive an official stamp of approval and confirmation that your marriage certificate is genuine and from a legitimate authority in the country you were married in.
Important Points to Remember
- Original Documents: You may be required to produce the original marriage certificate for attestation, together with copies, at various stages of the process. Sometimes, certified true copies are acceptable.
- Time Taken: The time taken in the attestation process can vary from weeks to even months depending upon the country of issuance and the workload of the attesting authorities. It is hence important to plan accordingly and start the process well in advance of the deadlines.
- Translation: In case your marriage certificate is not in Arabic or English, you must provide an official translation certified by a translator approved by the UAE embassy.
- Fees: You will be required to pay for each step in the process of attestation. Understand the specific charges that you will incur beforehand.
- Processing Time: The processing time is different in the different responsible authorities. One should expect the process to be accomplished in some weeks.
The UAE Marriage Certificate Attestation Process
The marriage certificate attestation process in the UAE is a few steps long, and they may vary slightly, depending on the country of origin. Below is a general description of the process.
Step 1: Attestation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA)
If your marriage certificate is from outside the UAE, you have to get it attested by MOFA or the department concerned in your home country. This makes the document authentic and lawful.
Step 2: Attestation from the UAE Embassy
After the document is attested by MOFA, take it to the United Arab Emirates Embassy or Consulate in the country where it was issued. The Embassy will attest to the MOFA attestation and put an additional stamp or seal, further attesting to the document’s validity for usage in the UAE.
Step 3: Attestation by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MOFAIC)
On arrival in the UAE, you will be required to submit your marriage certificate to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation for final attestation. This implies that the document is to be recognized and accepted by the UAE authorities.
Step 4: Translate the message, if needed
If the marriage certificate is in a language other than Arabic or English, you will have to provide an official translation through an approved translation agency in the UAE. The translation must undergo the process of attestation.
Additional Points to Consider
- Marriage in UAE: The procedure may be slightly different if you got married in the UAE. It would, therefore, be in order to, first of all, get in touch with the notary public for your marriage for specific instructions.
- Travel Restrictions: Check the travel regulations that might prevent you from reaching the relevant offices in person. Consider mail submissions or authorized representatives if required.
How the Notary Public Dubai Can Help
The process of attestation, at times, seems too backbreaking while dealing with processes of various countries. Notary Public Dubai extends its professional service to make it easier for you in the entire process. Our team of experts can assist you in the following ways.
- Guiding you through specific requirements as per your situation
- Assisting in the preparation of documents and translation, if needed
- Liaising with the authorities concerned on your behalf
- Monitoring the progress of your application to ensure it is processed in a timely manner.
Please feel free to contact Notary Public Dubai for marriage certificate attestation today, and let us take the hassle out of having your marriage certificate attested in the UAE. We assure a smooth and efficient process, so you may relish this new life.