When relocating to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) or applying for family-based services, marriage certificate attestation becomes a crucial legal requirement. Whether you're moving to Dubai for employment, sponsoring your spouse, applying for a residence visa, or availing health insurance, your attested marriage certificate serves as a legal document validating your relationship in the eyes of UAE authorities. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know in 2025 to get your marriage certificate attested in the UAE efficiently and legally.
What is Marriage Certificate Attestation?
Marriage certificate attestation is the process of verifying the authenticity of your marriage certificate by multiple government authorities, both in your home country and in the UAE. It ensures that your document is legally recognized and accepted by UAE governmental and semi-governmental bodies such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), immigration authorities, health authorities, and more.
This process involves a chain of verification steps that includes notarization, state-level attestation, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) attestation, and finally, UAE Embassy and MOFA attestation.
Why is Marriage Certificate Attestation Required in the UAE?
In the UAE, attestation of personal documents like marriage certificates is a legal prerequisite for several formalities, including:
Applying for a spouse visa/residence visa
Changing marital status in official records
Including spouse in employer-provided health insurance
Registering childbirth or enrolling children in schools
Opening joint bank accounts
Property purchases under joint names
UAE authorities demand MOFA attestation to ensure the document’s credibility and international validity. Without this, your marriage certificate will not be accepted for any official process.
How to Attest Marriage Certificate in UAE – Step-by-Step Guide (India to UAE)
If you are an Indian national or hold an Indian-issued marriage certificate, here’s a detailed step-by-step guide on how to attest your marriage certificate for use in the UAE:
1. Notary Attestation in India
The first step begins at the local notary office, where your marriage certificate is notarized by a certified lawyer. This is to verify that the document is genuine and bears the correct information.
2. Home Department / SDM Attestation
Next, the certificate must be attested by the State Home Department or Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of the issuing state. This varies by Indian state. Some states only allow attestation via the Home Department.
3. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), India
Once the state-level attestation is complete, the document is submitted to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in India for central government attestation. This is a critical step and is mandatory for any international use.
4. UAE Embassy Attestation in India
After MEA attestation, your marriage certificate must be attested by the UAE Embassy or Consulate in India. This confirms that the UAE government acknowledges the authenticity of the document.
5. MOFA Attestation in UAE
Once you arrive in the UAE or send the document there, the final step is attestation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) UAE. This is the ultimate verification step to validate the certificate for all legal and official purposes within the UAE.
MOFA Attestation UAE for Marriage Certificate
The MOFA attestation is the most crucial and final step in the marriage certificate attestation process in Dubai or any other emirate. Without this seal, your document will not be legally recognized for official transactions in the UAE.
Key Points to Remember:
MOFA attestation is only done after all previous attestation steps are completed.
It requires the original marriage certificate, along with passport copies of the couple.
Appointments can be booked online via the MOFAIC website or conducted through registered attestation service providers.
Processing usually takes 1–2 working days, depending on volume and document condition.
Common Use Cases for Marriage Certificate Attestation in the UAE
Here are the most common scenarios where attested marriage certificates are required:
Spouse Visa / Family Visa Application
The most common requirement is when you’re applying for a residence visa for your spouse. UAE immigration requires an attested marriage certificate to process this.
Health Insurance Coverage
To add your spouse to your company’s health insurance plan, most insurers demand an attested marriage certificate as proof of relationship.
Joint Property Ownership
When purchasing real estate under joint ownership, the document is needed to establish legal marital ties.
Maternity and Paternity Benefits
Hospitals and government departments require an attested marriage certificate to process maternity registration or childbirth certificates.
How to Choose a Trusted Marriage Certificate Attestation Service
With numerous agencies offering certificate attestation services, it's crucial to pick one that is reliable, experienced, and government-approved.
What to Look For:
Licensed attestation service provider in the UAE
Transparent pricing with no hidden fees
Live tracking and timely updates
Experience handling documents from your country
Free document pickup and delivery
Customer support via WhatsApp, email, and phone
At Benchmark Attestation Services, we offer end-to-end document attestation, including marriage certificate attestation for UAE, with express service options, secure handling, and guaranteed MOFA approval.
Contact Benchmark Certificate Attestation Services Today
📍 Office No: 203, 2nd Floor, Business Atrium Building, Oud Metha, Dubai, UAE
📧 Email: sales@certificateattestation.ae
📞 Landline: +971 4 396 1284
📱 Mobile/WhatsApp: +971 50 474 1340
🌐 Visit us: www.certificateattestation.ae
Let us handle your marriage certificate attestation process professionally, efficiently, and legally. We offer free consultation, quick turnarounds, and doorstep service throughout the UAE.
