MOFA Attestation Fees Explained: Standard vs Express (2026)
What are the MOFA attestation fees in Dubai?
MOFA attestation fees in Dubai apply an official government fee for standard processing (2-3 working days), a higher fee for express processing (1 working day), and a higher fee still for commercial documents. All fees are subject to 5% VAT. Payment is made online through mofa.gov.ae using UAE Pass authentication. MOFA is the final step in the attestation chain.
MOFA Attestation Fee Structure for 2026
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) is the final authority in the document attestation chain. MOFA attestation confirms that the UAE embassy or consulate legalisation already on your document is genuine, making it legally valid across all seven emirates. An apostille is never the step MOFA is confirming — the UAE is not a Hague Convention country, so a foreign apostille does not replace the UAE embassy stage. The fee structure is transparent and published on the official MOFA portal at mofa.gov.ae.
Standard vs Express MOFA Processing
MOFA offers two processing tiers for personal documents. Standard processing is completed within 2-3 working days at the official government fee per document. Express processing is completed within 1 working day at a higher official fee. Both tiers produce identical attestation stamps — the only difference is processing speed. For most visa applications, standard processing is sufficient if you plan ahead.
Commercial Document MOFA Fees
Commercial and business documents have a separate fee schedule. Trade licenses, articles of association, board resolutions, certificates of incorporation, and other corporate documents carry a higher official fee per document for MOFA attestation. This higher fee reflects the additional verification required for commercial documents. VAT at 5% applies on top of commercial attestation fees.
How to Pay MOFA Attestation Fees Online
MOFA attestation is fully digital since the transition to the online portal.
- 1Visit mofa.gov.ae or download the MOFA UAE app
- 2Sign in using your UAE Pass credentials (UAE Pass registration is free)
- 3Select "Attestation Services" from the menu
- 4Upload scanned copies of your pre-attested documents
- 5Pay the fee using credit/debit card or e-Dirham
- 6Track your application status through the portal
- 7Collect from MOFA office or receive via registered mail
Tips to Avoid Unnecessary MOFA Costs
Several common mistakes lead to rejection and repeat fees. Ensure your document has completed all prior attestation steps before submitting to MOFA — skipping the embassy step results in automatic rejection. Documents must not be laminated. The embassy attestation stamp must be clearly visible and not obscured. Names on the document must match your passport exactly. If translation is required, it must be MOJ-certified before MOFA submission.
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MOFA Attestation — Free Doorstep ServiceMOFA Attestation Fees Explained: Standard vs Express (2026) — FAQ
MOFA attestation for a degree certificate carries the standard official fee, with paper documents moving through the approved-courier route in about one to three business days. These are personal document rates. Commercial attestation rates are higher.