Document Authentication / Attestation
We strongly encourage U.S. citizens to authenticate their documents (especially educational, marriage or birth) in the U.S. before coming to the United Arab Emirates. The Embassy is unable to authenticate documents originated in the U.S.
Documents issued in one country which need to be used in a foreign country, such as powers of attorney, affidavits, and birth, death and marriages records, must be "authenticated" or "legalized" before they can be recognized as valid in the foreign country.
If the document is for use in the United Arab Emirates, you must complete the "chain authentication process" in which a series of authorities will affix a succession of seals beginning with your document and ending with the seal of the UAE Embassy in Washington, DC and the appropriate office of the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
How to Authenticate a Document
Documents originated in the United States
Step One - Obtain the document and complete the first authentication.
- Documents issued by educational institutions (college degrees, vocational/educational certificates, transcripts):
- Documents issued by educational institutions should be originals and be obtained from the educational institutions themselves. Most schools have notaries public to provide certified copies of the degrees or transcripts. Contact the school to determine how best to have your document authenticated by the state’s Secretary of State. In some cases, you may be required to bring the document to a county office for authentication, and then authenticated by the state’s Secretary of State.
- Documents issued by a U.S. state:
- State documents are those originating with a state court or agency (birth, death, and marriage certificates, etc.). They must be authenticated by that state’s Secretary of State. Contact them or send your original document or its certified copy for initial authentication of the town/county/state’s issuing officer. Information on the offices of Secretaries of State for the U.S. states: http://www.statelocalgov.net/50states-secretary-state.cfm
Notarized Documents
The procedure for authenticating documents executed before a notary public, such as affidavits or acknowledgments, varies from state to state. It is advisable to contact the state authentication authority to learn what steps are necessary between the notary seal and the state level authentication.
Documents issued by federal agencies:
- If your document was issued under the seal of a federal agency, it does not require a state level authentication. You may proceed directly to Step Two.
- Documents issued by federal courts:
- Documents issued under the seal of a federal court should be sent to:
Justice Management Division, Security Program Staff
Physical Security Office, Room 6531
9th and Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, D.C. 20530
Telephone: (202) 514-2314 or 514-4667
Step Two - Get your document authenticated by the U.S. Department of State Authentications Office.
Once you have completed the state level authentication, you must get your document authenticated by the U.S. Department of State Authentications Office. Fill out Form DS-4194. There is a fee of $8.00 for each authentication. You may pay by a check drawn on a U.S. bank or a money order made payable to the Department of State.
Department of State Documents Authentication Office
518 23rd ST. N.W., SA-1, ColumbiaPlaza
Washington, D.C. 20520
Telephone: (202) 647-5002 or 1-800-688-9889, FAX: (202) 663-3636,
E-mail: aoprgsmauth@state.gov
http://www.state.gov/m/a/auth/
Processing time for authentication requests sent by mail is at least 15 working days. There is a walk in service, open 7:30 am to 11:00 am, which allows for the authentication of documents on the same day. For additional information, call the Federal Information Center at 1-800-688-9889.
Step Three - The Final Authentication
- At the UAE Embassy in Washington DC:
- You then submit the chain of authentications to the UAE Embassy in Washington DC for their final authentication. You may contact the UAE Embassy at:
The Embassy of the U.A.E.
3522 International Court, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20008
Telephone: (202) 243-2400
http://uae-embassy.org/
The companies listed below are for your information only, they provide attestation services. Please note that the U.S. Consulate General Dubai is not affiliated with the companies listed below.
Documents originated in a country other than the U.S.
The U.S. Consulate in Dubai is able to authenticate documents that have already been authenticated by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dubai or Sharjah. You must bring the original document to the Consulate. Please note that the Consulate does not authenticate any educational documents.
You must make an online appointment for this service.
The companies listed below claim to help in providing attestation / authentication services, and are for your information only. Please note that the U.S. Consulate General Dubai is not affiliated with the companies listed below and does not recommend them specifically.
Helpline
Address: Deira, Naser Square, Dubai Tower, 4th floor, office #434
PO Box 41154, Dubai, UAE
Telephone: 971 4 227 9916
Email: helplinegroup@hotmail.com
Index
Address: Bur Dubai, Al Khaleej Center, 4th floor, office #405
Dubai, UAE
Telephone: 971 4 355 0888
Email: index101@emirates.net.ae
Authxperts LLC
413 Fleece Flower Drive
Gaithersburg, MD 20878
U.S.A
Email: info@authxperts.com
Web: www.authxperts.com
Ph: 866-721-0746/301-926-2640
Authenticate 4 Me
5810 Kingstowne Center. Dr
Suite 120-167
Alexandria VA 22315
U.S.A
Authenticate4me.com
info@authenticate4me.com
Phone: (202)684-6863