Document legalisation · UAE attestation
Document legalisation for the UAE
Moving to Dubai or Abu Dhabi for work, study or business? From our office in Abuja, we take your certificates through every stage of UAE attestation — including for clients in Cameroon and Benin, where there is no UAE Embassy.
UAE attestation at a glance
Apostille accepted?
No — the UAE requires full attestation
Who we serve
Nigeria, Cameroon and Benin
Stages
Notary or verification → Foreign Affairs → UAE Embassy → UAE MOFA
UAE Embassy submissions
Through VFS Global in Abuja
THE PROCESS
How UAE document attestation works
Each stage confirms the one before it. A document that skips a stage — or arrives at the UAE Embassy without the right home-country stamps — is returned, so the order matters.
1
Notarisation or verification
Private and company documents are notarised. Academic certificates are verified with the issuing institution and the Federal Ministry of Education.
4
UAE MOFA attestation
The final attestation by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, after which your document can be used in all seven emirates.
2
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The Foreign Affairs ministry of the country that issued the document authenticates it — for Nigerian documents, the Ministry in Abuja.
3
The UAE Embassy legalisation
We submit to the UAE Embassy through its appointed centre, VFS Global, in Abuja, and track the application.
OUTSIDE NIGERIA
No UAE Embassy in your country?
Cameroon and Benin have no UAE Embassy of their own. Documents from both can be legalised at the UAE Embassy in Abuja — without you travelling to Nigeria.
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Your document is authenticated by your own country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We tell you exactly what's needed first.
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Send the originals by courier. We check every stamp and signature before submission.
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We submit to the UAE Embassy through VFS Global and follow the application through.
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We courier the legalised documents to you or straight to the UAE for final MOFA attestation.
WHAT WE ATTEST
Documents we legalise for use in the UAE
Educational certificates
For UAE employment visas, professional licensing and certificate equivalency.
Degree and HND certificates
Academic transcripts
WAEC / NECO results
Professional certificates
Personal documents
For family residence visas, sponsorship and life events in the UAE.
Birth certificates
Marriage certificates
Police character certificates
Affidavits and powers of attorney
Commercial documents
For setting up a branch, trade licence or contract in the UAE.
CAC certificate and status report
Memorandum and articles of association
Board resolutions
Commercial invoices and agreements
WHY REN ATTORNEYS ?
Handled by lawyers, close to every office involved
Checked before it's submitted
We review every document for the stamps and signatures each office expects, so it isn't rejected halfway.
Based in Abuja
Our office in Garki is minutes from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the VFS centre.
Already in the UAE? We can still help
Send your originals by courier and we'll handle the Nigerian stages and return them to you.
Legalisation for other countries
he other direction
Using a UAE document in Nigeria?
UAE-issued documents — such as a marriage certificate, degree or company record — must be attested in the UAE and legalised by the Nigerian mission before Nigerian authorities will accept them. We advise on the steps and handle the Nigerian side.
China --
South Korea --
Finland --
Portugal --
Cape Verde --
ETC --
China -- South Korea -- Finland -- Portugal -- Cape Verde -- ETC --
Frequently Asked Questions
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No. The UAE is not part of the Hague Apostille Convention, so documents must go through the full attestation chain: authentication in the issuing country, the UAE Embassy, then UAE MOFA.
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Documents from Cameroon and Benin can be legalised at the UAE Embassy in Abuja. Once your own Foreign Affairs ministry has authenticated the document, courier it to us and we handle the UAE Embassy stage in Abuja.
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Usually1 week from receiving your documents, depending on the document type and processing times at each office. Educational certificates take longer because of the verification step.
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Yes. The Nigerian stages must be completed in Nigeria, but you don't need to travel — courier your originals to us and we'll return them once they're ready for MOFA attestation.
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UAE authorities rely on the Nigerian education system to confirm a certificate is genuine, so it's verified with the issuing institution and the Federal Ministry of Education before Foreign Affairs authentication.
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Fees depend on the document type and how many documents you have. .
Get your documents ready for the UAE
Tell us which documents you have and what they're for. We'll reply with the exact steps, timeline and a full quote.