Common reasons you need documents for the United Arab Emirates
Employment visas, family sponsorship, school enrollment, and business setup.
Documents and who authenticates them
Degrees, birth and marriage certificates, and notarized documents, authenticated by the issuing state and the U.S. Department of State, and FBI results authenticated by the U.S. Department of State.
Step by step from Oregon
- Get the document ready: notarize it, or order a certified copy of vital records or school records.
- Get a state authentication certificate from the issuing state's Secretary of State. FBI results skip this step.
- Get U.S. Department of State authentication.
- Pay the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs fee and submit the document through VFS Global for UAE Embassy attestation.
- After arrival, complete final attestation with the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and arrange any Arabic legal translation.
Translation
UAE offices often require an Arabic legal translation, commonly prepared in the UAE after attestation. Ask your employer or the receiving office.
Good to know
- An apostille will be rejected in the UAE. Start with authentication certificates, not apostilles.
- Our owner works with clients in Arabic, so we can walk through the attestation chain and the Arabic translation requirement with you directly.
Moving to the United Arab Emirates: which route, and what it needs
Requirements differ by route and change without notice, so treat this as a starting point and confirm with the consulate or your immigration attorney.
- Work and employment. UAE employment visas commonly require attested degrees and a background check. The UAE does not accept apostilles, so documents go through authentication and embassy attestation instead.
- Business, investor, and self-employment. Company formation, investor permits, and self-employment routes typically need authenticated corporate documents, powers of attorney so someone can act for you locally, and a background check.
- Remote work and digital nomad routes. Where a remote-work route exists, applications usually require proof of foreign income, health insurance, and an authenticated background check. Confirm whether the route is currently open before you build a document pack around it.
- Retirement and passive income. Retirement routes generally require an authenticated background check, proof of pension or investment income, health insurance, and often apostilled birth and marriage certificates.
- Family, marriage, and children. Marriage abroad, family reunification, and registering a child usually need apostilled birth and marriage certificates, and sometimes a single-status or no-impediment document.
- Study. Universities and student permits typically ask for apostilled diplomas and transcripts, and a background check for longer programs.
Document timeline
These are our turnaround times for the steps we handle. Government processing and consulate appointments are set by those offices.
- Fingerprinting and FBI background check — Submitted within 30 minutes of
your appointment
We capture your prints and submit the request through our channeler partners. The FBI controls how quickly results come back. - Notarization, if your documents need it — Same day
Powers of attorney, affidavits, and copies that need a notary before authentication are handled at your appointment, in our office or at your location. - Apostille or authentication courier service — 10 to 15 business
days
We prepare and courier the request to the right office: the U.S. Department of State for FBI results, or a state Secretary of State for state-issued documents. - Certified translation — 2 to 3 business days
Ordered after the apostille when the receiving country wants the apostille page translated too. Some countries require their own sworn translator, and we tell you when that applies. - Your consulate appointment — Set by the consulate
Book early. Appointment backlogs, not document preparation, are usually what delays a move.
Finding the United Arab Emirates consulate that covers Oregon
Each United Arab Emirates consulate in the United States covers specific states, and you generally have to file with the one that covers Oregon. Check the consulate's own website for its jurisdiction, appointment system, and current document checklist, because those differ by post and change without notice.
The U.S. State Department publishes the official directory of foreign consular offices in the United States, which is the reliable place to find current addresses and contact details rather than a third-party list.
U.S. State Department: Foreign Consular Offices in the United States
We don't book consulate appointments or file applications. We prepare, notarize, translate, and courier the documents you take to that appointment.
How we help with your move to the United Arab Emirates
One team handles the document chain, so you make one call instead of coordinating four businesses against one deadline.
- Fingerprinting and FBI background checks
Captured at our Beaverton office or at your location, submitted within 30 minutes. $135, or $350 with the federal apostille package.
- Notary and witnesses
Powers of attorney, affidavits, and consent letters notarized before they go for authentication. $10 per signature at our office.
- Authentication and legalization courier service
Prepared and couriered through the U.S. authentication steps, with the embassy chain explained. Priced by quote.
- Certified translation
$65 per document, $75 with a notarized certificate, in 2 to 3 business days. We tell you when the destination requires its own sworn translator instead.
- Passport photos and shipping
Photos sized for the country you're applying to, and tracked international shipping for the finished documents.
We are notaries and a private document facilitator, not attorneys or immigration consultants. We can't choose a visa route, complete application forms, or advise on eligibility. For that, talk to an immigration attorney or the consulate.
Our prices for documents going to the United Arab Emirates
- Authentication and embassy legalization courier serviceFor countries that don't accept apostilles.Request a quote
- Notary feeCharged per notarial act. This is Oregon's maximum notary fee.$10per signature and stamp
Our fees are for our document authentication facilitator and courier service. See all prices.
Questions about documents for the United Arab Emirates
Does the UAE accept apostilles?
No. The UAE is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, so U.S. documents need authentication and legalization instead.
What are the steps to legalize a U.S. document for the UAE?
State authentication for state documents, U.S. Department of State authentication, UAE Embassy attestation through VFS Global, and final attestation by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the UAE.
Can you handle UAE document legalization?
Request a quote. We can prepare and courier the U.S. authentication steps and explain the remaining steps.
Can I get help in Arabic?
Yes. Sarah works with clients in Arabic as well as English, French, and Hindi.
Related country guides
Where we serve the United Arab Emirates clients
Documents for the United Arab Emirates are handled at our Beaverton office or by mobile appointment across the Portland metro area.
Last updated 2026-09-10. Requirements change, so confirm with the office receiving your documents.