If you are married outside the UAE and you want to use your marriage certificate in Dubai, you need to go through a process of attestation. Attestation is a way of verifying the authenticity and validity of your document by the authorities of both the issuing country and the UAE. Attestation is required for various purposes, such as applying for a family visa, sponsoring your spouse, registering your children in school, or opening a joint bank account.
Marriage Certificate Attestation: What it is and Why you need It
Marriage certificate attestation is a process of verifying the authenticity and validity of a marriage certificate issued in another country for use in the UAE. It is a mandatory requirement for couples who want to live together, sponsor their spouse, or apply for a family visa in the UAE. It is also necessary for other legal purposes such as inheritance, divorce, or child custody.
Marriage certificate attestation ensures that the marriage is recognized and accepted by the UAE authorities and that the rights and obligations of the married couple are protected under the UAE law. It also prevents any fraud or misuse of the marriage certificate by verifying the identity and marital status of the couple.
Read more about – Significance of Marriage Certificate for Immigration Purposes
How to get a Marriage Certificate in Dubai?
- If you are planning to get married in Dubai, you need to follow the rules and regulations of the UAE and the respective religious authorities. In Dubai, at least one party to the marriage contract (husband, wife or wife’s guardian) should have a residence visa in the UAE. In other emirates, both bride and groom must be UAE residents. A positive pre-marital screening certificate for the couple issued from the concerned public healthcare facilities in the UAE is also required.
- The marriage procedure differs according to the religion and nationality of the couple. For Muslims, the marriage can be conducted by a licensed Islamic judge or imam at the Dubai Courts or any authorized Islamic center. For non-Muslims, the marriage can be conducted by a licensed priest or minister at a church or temple registered in the UAE. Alternatively, the couple can get married at their respective embassies or consulates in the UAE, if they offer this service.
- After the marriage ceremony, the couple will receive a marriage certificate from the marriage officer who conducted the marriage. The certificate must be attested by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, either in person or through an authorized service center. The attested certificate can then be used for various purposes such as applying for a family visa, sponsoring a spouse, or registering a child’s birth
Steps for Marriage Certificate Attestation in Dubai
To attest a marriage certificate for use in Dubai, you need to follow these steps:
- Verify your certificate by a notary public in the issuing country. This is the first step to confirm that your certificate is genuine and issued by a competent authority. You need to visit a notary public office in the country where your marriage certificate was issued and get it stamped and signed by the notary. The notary may charge a fee for this service, depending on the country and the type of document.
- Attest your certificate by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the issuing country. This is the second step to confirm that your certificate is recognized by the government of the issuing country. You need to visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs office in the country where your marriage certificate was issued and get it attested by the ministry. The ministry may charge a fee for this service, depending on the country and the type of document.
- Attest your certificate by the UAE embassy or consulate in the issuing country. This is the third step to confirm that your certificate is recognized by the government of the UAE. You need to visit the UAE embassy or consulate office in the country where your marriage certificate was issued and get it attested by the embassy or consulate. The embassy or consulate may charge a fee for this service, depending on the country and the type of document.
- Attest your certificate by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in the UAE. This is the final step to confirm that your certificate is valid for use in the UAE. You need to visit the MOFAIC office in the UAE or an authorized service center and get your certificate attested by the ministry.
The attestation process can be done either in person or through an authorized service provider. The fees and duration of the attestation may vary depending on the country of origin, the type of certificate, and the service provider. The average cost of attestation ranges from AED 500 to AED 1500 and the average time of attestation ranges from 3 to 15 working days.
Find more about – How to Write an Authorization Letter for UAE Marriage Certificate Attestation
Documents need for Attesting Marriage Certificate
The documents you need for attesting your marriage certificate may vary depending on the country where your certificate was issued and the type of marriage you had. However, the general documents you need are:
- The original marriage certificate, issued by a competent authority in the issuing country.
- The passports of both spouses, with valid UAE residence visas.
- An authorization letter, if you are using a third-party service provider or a representative to attest your certificate on your behalf.
Some countries may require additional documents, such as:
- A translation of your marriage certificate, if it is not in English or Arabic. The translation must be done by a certified translator and attested by the relevant authorities in the issuing country and the UAE.
- A pre-marital screening certificate, if you had a religious or customary marriage. The certificate must be issued by a public health facility in the UAE and attested by the relevant authorities in the issuing country and the UAE.
- A divorce certificate or a death certificate, if you or your spouse were previously married. The certificate must be issued by a competent authority in the issuing country and attested by the relevant authorities in the issuing country and the UAE.
Read – A Guide to Correct Parents’ Date of Marriage in Birth Certificate
Seek Assistance of Dubai Court Marriage
Attesting your marriage certificate for use in Dubai is a necessary and important process that requires careful planning and preparation. You need to follow the steps, gather the documents, pay the fees, and wait for the time required for each stage of the attestation process. A marriage lawyer at Dubai Court Marriage can assist you with the marriage attestation process for UAE. By hiring a marriage lawyer at Dubai Court Marriage, you can save time, money, and hassle and ensure that your marriage certificate is valid and recognized in the UAE.
Contact us for more information.
