United Arab Emirates (AE)

Valid passport required for entry, residence visa stamping, Emirates ID application, and all government services. Must have at least 6 months validity. Keep original and multiple certified copies.

Required for family visa applications, school enrolment and adding dependants to an Iqama/residence visa. The UAE is NOT a member of the Hague Apostille Convention; apostille alone is NOT accepted. Foreign birth certificates must follow the full attestation chain: notarisation in country of origin → home country Ministry of Foreign Affairs attestation → UAE Embassy or Consulate in home country → UAE MOFA Attestation (Tawtheeq) in the UAE. Certified Arabic translation required.

Required for spouse and family visa applications and for adding a sponsored spouse. The UAE is NOT a Hague Apostille member; apostille is NOT accepted as a substitute. Full attestation chain required: home country notarisation → home country MFA → UAE Embassy → UAE MOFA. Certified Arabic translation required. Some non-Muslim marriages require further validation; confirm with the relevant authority.

Required for Golden Visa applications, some employment-based visas and professional licensing. The UAE is NOT a Hague Apostille member; the full attestation chain is required: home country authority attestation → home country MFA → UAE Embassy → UAE MOFA Tawtheeq. Many professional licensing authorities (Health Authority, Dubai Health Authority, etc.) also require their own attestation. Certified Arabic translation required.

Required for residence visa processing and Emirates ID. Must be registered with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE). Contract is in both Arabic and English; the Arabic version is legally binding in disputes.

Required for some visa categories, professional licences (healthcare, legal, financial) and Golden Visa applications. Obtain from your home country and any country of residence in the past 5 years. The UAE is NOT a Hague Apostille member; the full attestation chain is required: home country notarisation → home country MFA → UAE Embassy → UAE MOFA Tawtheeq. Certified Arabic translation required if the original is not in Arabic or English.

Mandatory for all residence visa applicants. Obtained in the UAE from a MOHAP-approved medical centre. Tests for tuberculosis, HIV, and hepatitis. Must be renewed with each visa renewal.

The national identity card for all UAE residents. Mandatory for all transactions — banking, healthcare, government services, SIM registration, and car insurance. Must be applied for within 30 days of visa stamping. Issued by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP).

Required for Emirates ID, bank account opening, vehicle registration, and school enrolment. All tenancy contracts in Dubai must be registered on the Ejari system. In Abu Dhabi, registration is through Tawtheeq. Essential proof of residence.

Required for UAE driving licence exchange. Certain nationalities (UK, US, Australia, EU, GCC) can exchange directly without a test. Other nationalities must take the full UAE driving test. Original licence + attested copy may be needed.

Microchip certificate (ISO 11784/85), rabies vaccination certificate (not more than 1 year, not less than 30 days before travel), health certificate from licensed vet in country of origin, CITES permit for exotic species. Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) approval required.

Non-Muslim expatriates should register a will with DIFC Wills Service Centre or Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) to ensure their assets in the UAE are distributed according to their wishes rather than under UAE personal status law (Sharia). Registration costs AED 10,000+ at DIFC.