Getting Documents Attested in Australia When Moving to the United Arab Emirates – When moving to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from Australia, one may need to have various personal or professional documents attested. Document attestation is a process by which a document is certified to be genuine, ensuring its authenticity and validity in a foreign country.
This article will guide you through the attestation process of Australian documents for use in the UAE.
- Understand the Need for Attestation:
Before moving to the UAE, you may be required to produce attested documents such as educational certificates, birth certificates, marriage certificates, or professional credentials. These attested documents are typically necessary for employment, residency, education, or business-related purposes in the UAE.
- Prepare Your Documents:
Make sure your original documents are intact and free from damages. In case of missing or damaged documents, you might need to obtain new originals from the respective Australian issuing authorities.
- Notary Public:
Your document’s journey to attestation starts with getting it notarised by a Notary Public in Australia. The notary will verify the document’s authenticity and affix a seal or a signature as proof of their verification.
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT):
Once notarised, the document must be taken to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) in Australia. They will authenticate the notary’s signature and place an apostille or an authentication certificate on the document. Note that an apostille is generally used for countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention. Since the UAE is not a member, your document will likely receive an authentication certificate instead of an apostille.
- UAE Embassy in Canberra:
After DFAT authentication, you will need to submit the document to the UAE Embassy in Canberra for further attestation. The embassy will verify the authenticity of the DFAT seal and affix their own seal and signature to confirm the document’s legitimacy for use in the UAE.
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in the UAE:
Upon your arrival in the UAE, there’s one final step. Take the document attested by the UAE Embassy in Australia to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in the UAE. MOFA will place its stamp on the document, completing the attestation process.
- Translation (if necessary):
If your original document is not in Arabic, you may need to get it officially translated once in the UAE. Make sure to employ a certified translation service familiar with UAE requirements.
Tips:
- Always make photocopies of your original documents and keep them safe. It’s good practice to use copies where possible and only produce originals when strictly required.
- Ensure you’re aware of all the fees involved at every stage of the attestation process.
- Time is of the essence. Attestation can take days to weeks, depending on various factors. Start the process well in advance of your move to avoid any delays.
- Some third-party agencies offer attestation services. If you’re unfamiliar with the process or pressed for time, employing such an agency might be beneficial.
Conclusion:
Moving to another country can be both exciting and daunting, and navigating bureaucratic processes like attestation can add to the stress.
However, with proper understanding and planning, you can ensure your documents are correctly attested and accepted in the UAE. Make sure to follow the above steps carefully, and you’ll be well-prepared for your new adventure in the UAE!
About Atlas Wealth Management
Atlas Wealth Management is the only Australian financial services firm in the UAE that holds financial services licenses in both Australia, through the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC), as well as locally in the UAE with the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA).
Whether you require tax, financial planning, asset management or mortgage advice we are the only choice for Australian expats in the UAE. From our regional headquarters in Dubai we are able to provide on the ground advice to both Australians who are looking to move or have recently moved to the UAE, expats who have made the UAE their long term home and lastly Australians who are looking to make the move back home.
