What is attestation?

Let’s use an example: Imagine you’re moving to the UAE and your employer needs you to provide an attested UK degree certificate. Here’s the process:

1. Initial Authentication: The UAE Embassy in London doesn’t directly validate your degree’s authenticity. Instead, they require the document to be authenticated by the UK Government.
2. Apostille Stamp: The first step is for the document to be processed by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), where it receives an Apostille Stamp. This stamp confirms that the document is officially recognised within the UK.
3. Notary or Solicitor Verification: For certain documents, like degree certificates, the FCDO may require the document to be verified first by a UK Notary Public or Solicitor. This ensures the authenticity of the document before it moves to the next step.
4. Embassy Attestation: After the document has been processed by the FCDO, the UAE Embassy will carry out the final attestation to validate the document for use in the UAE.

Key Points to Remember

• Attestation is part of a broader legalisation process, and it must follow specific steps, depending on the type of document.
• Embassy or Consulate attestation can only be performed by the Embassy or Consulate of the country where the document will be used.
• Some countries, like the UAE, may reject documents attested for another country. So, it’s important to use the correct documents and processes for each destination.
• Old copies of attested documents might not always be accepted, so ensure you’re using the latest versions when applying for attestation.

Simplify the Process with Us

Vital Consular has extensive experience in managing the attestation and legalisation of documents. We handle all the steps for you, ensuring your documents are validated and attested smoothly.

For assistance, call us at +44 (0) 330 088 1142 to speak with a trained adviser.