Death Certificate Attestation in Dubai

Attestation of a foreign-issued death certificate in the UAE is governed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MOFAIC) and involves a legally prescribed three-stage procedure. <br><br> Authentication by the competent authority in the country of issuance, such as the Ministry of Health or Civil Registry, confirming the validity of the certificate.<br> Legalisation by the UAE embassy or consulate in that jurisdiction, as prescribed by MOFAIC regulations, for all foreign public documents intended for use in the UAE.<br> Final attestation by MOFAIC in the UAE, which grants the certificate legal validity before UAE courts, inheritance divisions, insurance companies, and immigration authorities. <br><br> After completing these steps, a foreign death certificate acquires binding legal effect in the UAE for purposes such as succession procedures, insurance claims, repatriation arrangements, and residence visa cancellation.

The timeframe for attesting a death certificate in Dubai depends on the document’s origin and the method of submission. For UAE-issued certificates, once the request is filed through the MOFAIC Smart App or the official MOFAIC website using UAE Pass, the attestation is usually completed digitally within a few minutes. In such cases, the attested document can be downloaded immediately in electronic form, and, if requested, delivered in hard copy through authorised courier services within 1–3 working days. For foreign-issued certificates, additional time must be taken into account for authentication by the competent authority in the country of issuance and legalisation by the UAE embassy or consulate abroad before submission to MOFAIC in the UAE. These preliminary steps often determine the overall processing duration.

The MOFAIC applies a standard attestation fee of AED 150 for each death certificate. Where a foreign-issued certificate requires additional legalisation by a UAE embassy or consulate abroad, an embassy fee of AED 150 is also applicable. These amounts exclude courier delivery charges and any translation costs. EGSH provides applicants with a complete fee breakdown before submission, ensuring full clarity on all official charges.

Applicants residing outside the UAE may initiate death certificate attestation through the UAE embassy or consulate in the country of issuance. Once the document has been authenticated locally and attested by the UAE mission abroad, it must be submitted to MOFAIC in Dubai for final legalisation. EGSH advises on the correct sequence of attestations and facilitates the process to ensure that the certificate attains full legal validity for use before UAE authorities.

A death certificate issued in Dubai or another emirate requires attestation only by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MOFAIC) for use within the UAE. Death certificate legalisation by a UAE embassy or consulate applies exclusively to foreign-issued certificates intended for recognition before UAE authorities.

An attested death certificate is a mandatory requirement to cancel the residence visa of a deceased individual in the UAE. Immigration authorities will not process the cancellation without a certificate that has been verified through MOFAIC and, where relevant, embassy legalisation. Through EGSH, applicants complete the death certificate attestation under one roof, and the document is then recognised for visa cancellation and all related legal procedures.

A representative may complete the attestation process if authorised by the family of the deceased. The representative must present a valid Emirates ID or a copy of their passport, along with any power of attorney or authorisation letter, as required.

MOFAIC allows the online submission of death certificate attestation requests via its official website or the MOFAIC Smart App, available on iOS and Android, using UAE Pass. If physical verification is required, the original must be submitted through the authorised service centre. EGSH facilitates the entire process by preparing the application, checking compliance, and coordinating with the delivery service, so the applicant receives the attested certificate without procedural errors.