Attestation
Philippines Certificate Attestation in the UAE
The Philippines joined the Apostille Convention in 2019, so Philippine documents are apostilled by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) rather than legalised at a UAE embassy, then attested by MOFAIC on arrival. Here is the exact route, cost and timeline for degrees, civil certificates and NBI clearance.
How Philippine document attestation works
Since the Philippines is an Apostille member, a single DFA apostille replaces the old UAE embassy legalisation step. The document still needs a source verification first (PSA for civil records, CHED or DepEd for education) and MOFAIC attestation once it reaches the UAE.
The chain for Philippine certificates
- 1Source verificationPSA for birth, marriage and death; CHED or DepEd for educational records; NBI for police clearance.
- 2DFA apostilleThe Department of Foreign Affairs applies the apostille.
- 3MOFAIC attestation in the UAEThe final UAE-side stamp, after which the document is valid here.
Cost and timeline for Philippine documents
The Philippine-side steps (PSA/CHED + DFA apostille) typically take one to two weeks. Once in the UAE, MOFAIC attestation is usually 0–3 working days. DocuGulf's UAE-side service fee starts from AED 230 per document, government fees separate and at cost. See our pricing page.
What you'll need to provide
- The original Philippine certificate (PSA copy for civil records)
- A clear copy of your passport
- Any DFA apostille already completed
- The document type, so we can confirm the source-verification step
Key takeaways
Key takeaways: Philippine documents go source (PSA/CHED/DepEd/NBI) → DFA apostille → MOFAIC in the UAE. No UAE embassy step is needed. Philippine-side steps take one to two weeks; MOFAIC is 0–3 working days, from AED 230 per document in UAE service fees.
Attesting a the Philippines document for the UAE is only as smooth as the weakest link in the chain, so the order of steps matters: each authority checks the stamp before it. Send us the exact document and the city or authority that issued it in the Philippines, and we will confirm the precise route, the government fees at cost, and a realistic timeline before any work begins.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Philippines part of the Apostille Convention?
Yes. Documents from the Philippines are apostilled by the competent authority instead of being legalised at a UAE embassy, then attested by MOFAIC in the UAE.
Do the Philippines documents need UAE embassy attestation?
No. Because the Philippines is an Apostille Convention member, an apostille replaces the UAE embassy step. The document still needs MOFAIC attestation once it is in the UAE.
How long does the Philippines certificate attestation take?
The the Philippines-side steps usually take one to three weeks, and MOFAIC attestation in the UAE is typically 0–3 working days once the document arrives.
How much does it cost?
DocuGulf's UAE-side service fee starts from AED 230 per document, with any government charge shown separately at cost. We confirm the exact figure in writing before starting.
Do you handle the home-country steps too?
Yes. If the the Philippines-side attestation or apostille is still outstanding, we map and manage the full chain end to end.
Which documents can you attest?
Degrees, diplomas, mark sheets, birth, marriage, divorce and death certificates, police clearances and commercial documents from the Philippines.
A note on scope: DocuGulf is a documentation facilitation service. All regulated work is performed by licensed notaries, translators and approved typing centres. Reach us at info@docugulf.com or +971 58 569 3628.