Legalising Job Documents for Employment in Dubai, Abu Dhabi & Other UAE Cities
UAE Embassy Attestation for Employment is a mandatory requirement for professionals applying for jobs in the United Arab Emirates.
If you plan to work in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, or other major UAE cities, employers and immigration authorities will require fully legalised employment reference letters and academic records before issuing a work visa or completing onboarding.
Since 24 February 2025, the UAE Embassy in London and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) have replaced traditional paper-based stamping with a new Electronic Legalisation system. This change directly affects job applicants who submit documents for employment purposes in the UAE.
1. Why UAE Embassy Attestation Is Required for Employment
UAE employers, particularly multinational companies and government-linked entities, must comply with strict verification rules.
As a result, they often require candidates to provide:
- Employment reference letters
- Degree certificates and academic transcripts
- Professional qualification documents
Job applicants must legalise these documents before submission.
Otherwise, employers or visa authorities may reject them, which can delay job offers or residency applications.
You can read more about the Apostille stage in our guide to
UK Apostille services.
2. What Is UAE Electronic Legalisation?
UAE Electronic Legalisation is the official replacement for paper-based embassy attestation.
Instead of ink stamps, the UAE Embassy in London now issues a secure electronic PDF for each document. Each PDF carries a unique reference number that UAE authorities and employers can verify online.
Therefore, electronic legalisation:
- Improves document security
- Speeds up verification
- Reduces the risk of rejection
Employers and authorities can verify documents directly via the MoFA portal at
verify.mofa.gov.ae.
3. Key Updates Affecting Job Applicants
Electronic Legalisation Only
The UAE Embassy in London no longer issues paper attestations. It now returns all employment-related documents as electronically legalised PDFs.
Online Employer Verification
Because employers can verify documents online, they now apply stricter checks during hiring and visa processing.
No Bundling of Documents
Each employment reference letter or academic certificate must be processed individually. Bundled submissions will be rejected.
UK-Issued Documents as Standard
The UAE Embassy in London generally accepts UK-issued documents only, subject to limited exceptions.
Processing Time
In most cases, the full UAE Embassy attestation process takes 5–8 working days, excluding Ramadan, Eid, and public holidays.
For timing at earlier stages, see our explanation of
FCDO Apostille processing.
4. Step-by-Step UAE Embassy Attestation for Employment Documents
- A UK solicitor or notary public certifies the employment or academic document.
- The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) applies a UK Apostille.
- The document is submitted to the UAE Embassy in London.
- The Embassy and MoFA complete Electronic Legalisation.
- The applicant receives a secure, verifiable PDF for employment or visa use.
5. Common Employment Documents That Require Legalisation
Employment Reference Letters
These letters usually confirm job title, employment dates, and responsibilities.
Employers in the UAE often request them during onboarding or visa processing.
Academic Records
Degree certificates, diplomas, and transcripts must each be legalised separately.
Applicants cannot bundle multiple academic documents together.
6. Frequently Asked Questions
Are electronic PDFs accepted by UAE employers?
Yes. UAE employers and immigration authorities fully recognise electronically legalised PDFs.
How long does UAE Embassy attestation take?
Most applications complete within 5–8 working days, depending on document type and Embassy workload.
Can foreign-issued degrees be legalised in the UK?
Only under strict conditions. The issuing country must authenticate the document first.
After that, the document must be Apostilled in the UK.
Can multiple reference letters be processed together?
No. Each document must be legalised separately.
7. Why Compliance Matters for Job Offers in the UAE
The electronic system simplifies verification. However, it also applies stricter technical requirements.
If applicants submit documents that are uncertified, improperly Apostilled, or bundled together, the UAE Embassy may reject them. As a result, candidates may face delays to job offers, visa approvals, or employment start dates.
8. Professional UAE Legalisation Support for Job Applicants
Ginkgo Advisory Limited provides end-to-end support for professionals preparing to work in the UAE.
Our services include:
- Certification by a UK solicitor
- UK FCDO Apostille legalisation
- UAE Embassy submission
- Delivery of electronically legalised PDFs
We support employment applications across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and other UAE cities.
Contact Us
Address
167-169 Great Portland Street, 5/F, London
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