Have documents issued in the Czech Republic and you need to use them in the UAE? Maybe you’re relocating for work, sponsoring family, or setting up a business in the UAE. Either way, you’ve probably done a bit of research, stumbled across terms like “attestation”, “legalisation“ and “MOFA” and now you’re scratching your head wondering what it all means.
Don’t worry – we’re going to explain everything you need to know in this blog.
What is attestation process for Czech documents in the UAE?
Attestation is the process of taking a document issued in one country and making it legally recognised in another. If you’ve got a Czech degree certificate, birth certificate, marriage certificate, or any other official document, the UAE authorities won’t just accept it at face value. Otherwise, anyone could forge a fake certificate and present it to employers or government bodies.
For Czech documents to be able to be used in the UAE, there’s a specific attestation process to go through. The Czech Republic is a member of the Hague Convention, which means that for most countries, a simple apostille would do the job. Unfortunately, the UAE isn’t a member of the Hague Convention. That means attesting Czech documents requires the full works.
The process of attesting Czech documents for the UAE
Here’s where it gets a bit more complicated. Documents issued in the Czech Republic to be presented in the UAE need to pass through multiple stages of verification.
Firstly, your documents need to be legalised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic in Prague. This is basically where the Czech government confirm that the document is legitimate and was issued in country by the proper authorities.
It used to be the case that you’d then need to take them to the UAE Embassy in Prague, but in 2021, the UAE Embassy in Prague closed, meaning a new procedure had to be put in place. Since April 2022, once documents are legalised by the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs, they need to be legalised by the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in the UAE.
From mid-August 2022, MOFA can only be contacted online through their official website. You’ll need to register and request legalisation of your documents through their digital system. This final step confirms to UAE authorities that your document has been properly verified and is ready for use in the Emirates.
Common pitfalls with Czech to UAE attestation
One of the biggest issues we see is people not realising that the UAE Embassy in Prague is closed – even though it’s been a few years now, there’s a lot of outdated information online. If you’re trying to get your documents attested through the old system, you’re going to hit a brick wall. The new process requires going through MOFA in the UAE (once complete in country). It’s complicated, but don’t worry – we can assist you!
Another common mistake is submitting documents that aren’t properly translated. Non-English or non-Arabic documents typically need to be translated by an approved translator before they can be attested by MOFA. It’s one of those details that’s easy to overlook but can cause significant delays.
Why the process matters
As you’ve probably noticed, this isn’t a quick process and it’s easy to get it wrong. We’ve helped countless people who’ve tried to cut corners or who’ve submitted their documents without the proper processes only to have them rejected. When you’re already dealing with visa applications, job offers, or family sponsorship deadlines, the last thing you need is to start the whole process again from scratch. That’s going to add a whole new level of stress.
How we can help
At Vital Consular, we’ve been in the legalisation business for nearly 20 years, and we’re pretty clued up on the Czech Republic to UAE attestation process. We understand that you’ve probably got enough on your plate without having to navigate international bureaucracy, chase down government offices in two different countries, and worry about whether you’ve filled in the right forms.
We can handle the entire process for you – from the initial legalisation at the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs right through to the final legalisation at the MOFA in the UAE. We’ll make sure your documents are properly prepared, translated if necessary, and submitted through the correct channels.
Still got questions? Just get in touch with our friendly team of specialists. You can give us a call directly on +44 (0) 330 088 1142, use our live chat system, e-mail us at sales@vitalconsular.com or click the button below!