Moving to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or anywhere in the UAE? The UAE does not accept apostilles. Your FBI background check needs embassy legalization, also called attestation. We handle the full chain, starting with hand-carrying your document into the U.S. Department of State in Washington DC.
"From the beginning to delivering of my documents, Fingerprints & Apostilles took control and kept me informed every step of the way. I will without a doubt be a repeat customer for all my federal apostilles."
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You can absolutely do that. Here is what the experience looks like compared to having us manage the chain for you.
| Do It Yourself | Fingerprints & Apostilles | |
|---|---|---|
| State Dept Step | 5 to 12+ weeks by mail | 7 to 10 business days, hand-carried |
| Paperwork | You fill out every form at each stage | We handle the chain for you |
| Embassy Step | You coordinate the UAE Embassy yourself | We manage the UAE Embassy attestation |
| Tracking | None | Status updates throughout |
| Risk of Rejection | High (apostille mistakenly used, missing steps) | We keep you on the correct legalization path |
| What You Get | A pile of separate steps to chase | One point of contact, one quote, one process |
Don't have your FBI background check yet? Get fingerprinted at one of our 3 Virginia locations or mail in your fingerprint card.
If your apostille got rejected by the UAE, this is why. The UAE is not a Hague Apostille Convention country, so an apostille has no standing there. US documents for the UAE go through embassy legalization, also called attestation.
The UAE requires a legalized FBI background check for most visa and residency pathways. Here are the most common reasons Americans need this service.
The UAE requires a legalized FBI background check for most employment visas. Your employer in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or any other emirate will typically request this document as part of the hiring process before your work permit can be issued.
Applying for a UAE residency permit requires proof of a clean criminal record from your home country. A legalized FBI background check satisfies this requirement for American applicants moving to the UAE.
The UAE Golden Visa offers long-term residency for investors, entrepreneurs, skilled professionals, and outstanding students. A legalized FBI background check is part of the application documentation.
Healthcare licensing with the DHA in Dubai or the DOH in Abu Dhabi, and education roles licensed through KHDA, commonly require legalized US documents. Your FBI background check, and sometimes your credentials, go through the full attestation chain.
UAE family sponsorship commonly requires an attested marriage certificate and attested birth certificates for spouse and dependent visas. We legalize US state vital records for the UAE through the same chain, so your whole family packet stays in one process.
Setting up a business in the UAE, whether in a free zone or on the mainland, may require the company founders to submit legalized FBI background checks as part of the licensing and registration process.
Tell us your document, your UAE destination, and your deadline. Because legalization is multi-step and UAE Embassy fees vary, we give you a clear quote up front instead of a flat price.
Mail in your FBI background check, marriage certificate, or birth certificate, or drop it off in person at our Alexandria office. Need the FBI check first? We can fingerprint you at one of our Virginia locations.
We hand-carry your document into the U.S. Department of State for authentication, then manage the UAE Embassy attestation in Washington DC and guide you through MOFA attestation once it reaches the UAE.
UAE legalization is a multi-step service, and the UAE Embassy charges fees that pass straight through to you. So instead of a flat price, we give you a clear quote that lays out every step.
Once your legalization is underway, you receive tracking texts, emails, and a personal tracking page so you always know exactly where your documents are. You know the State Department ready date as soon as we drop your documents off. No waiting in the dark, no chasing updates. And if anything comes up, you have a dedicated point of contact who can help.
Headed somewhere other than the UAE? Most countries are part of the Hague Apostille Convention, so they take an apostille instead of legalization. We handle FBI background check apostilles for all Hague member countries.
You need legalization, not an apostille. The UAE is not a Hague Apostille Convention country, so an apostille is rejected there. US documents for the UAE go through embassy legalization, also called attestation. The chain is a U.S. Department of State authentication certificate, then UAE Embassy attestation in Washington DC, then MOFA attestation once the document is inside the UAE.
Because the UAE does not accept apostilles. The UAE is not part of the Hague Apostille Convention, so a US apostille has no standing there. UAE authorities require embassy legalization instead: a Department of State authentication, then UAE Embassy attestation, then MOFA attestation in the UAE. If your document was apostilled, it needs to be processed through the legalization chain to be accepted. We can help you get it on the right track.
UAE Embassy attestation is the step where the UAE Embassy in Washington DC certifies your document after the U.S. Department of State has authenticated it. It is part of the legalization chain that makes a US document valid for use in the UAE. After embassy attestation, the document is attested again by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, known as MOFA attestation, once it is in the UAE.
It varies because legalization is a multi-step process. Our part begins with the U.S. Department of State authentication, where we hand-carry documents into the State Department in Washington DC for a fast 7 to 10 business day turnaround on that federal step. The UAE Embassy attestation and MOFA attestation steps add additional time that varies by current processing speeds. Because timelines and embassy fees vary, this service is quote-based. Tell us your deadline and we will give you a realistic timeline, and confirm the final due dates with the receiving authority.
Usually yes. UAE family sponsorship commonly requires an attested marriage certificate and attested birth certificates for spouse and dependent visas. US state vital records go through the same legalization chain as federal documents: state-level certification, U.S. Department of State authentication, UAE Embassy attestation, then MOFA attestation in the UAE. We legalize US vital records for the UAE alongside FBI background checks. Confirm the exact documents required with the UAE authority handling your case.
Generally yes. A legal Arabic translation is typically required in the UAE after attestation is complete. Requirements vary by the authority receiving your document, so confirm whether translation is needed and when it must be done with the receiving authority in the UAE.
Yes. If you already have your US document, you can send it to us from anywhere in the world. We handle the legalization chain and ship it back to you. Reach out for a quote that covers your destination and shipping.
Don't Have Your FBI Background Check Yet?
You do not need to arrive with your FBI background check in hand. We handle the entire process from fingerprints to UAE legalization under one roof. Get fingerprinted at one of our three Virginia locations, receive your results in as low as 30 minutes, and we start the legalization chain at the Department of State.
Book an appointment, get fingerprinted, and we take it from there. We start the legalization chain at the Department of State and manage the UAE Embassy attestation. Request a quote for your exact document and destination.
A legal Arabic translation is generally required in the UAE after attestation is complete, depending on the authority receiving your document. We handle fast, affordable certified translations directly, in 65+ languages. Confirm the exact translation requirement with the receiving authority in the UAE.
We handle certified translations ourselves, in house, for our own clients. You get a live price directly from us, no markup.
Order Your Translation OnlineWe handle the full chain: Department of State authentication, UAE Embassy attestation, and MOFA guidance. We hand-carry into the State Department personally so the federal step takes 7 to 10 business days instead of months.
Birth, marriage, death, and divorce certificates are among the most commonly apostilled documents for visas and citizenship. We apostille vital records from all 50 states, with the same expedited handling and return shipping included.