Indian Degree Attestation for UAE: Cost, Timeline & Process (2026)
How do I get my Indian degree attested for the UAE?
Indian degree attestation for UAE involves: (1) State HRD authentication or university verification, (2) MEA (Ministry of External Affairs) authentication in Delhi, (3) UAE Embassy attestation via BLS International (3-5 working days, AED 100-200), and (4) MOFA attestation (AED 40-150). Total timeline: 10-20 working days. AttestExpress handles the complete chain with doorstep service.
Step 1: State-Level HRD Authentication
The first step for Indian degree attestation is authentication by the state HRD (Human Resource Development) department in the state where your university is located. Some states use the SDM (Sub-Divisional Magistrate) or Home Department instead. This step confirms your degree was genuinely issued by a recognized Indian university. Processing takes 3-7 working days depending on the state. Note: Some states have moved to online systems which can speed up processing.
Step 2: MEA Authentication
After state-level authentication, the degree goes to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi for national-level authentication. MEA verifies the state HRD stamp and applies its own authentication. This can be done through MEA's regional offices or authorized agents. Processing takes 2-5 working days. MEA authentication is mandatory — skipping this step will result in rejection at the UAE Embassy.
Step 3: UAE Embassy via BLS International
In India, UAE Embassy attestation is handled through BLS International, the authorized visa and attestation service provider. You submit your MEA-authenticated degree to the nearest BLS center. BLS forwards it to the UAE Embassy for attestation. Processing takes 3-5 working days. Fees are approximately AED 100-200 (paid in INR equivalent). BLS has centers in multiple Indian cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kochi, and others.
Step 4: MOFA Attestation in UAE
The final step is MOFA attestation in the UAE. This is done online through mofa.gov.ae using UAE Pass. Standard processing costs AED 40 (2-3 days) and express costs AED 150 (1 day). Once MOFA attestation is complete, your Indian degree is fully recognized for all official purposes in the UAE.
Common Mistakes Indian Nationals Make
The most common mistakes include: sending a laminated degree (must be de-laminated first), skipping the HRD step and going directly to MEA (will be rejected), submitting to wrong state HRD (must be the state where university is located, not where you live), name discrepancies between degree and passport (common with married women), and not getting transcripts attested when required by the employer. Plan carefully to avoid these costly errors.
Indian Degree Attestation for UAE: Cost, Timeline & Process (2026) — FAQ
Total costs include: State HRD (INR 500-2,000), MEA (INR 500-1,000), BLS/UAE Embassy (AED 100-200), and MOFA (AED 40-150). Service provider fees are additional. Total typically ranges from INR 5,000-15,000 plus AED 40-350.