MOFA Goes Paperless: Police Clearance, Birth & Death Certificates Now Digital
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) is changing how attestation works in the UAE. They’re moving away from paper documents and switching everything to a digital system.
This change isn’t happening all at once. MOFA is rolling it out step by step, one type of document at a time. New updates are coming out almost every week, so the process keeps evolving.
What changed this week?
If your Police Clearance Certificate, Birth Certificate, or Death Certificate was issued online, there’s an important change.
Before, you could print out a digitally issued certificate and still get a physical MOFA stamp on the printed copy. That’s not allowed anymore.
Now the rule is simple: if your certificate was created online, it has to be attested online too, through MOFA’s digital system. No more printing and stamping.
Why this matters: if you’re applying for a visa, a job abroad, university admission, or need your documents for any legal use outside the UAE, this step is important. Using the wrong attestation method can delay your whole application.
Before you start the process, check how your certificate was issued online or on paper so you follow the correct steps from the beginning.
Why MOFA is doing this?
The UAE has been working toward paperless government services for a while now, and MOFA attestation is next in line.
Instead of switching all certificate types to digital at once, MOFA is doing it gradually. This gives people and typing centers time to adjust without confusion.
More document types are expected to go digital-only in the coming weeks, possibly educational certificates or commercial documents. So this is just the beginning, and it’s worth keeping an eye on future updates.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I get a physical MOFA stamp on my Police Clearance, Birth, or Death Certificate?
- Does this apply to certificates issued before this update?
- Will more documents go digital-only?
- How long does digital attestation take?
Only if it was issued on paper. If it was issued online, it must be attested online.
Yes. What matters is how the certificate was issued, not when you’re applying now.
Most likely. MOFA is rolling this out step by step, so more updates are expected.
It depends on the document and MOFA’s workload. Share your certificate with our team and we’ll give you a clear time estimate.
Need help with MOFA attestation?
Prompt Attestation Services handles MOFA digital and physical attestation for individuals and businesses across the UAE. Get in touch with us and we’ll check your certificate, confirm the right attestation route, and manage the entire process for you.