A Complete Attestation + Translation Guide by Al-Hamd Legal Translation Dubai

For Filipino expats in the UAE, validating Philippines educational certificates is a crucial step when applying for employment, applying for a residence visa, registering for higher studies, or processing professional licensing. However, many applicants are unaware that Philippine certificates require two MOFA stamps—one from the Philippines (DFA) and one from the UAE (MOFA UAE) before they are accepted for official use.

This expert-curated guide explains why two MOFA stamps are required, the complete attestation process, common mistakes to avoid, real-life scenarios, and how Al-Hamd Legal Translation Dubai provides a fast, reliable end-to-end solution so your documents are never rejected.

Why Do Philippines Educational Certificates Require Two MOFA Stamps?

Filipino educational certificates—such as Diplomas, TOR, Form 137, Good Moral Certificates, etc.—are issued in the Philippines and used officially in the UAE.
Because of this cross-country legal usage, both governments must verify the authenticity of the document.

Here’s the breakdown:

MOFA/DFA Stamp – Philippines

This stamp certifies that your educational document is genuine and issued by a legally recognized institution.

MOFA Stamp – UAE

Once the attested document reaches the UAE, MOFA UAE re-verifies it to make it legally acceptable for:

• Work visa processing

• Labor contract approvals

• Professional licensing (e.g., DHA, MOH, DOH)

• University admissions

• HR onboarding

• Immigration cases

Without both stamps, UAE authorities can reject your documents.

Complete Attestation Process for Philippines Educational Certificates

Below is the step-by-step process simplified into an easy-to-understand format:

Table: Philippines Education Certificate Attestation – Full Process

Common Mistakes Filipinos Make During Attestation

To protect your certificates from rejection, avoid these frequent errors:

• Submitting documents without school verification

• Not getting CHED/DepEd/TESDA authentication

• Missing the UAE Embassy Manila stamp

• Submitting English-only documents to UAE ministries (Arabic translation required)

• Using unlicensed translators

• Trying to process documents after arriving in the UAE without knowing the required steps

Each mistake can lead to delays, rejections, and extra expenses.

Real-Life Example: Employment Visa Rejection Due to Missing MOFA Stamp

A Filipino mechanical engineer in Dubai submitted his degree for a new employment visa. The HR department rejected it because:

“Document does not carry DFA + UAE Embassy + MOFA UAE stamps.”

Without the second MOFA UAE stamp, the application was halted.

Al-Hamd Legal Translation handled the translation + MOFA attestation on priority and resolved the issue within 48 hours.

Why You Need Certified Arabic Translation for UAE Authorities

All attested educational certificates must be translated into Arabic when submitted to:

• Ministry of Labour

• Immigration

• HR departments

• Government licensing boards

Al-Hamd Legal Translation provides:

• MOJ-approved translators

• UAE-accepted Arabic translations

• Same-day delivery for urgent cases

Your attested certificate becomes 100% legally valid in the UAE once translated.

End-to-End Solution by Al-Hamd Legal Translation (Fast & Hassle-Free)

Al-Hamd offers a complete service package that includes:

✔️ Verification from School/University

✔️ CHED / TESDA / DepEd Authentication

✔️ DFA Philippines Attestation (MOFA Philippines stamp)

✔️ UAE Embassy Manila Attestation

✔️ MOFA UAE Attestation (Final MOFA stamp)

✔️ Certified Arabic Legal Translation (MOJ-Approved)

✔️ Free document review before submission

We handle everything on your behalf so you don’t face delays or rejections.

Key Takeaways

⭐ Philippines educational certificates require two MOFA stamps

One from DFA Philippines and one from MOFA UAE.

⭐ Missing any attestation step leads to rejection

Especially for visas, employment, and licensing.

⭐ Certified Arabic translation is mandatory

English-only certificates are not accepted by UAE ministries.

⭐ Al-Hamd Legal Translation provides a complete start-to-end solution

Fast, reliable, and accepted everywhere in the UAE.

Conclusion

Attesting and legalizing Philippines educational certificates can feel complicated, but with the right support, it becomes smooth and stress-free. Al-Hamd Legal Translation Dubai ensures your documents are 100% compliant with UAE regulations—saving you time, cost, and repeated visits to government offices.For the most reliable, fast, and approved services in the UAE, visit  Best Legal Translation in Dubai