If a UAE employer, university, or government department asks you to attest your Costa Rican documents, they mean a formal legalisation chain that proves your certificates are genuine: Costa Rica is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, so documents are typically apostilled in Costa Rica first, and then — because the UAE is not a Hague Convention member — they usually also require attestation by the UAE’s diplomatic mission or the Costa Rican mission and final attestation by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) after you arrive. Confirm the exact chain your receiving authority wants before you start, because shortcuts discovered late are expensive.
Documents Commonly Attested
Costa Rican nationals in Dubai most often attest university degrees and transcripts for employment permits, birth certificates for family visas and school admissions, marriage certificates for spouse sponsorship, police clearance certificates for certain employers, and commercial documents for business setup. As a guide, apostille processing in Costa Rica is usually inexpensive — often the equivalent of around AED 20 to AED 60 per document in official fees — while UAE-side MoFA attestation carries a set fee per document (commonly around AED 150 for personal documents, with commercial documents costing more). Agency handling and courier charges come on top of official fees.
The Process Step by Step
- Obtain the original document from the issuing Costa Rican authority — the university for degrees, the Civil Registry (Registro Civil) for birth and marriage certificates, or the relevant ministry for other records.
- Have the document authenticated and apostilled through Costa Rica’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which certifies the signature and seal of the issuing authority.
- Check on the UAE MoFA website whether your document type also needs legalisation by the UAE embassy or consulate responsible for Costa Rica, or by the Costa Rican mission accredited to the UAE — verify the current accepted route directly with MoFA or the mission, as arrangements change.
- After arriving in the UAE, submit the document for final MoFA attestation via its website, smart app, or an authorised service centre.
- If required, have the Spanish-language document legally translated into Arabic (and often English) by a UAE-licensed legal translator, normally after attestation is complete.
Apostille vs. UAE Attestation: The Point People Miss
The single most common misunderstanding is assuming an apostille alone is enough for the UAE. An apostille works between countries that are both Hague Convention members; the UAE is not one of them, so UAE authorities generally require their own attestation chain on top of, or instead of, the apostille. Do not let anyone at home assure you the apostille settles it — ask the UAE organisation that will receive your document (your employer’s HR department, the university admissions office, or the government service centre) to confirm in writing exactly what stamps they require, and follow that specification.
Agencies, Timelines and Practical Tips
If you are already in Dubai and your documents are still in Costa Rica, a family member can run the home steps for you, or you can use a UAE attestation agency that couriers documents through the whole chain. Whichever route you choose, agree in advance who is responsible for tracking the documents at each stage, keep the courier tracking numbers somewhere safe, and ask for a photograph of each new stamp as it is applied, so you can show a future employer or university exactly where your paperwork stands. Full-service agency handling typically costs around AED 500 to AED 1,000 per document as a guide, depending on the route and speed. Allow two to five weeks end to end when documents travel internationally. Practical tips that save pain:
- Start with your degree — employment permits often cannot proceed without it.
- Keep certified copies and phone scans of every document before originals travel.
- Police certificates have limited validity, so time them close to your application.
- Write names consistently: your passport, degree, and certificates should match, including second surnames, or expect questions.
FAQ
Is an apostille enough for the UAE? Usually not on its own, because the UAE is not a Hague Apostille Convention member. Most UAE authorities also require MoFA attestation, and possibly mission legalisation — confirm the exact chain with the receiving authority.
How long does attesting Costa Rican documents take? As a guide, two to five weeks if documents must complete steps in Costa Rica and travel to the UAE; the final MoFA step alone usually takes a few working days.
Do I need my documents translated? Spanish documents often need a legal Arabic translation for UAE government use. Use a UAE-licensed legal translator and confirm with the receiving authority whether translation comes before or after attestation.
For more step-by-step paperwork guides for residents from every country, visit DXB Talk and explore the How-To category archive.
