If a UAE employer, university or government department has asked you to attest a Lithuanian certificate, the process is a chain: the document is first confirmed in Lithuania, then legalised for use abroad, and finally stamped for UAE use. Lithuania and the UAE handle foreign public documents through legalisation procedures, and the exact route can change, so treat this guide as a map of the steps and always confirm the current requirements on the official Lithuanian and UAE channels before you pay any fees.
Which Documents Usually Need Attestation
- Degree and diploma certificates, and sometimes academic transcripts, for a UAE work permit or professional licence.
- Birth and marriage certificates, for sponsoring family members or registering a marriage-related status change.
- Police clearance certificates, for certain jobs and visa categories.
- Company documents, powers of attorney and commercial papers, for setting up or running a business in the UAE.
- School records, when children are transferring into certain UAE schools.
Personal documents often need to be recent originals or certified copies. A police certificate, for example, may only be accepted if it was issued within a set window, so do not order documents too early if your move is still months away.
Step-by-Step: The Usual Order
- Get the right original. Order the document from the Lithuanian issuing authority or institution — a registry office, university or police authority — and check that names and dates match your passport exactly.
- Notarisation or certification in Lithuania, if required. Some documents first need a notary or the issuing body to certify them. Ask what your UAE recipient actually requires before paying for extras.
- Legalisation in Lithuania. Lithuanian public documents for use abroad are handled through the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its official guidance. Follow the instructions on the ministry’s website for legalisation or an Apostille where applicable, and confirm which one the UAE currently accepts.
- UAE-side attestation. After the Lithuanian step, the document normally needs attestation connected to the UAE — historically through the UAE’s diplomatic representation covering Lithuania and/or the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) once you are in the UAE. Verify the current route on the MOFA website and the official embassy channels, as coverage for Lithuania may be handled from another capital.
- Translation if needed. Documents in Lithuanian usually need a legal translation into Arabic or English by a UAE-recognised translator once attested. Confirm the required language with the department that asked for the document.
- Submit and keep copies. Scan every stamped page before handing over originals, and keep the receipts for each stage.
Doing It From Dubai vs From Lithuania
The Lithuanian stages are far easier to complete while you are still in Lithuania, or through a trusted family member or a reputable document service acting for you there. If you are already in Dubai, start by contacting the Lithuanian consular representation serving the UAE through official Lithuanian government listings, and the UAE MOFA, to confirm what can be done locally and what must still happen in Lithuania. Beware of agents who promise impossibly fast results or who cannot explain each stamp in the chain — a missing step means the UAE authority can reject the document and you start again.
Costs and Timescales
Fees apply at each stage — issuing, notarisation, legalisation, UAE attestation and translation — and courier costs add up if documents travel between Vilnius and Dubai. As a guide, allow several weeks end to end rather than several days, and budget a few hundred dirhams per document once all stages and any courier charges are included, with exact figures confirmed on the official fee schedules. Employers in the UAE sometimes reimburse degree attestation, so ask before you pay.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
The most frequent problems are name mismatches between a certificate and a passport, laminating a certificate (which can make attestation impossible), attesting a photocopy when an original was required, and translating before attestation is complete. A quick call or email to the requesting UAE department to confirm their exact checklist saves the most time.
FAQ
Can I attest a Lithuanian degree after I have already moved to Dubai?
Often yes, but the Lithuanian legalisation stage usually still needs to happen in Lithuania, so many people use family or a reputable service there. Confirm the current route with official Lithuanian and UAE MOFA sources.
Do I need an Apostille or legalisation for the UAE?
Requirements differ by document and can change. Check the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs guidance and the UAE MOFA website for the procedure that applies to your document type.
How long does the whole process take?
As a guide, plan for several weeks including postage or courier time. Start as soon as an employer asks, rather than waiting for a visa deadline.
For more step-by-step paperwork guides, visit DXB Talk and explore our How-To section before your next appointment.
