Divorce Certificate Legalization for the United Arab Emirates (UAE)
A Divorce Certificate or Divorce Decree is an official document that verifies the legal termination of a marriage. It provides detailed information about the dissolution of a marital relationship and is often required for legal, immigration, or personal purposes, such as remarriage, residency applications, or name changes.
For individuals who were divorced in the United States and require their divorce documents to be recognized in the UAE, legalization by the Embassy of the UAE is mandatory. This process ensures the document is fully authenticated and accepted by UAE authorities and institutions.
Understanding Divorce Certificate Legalization
Legalization is the formal procedure that authenticates a document for international use.
For U.S.-issued Divorce Certificates, the process confirms the document’s legitimacy through multiple stages — notarization, state certification, authentication by the U.S. Department of State, and final legalization by the UAE Embassy in Washington, D.C.
This ensures that your divorce certificate is genuine, verifiable, and legally recognized in the UAE for all official purposes.
Why Divorce Certificate Legalization Is Required for the UAE
Legalized Divorce Certificates are necessary in the UAE for:
Remarriage registration
Residency or dependent visa applications
Property, inheritance, or family law matters
Legal name changes or personal status updates
Without proper legalization, U.S.-issued divorce documents cannot be used for any official or legal purpose in the UAE.
Personal Document Legalization Processing Time & Fees.
| Service | Fees | Processing Time |
|---|---|---|
| Service fee | $100 | - |
| U.S. Department of State fee | $20 | 9 |
| Embassy of UAE fee | $140 | 8 |
| Total | $260 | 17 business days |
Step-by-Step Divorce Certificate Legalization Process
Notarization:
The divorce certificate or decree must first be notarized by a recognized notary public, confirming the authenticity of the signature and content.State Certification:
The notarized document must then be certified by the Secretary of State in the state where the divorce was finalized, verifying the notary’s seal and signature.U.S. Department of State Authentication:
The document is sent to the Office of Authentications at the U.S. Department of State to verify the state certification for international use.UAE Embassy Legalization:
Finally, the authenticated document is submitted to the Embassy of the UAE, where it receives the official seal and signature, confirming its validity for use in the UAE.
Key Requirements and Important Notes
Only original notarized and state-certified divorce documents are accepted.
Photocopies or notarized-only versions are not eligible for embassy legalization.
UAE residents and passport holders must include a copy of their UAE passport with the submission.
Processing times may vary depending on federal and embassy workloads; expedited services are available for urgent cases.
Conclusion
Legalizing a Divorce Certificate for the UAE ensures that your marital status is officially recognized under UAE law. Proper authentication enables remarriage, residency procedures, and other legal or personal matters to proceed efficiently and without delay.