Manish Kulkarni 
06.01.2026 What Is an Equivalency Certificate in the UAE and Why Is It Required?
An equivalency certificate in the UAE is a formal decision issued by local authorities that places a foreign qualification within the UAE’s education system. It confirms that your degree is accepted at a specific academic level and can be used for official purposes, rather than being assessed on an ad-hoc or informal basis because it was earned outside the country.
Standardized checks are crucial in the UAE for many decisions, including hiring, regulated roles, and specific immigration routes. Authorities need one consistent way to read credentials from different countries, universities, and study formats. Applications are submitted through the UAE Ministry of Education’s equivalency platform, where the file is reviewed for the institution’s status, the type of program, and the level of the award. If you don’t have this approval when it’s required, your degree can be ignored in the process—even if it’s legitimate elsewhere.
Who Needs an Equivalency Certificate in the UAE?
It depends on what you plan to do with your degree in the UAE. For personal use, you may not need it.
Equivalency Certificate for Employment and Professional Licensing
When working in a regulated industry or for a company that is required to keep track of employee education in a formal system, an equivalency certificate is typically required. Teaching and academic positions at schools and universities may be subject to MOE recognition requirements. Healthcare and engineering roles often sit under licensing authorities that expect your qualification to be aligned with UAE standards before you can be registered.
The UAE equivalency certificate removes the “is this degree acceptable here?” question for both HR and regulators. Without it, you can end up stuck between steps — contract ready, but registration pending — because the MOE equivalency certificate decision hasn’t come through.
Equivalency Certificate for Golden Visa Applications
For Golden Visa routes that are built around academic qualifications, the equivalency certificate is required. Without MOE recognition, the degree can’t be counted toward eligibility.
If your certificate equivalency UAE request is missing, incomplete, or not approved, the Golden Visa file can be delayed or refused. Start the check early, especially if you are timing a job change, license renewal, or a dependent application.
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How to Apply for an Equivalency Certificate in the UAE Through MOE
You can apply online through the UAE Ministry of Education's equivalency portal. Once your file is cleared, you will get the result there. The most important thing is to make a clean application the first time you send it in, because "fixing it later" usually means more review.
The practical sequence for how to apply for an equivalency certificate in the UAE: MOE account first, correct level selection second, uploads third (degree + transcript, unchanged). Then attestations, then certified translations if the documents aren’t Arabic/English. Submit, and keep checking the status in your profile.
In some cases, the MOE also requires Primary Source Verification (PSV) before issuing the equivalency certificate. This is a direct verification of the degree’s authenticity with the issuing university, conducted through an approved verification provider. If PSV is requested and not completed, the equivalency certificate will not be issued, even if all documents are attested and translated.
During review, the system may request clarifications or additional evidence. Responding fast — and matching what you upload to what’s written on your documents — is what keeps the application moving.
Required Documents for UAE Equivalency Certificate Application
For a UAE equivalency certificate, the MOE looks for one thing first: your documents must agree with each other. Same name spelling, same degree title, same dates — no “close enough.”
Typical requirements include:
- Degree certificate (the final award)
- Academic transcript (with study period shown)
- Passport copy (and Emirates ID, if you have it)
- Attestation on the degree (and sometimes the transcript, depending on the case)
- Certified translation if the originals are not in Arabic or English
Upload clear scans. If a page is cut off, a stamp is unreadable, or your name appears in two formats, the review can pause or come back as non-compliant.
Equivalency Certificate UAE Rejected: Common Reasons and Solutions
An equivalency certificate UAE rejected result usually comes down to a mismatch, not a mystery. Some common reasons for this are an institution that isn't recognized for that program level, missing or wrong attestations, names or dates that don't match up across documents, unclear scans, or study details that don't meet MOE standards (mode, duration, or award type).
Start by reading the rejection note line by line, then fix only what it flags—guessing wastes time. If the issue is eligibility (not paperwork), you may need a different pathway, or a revised submission strategy.
How Consulting.ae Helps with Certificate Equivalency in the UAE
Consulting.ae handles certificate equivalency UAE cases like a compliance file, not a “submit and hope” task. First we match the degree to the reason you need it (employment, licensing, or visa). Then we go through each file the way MOE reviewers do—names, attestations, transcript completeness, scan quality, and the qualification option you picked.
If you already have an equivalency certificate UAE rejected outcome, we focus on the rejection note and rebuild the application around that exact point — no random re-uploads. You’ll know exactly what to update, what to attach, and what to leave as is. That cuts the waiting, the rework, and the endless follow-ups.
What are the benefits of an equivalency certificate?
An equivalency certificate UAE allows your degree to be accepted in UAE procedures where education must be verified. It also states the recognized level, so your qualification isn’t assessed informally by HR or a licensing team.
How can I get an equivalency certificate in the UAE?
Submit a request through the MOE equivalency certificate platform with the required, attested documents. If you’re unsure what MOE will accept, get the file reviewed before you upload.
How long does an equivalence certificate take?
For a complete case, 20–30 working days is common for an equivalency certificate UAE decision. If MOE asks for clarifications, the clock effectively extends.
Which documents are required for an equivalence certificate?
Degree certificate, transcript, passport, attestations, and translation if needed for certificate equivalency UAE.
Is equivalency certificate mandatory for Golden Visa?
For degree-based routes, yes — the equivalency certificate for golden visa is required. If it’s missing, the visa file can’t rely on the degree.
If your equivalency certificate UAE matters for work or a visa, don’t submit blind. Consulting.ae can check the file and manage the MOE steps.
