In the United Arab Emirates paperwork is an important part of every activity in life which includes applying for a visa, signing tenancy agreement, even at the hospital and in the court. The marriage certificate is one of the most common documents which come across often and needs to be dealt with in an official manner and most of the time, due to ignorance, the documents are handled incorrectly as far as the translation and legalization of these documents are concerned.
As an expatriate who has settled in the UAE or contemplates living here together with your marriage partner, you might have one of the following questions: Do I require a legal translation of my marriage certificate in the UAE? The courteous response is no, most of the time particularly, in case the certificate was granted in any other language besides English or Arabic. The complete answer however relies on some critical factors, which include the country of application, the intention of application and the authority one has to deal with.
Using this blog, we are going to guide you through the when and whys of you needing a legal translation, what it is and how to make sure that your marriage certificate is legally translated and accepted by the authorities in the UAE.
When Does Legal Translation of Marriage Certificate Become Necessary?
The official language in the UAE is Arabic and it is the language of all its state processes. That is why, any marriage certificate officially issued abroad but not being originally in Arabic should be taken through the process of the legal translation into Arabic in order to be used in the official procedures. This involves documentations such as certificates printed in English, German or French, Urdu, Hindi or whichever language.
Among the most popular situations, when a marriage certificate has to be translated on the legal level, there are:
- Application of spouses Visas and Residency
- Dependent sponsorship (i.e. spouse or children)
- Submitting formal application of a family residence permit
- Critters (see the court) (e.g., divorce, inheritance, child custody)
- Unit registration of child born within the UAE
- Modification of data with the banks, hospitals, or insurance companies
UAE government departments, including the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) or Dubai Courts, in all the above situations demand the documents to be written in Arabic as well as legally accepted by an authoritative translator.
What is a Legal Translation and Why is it So Special?
The translation is a kind of special professional translation engaged in the translation of the documents (of any type) out of one language to another in a manner officially accepted by the law and governmental bodies. In UAE, translation of legal documents should be done by a law-registered licensed translator who has the accreditation of the UAE Ministry of Justice (MOJ).
Legal procedures cannot accept a mere translated text or an unofficial copy of a document. A marriage certificate that is legally translated normally includes:
- An authorization stamp and seal of the official translation office
- A testimonial of precision
- In some cases a notarization or an attestation is needed depending on the origin of the document
This is a translation made with respect to law so that the document is regarded as valid and legal in the UAE legal system. Otherwise, your submission can be put back, disrupted, or even disputed by the authorities.
Other Requirements of Attestation and Legalization
Legal translation can be a single part of the process of preparing documentations. The translation of your marriage certificate can also require preceding certification and legalization in case it was issued not in the UAE.
This is the flow that process can commonly take:
- The testing in the country of issuance
The certificate of marriage should be attested with a proper Government authority of your parent country (usually in the Ministry of foreign affairs or a related organization).
- Attestation of UAE Embassies
Once certified in the home country, the certificate has to be sent to the UAE Embassy or UAE Consulate in your mother country to have the certificate further certified.
- MOFA Attestation in United Arab Emirates
When one is in the UAE, the document should be submitted to the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MOFAIC) where the final legalization takes place.
- Arabic Translation of Law
Once the attestation is done, the document should be translated to Arabic to have it legally translated by a translator certified by MOJ in UAE.
Failure to follow all these steps can prove your certificate invalid or incomplete when you go through an official process.
Legal translation of marriage certificate in UAE
Luckily, there are several lawful translation agencies in Dubai and other emirates, which deal with legal translation of personal documents such as marriage certificates. These offices are registered under the Ministry of justice and very much experienced with legal documentation of different kinds of countries.
The best rated legal translation companies in Dubai are:
- Alsun Legitimate Translation
- Elite Legal translation services
- Torjoman
- Front-line Legal Translation
- Helpline Group
When selecting the translation provider, make sure it is MOJ-authorised and possesses the experience of personal documentation. A lot of offices provide end to end services such as help with the process of attestation, notarization and delivery services.
It is also prudent to ask for an estimate beforehand. The charges are usually between AED 100 and 200 per page depending on the complexity of the document, urgency and in case of secondary services required.
The normal speed of translation service is 1-3 working days but express same-day translation can be provided at a higher fee.
Last Impressions: Leave It to Chance
Legal procedures in the UAE are also directly connected to documentation, and such documentation can only be valid to the degree to which it is complete. Provided that your marriage certificate is written in a language other than the Arabic one, in nearly all circumstances there is a necessity to translate the certificate legally just to make sure that it will be acceptable by the government departments, legal courts, and other authorized institutions.
The failure of legal translation or the provision of non-certified translation services may cause the delay, rejection, or even punishment though these are different in terms of circumstances. However, this is one of the reasons why it is especially advisable to employ an experienced and Ministry-approved provider of translation services who appreciates the linguistic and the legal context of your document.
Applying for a spouse visa, changing your residency records, or the plan to give a child birth in the UAE, a correctly translated and attested marriage certificate can help you save your time, money, and prevent having unnecessary stresses.
