UAE police certificate and document attestation for a Portugal visa

The apostille only works between countries that have joined the Hague Apostille Convention. The UAE has not joined it, so a UAE document cannot be apostilled. It is authenticated in two steps instead:

1. MOFA attestation. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs attests the document.
2. Embassy legalisation. The Portuguese embassy in Abu Dhabi legalises it, recognising the MOFA signature.

The consulate's checklists are clear about the police certificate. It must carry the UAE MOFA stamp, otherwise it will not be accepted.

Booking embassy legalisation

To legalise documents for a Portugal visa, you book an appointment at the Portuguese embassy in Abu Dhabi. There is no Portuguese consulate in Dubai, so this happens in Abu Dhabi wherever you live in the UAE. Each appointment covers up to 3 documents, and the embassy says documents are ready in 5 to 10 working days. A family file often has more than 3 documents, so you may need more than one appointment. Book early.

The document almost every applicant has to authenticate is the police certificate. The embassy asks for a criminal record certificate from:

• your country of nationality, and
• any country where you have lived for more than one year. For most applicants, that includes the UAE.

Children under 16 don't need one.

If your file includes a marriage or birth certificate, for example because your spouse and children are applying with you, it follows the same rules. The country that issued the document decides the route.

For everything else your visa needs, such as income proof, a lease and insurance, use the document checklist. Families can read more in our guide to the D7 and D8 visa with your family.

Documents from your country of nationality follow that country's rules.

• Apostille countries. If your country is in the Apostille system, an apostille is usually enough.
• Legalisation countries. If it is not, the document needs consular legalisation. That usually means the foreign ministry in that country, then a Portuguese embassy or consulate.

Legalisation usually takes longer than an apostille. If your passport is in the right-hand column below, start early.

We checked this list against the Hague Conference status table in November 2026. A country's status can change, so check yours before you order anything.

Some passports need a closer look:

• Emirati citizens. Your home-country documents are UAE documents, so they follow the MOFA and embassy route above.
• Ukrainian and Kazakh passports, and any passport not listed here: check with us. We confirm the route on the call.

The document checklist does this for you. Pick your visa and your passport, and it shows what to start first and which route your documents take.

The embassy accepts documents in Portuguese, English or French. A document in any other language needs a certified translation, stamped by the UAE MOFA. If a certificate is only in Arabic, for example, plan for a translation before you file.

1. Order your police certificates first. The UAE certificate is usually quick. Home-country certificates vary by country, and police certificates are the longest-lead item in most files.
2. Attest your UAE documents at MOFA.
3. Book embassy legalisation in Abu Dhabi. Remember the limit of 3 documents per appointment.
4. Apostille or legalise your home-country documents at the same time, following your country's route.
5. Arrange translations for anything not in Portuguese, English or French.
6. Check every stamp, and make sure names, dates and figures match across all your documents. Small mismatches are a common reason for delays.

Talk to us about timing before you order, so your certificates line up with your VFS appointment.

While your documents are in progress, the rest of your file moves in parallel: your NIF (Portuguese tax number), a Portuguese bank account, accommodation and insurance.

The authorities set their own pace, so treat these as typical timings. Our guide to applying from the UAE and the how it works page cover each step after the documents.

• A UAE police certificate without the MOFA stamp. The consulate will not accept it.
• Trying to apostille a UAE document. The UAE is not in the Apostille system, so it can't be done.
• Leaving legalisation to the last week. With 3 documents per appointment and 5 to 10 working days to collect them, a family file needs time.
• Forgetting a country. If you have lived somewhere for more than one year, the embassy asks for a police certificate from there too.
• Mismatched details. Names, dates and figures must match on every page.

Government fees for 2026:

• Visa fee: €110 per person. Children under 6 are exempt.
• First AIMA residence permit: about €186 per person.

MOFA attestation, embassy legalisation, translations and the VFS Global service charge are extra.

VisaHelm is an independent private company. We are not affiliated with any government, embassy, VFS Global or AIMA. Decisions are made only by the Portuguese embassy and AIMA.

• We build your document plan for your passport and your route, in the right order.
• We guide you through each MOFA and embassy appointment, and check every stamp before your application goes in.
• You send your documents through a secure upload link. We never ask for your passport, Emirates ID or bank statements on WhatsApp or by email.

If a police certificate shows a record, or you have had a visa refused before, speak to a qualified adviser before you apply.

For the full requirements of each visa, see the D7 visa and D8 visa pages, or the FAQ.

Open the document checklist, pick your visa and your passport, and see what to start first. Then book a free 15-minute call and we'll go through your list with you.