Why isn't an apostille enough for the UAE?
An apostille only works in member countries of the Hague Apostille Convention. The UAE is not a member, so an apostille alone does not make a document valid in the UAE. Full consular legalisation is required.
This is one of the most confusing points in legalisation, and exactly why it's such a common place for mistakes. A wrong assumption costs weeks and new fees.
The full legalisation chain for the UAE
The chain runs step by step: the document is first verified in Finland (DVV or a notary), then at the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, then at the UAE embassy in Helsinki, and finally at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs on arrival. Every stamp is mandatory.
We handle the whole chain for you. You don't need to know the steps or deal with several authorities. You hand us the document and get it back UAE-ready.
The most common documents and mistakes
Documents legalised for the UAE are typically employment and degree certificates (for work permits), the trade register extract (company setup) and powers of attorney. Translation requirements and order vary by document.
The most common mistake is breaking the chain, for example taking an apostille instead of legalisation, or skipping the embassy step. We make sure the chain is complete before the document leaves.
We handle UAE legalisation from start to finish
Send your document for review and we'll confirm the chain and the cost.
See legalisation for the UAE