When families relocate to the UAE, their primary focus is typically on finding a home, arranging visas, and settling into daily life. But one of the most overlooked challenges comes later – transferring and authenticating school records for children.
For parents, nothing is more important than ensuring their child can continue their education without disruption. Yet, many expat families face delays in school admissions because essential documents aren’t translated, attested, or aligned with UAE requirements.
Why School Records Are More Complex Abroad
Unlike in your home country, where a simple school transcript may be enough, international moves often require:
• Official transcripts with full details of grades and curriculum
• Translated certificates into Arabic or English (depending on the school)
• Attestation and legalisation to confirm authenticity
Without these steps, schools may not finalise enrolment, leaving families in limbo at a stressful time.
Common Issues Families Face
At Relocate MENA, we’ve seen how often families get caught out by this:
• Parents arriving in the UAE with only copies, not originals
• Missing Ministry of Education stamps from the home country
• Delays caused by incomplete translations
• Stressful back-and-forth between schools and parents during enrolment season
These challenges can easily be avoided with the right preparation.
The Attestation Process Explained
Attestation is the official validation of documents to ensure they are genuine and recognised internationally. For school records, the process usually involves:
Authentication in the home country (school, education ministry, foreign affairs)
Legalisation by the UAE embassy in the issuing country
Final attestation in the UAE (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation – MOFAIC)
It can sound complex, but this step ensures your child’s education documents are legally accepted in the UAE.
How Relocate MENA Supports Families
Our team helps families prepare every document needed for a smooth school transition:
- Translation services with certified accuracy
- Attestation and legalisation of school records
- Guidance on timelines and required originals
- Direct coordination with schools to minimise delays
We take the stress out of “life admin” so parents can focus on supporting their children through the move.
Notes from the team
"Relocating to a new country is a huge step for any family — but the details matter. Don’t let missing paperwork affect your child’s education. With the right preparation and professional support, you can avoid delays and ensure your child starts school on time". Joanna Ashan, Global Mobility Manager Relocate MENA & Relo-Global
Make UAE school enrollment seamless.
We’ll translate, legalise, and MOFAIC‑attest your child’s records—and coordinate with the school—so nothing delays their start date.
Contact Us Today to get the process started.
