An Equivalency Certificate is a document issued by the Ministry of Education in the UAE to verify the authenticity and academic standards of a degree obtained from a recognized institute outside the UAE. This process ensures that the foreign degree meets the equivalent academic criteria in the UAE and adheres to international education standards.
The application process for an Equivalency Certificate typically involves completing a form and submitting it along with the required documents. Here are the steps involved in obtaining the certificate:
Step 1: Degree Attestation
Applicants need to get their Master’s or Bachelor’s degree (highest qualification achieved) attested by the UAE embassy in the country where the degree was obtained. If the degree was not issued in English or Arabic, it must be translated for the equivalency application. The following supporting documents are also required based on the degree level:
- If applying with a Bachelor’s degree:
- Attested Bachelor’s degree
- Transcript of the Bachelor’s degree
- High school/Secondary school certificate
- If applying with a Master’s degree:
- Attested Master’s degree
- Transcript of the Master’s degree
- Attested Bachelor’s degree
- Transcript of the Bachelor’s degree
Step 2: Applying for a Genuineness Letter
Applicants may need to obtain a genuineness letter from the UAE embassy or consulate to confirm that their studies were conducted at an accredited institute. This requirement may vary based on the country where the degree was obtained. Some countries communicate directly with the UAE’s cultural missions for validation, while others may require the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation’s “validity of my certificate” service.
Step 3: Applying for an ICA Travel Report
Applicants must submit an ICA travel report, which includes information about exit dates, entry dates, location (ports of entry/exit), applicant’s passport number, and other immigration-related details. The report is issued either by the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) or by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA). The report can be obtained from specific centers or online platforms.
Step 4: Apply for the Equivalency Certificate through the Ministry of Education Portal
With all the required documents ready, applicants can apply for the Equivalency Certificate through the Ministry of Education (MOE) website. The application typically requires providing details such as Emirates ID, passport and visa page copies, ICA travel report, and the genuineness letter if required. Arabic passport holders may need to take the Arabic ministry exam, while Muslims may require the Islamic studies ministry exam. Indian and Pakistani curriculum graduates must submit relevant graduation certificates and academic transcripts.
By following these steps and submitting the necessary documents, applicants can obtain an Equivalency Certificate, which serves as proof of their qualifications and enables them to work in their respective fields in the UAE.
The below conditions must be met in order to equalize certificates issued from higher education institutes outside the UAE :
| Degree | Duration of study | Previous Qualification / Certificate |
| Diploma | Must have spent no less than one year of study or an equivalent thereof in any specialty | High school certificate (Secondary Certificate) or its equivalent |
| Associate degree | Must have spent no less than two years of study or the equivalent thereof in any specialty | High school certificate (Secondary Certificate) or its equivalent |
| Higher diploma | Must have spent no less than three years of study or the equivalent thereof | High school certificate (Secondary Certificate) or its equivalent |
| Bachelor degree | Must have spent no less than three years of study in any educational institution applying the annual system; or alternatively,- (120) accredited hours as per the semester system- (180) accredited hours as per the quarter system- At least (240) credits as per the ETCS | High school certificate (Secondary Certificate) or its equivalent |
| Post-graduate diploma or Master degree | Must have spent no less than one year of study or the equivalent thereof | Bachelor’s degree |
| Master degree (in case of integrating Bachelor and Master degrees) | Must have spent at least four years of study, after fulfilling of all requirements of both degrees | High school certificate (Secondary Certificate) or its equivalent |
| Doctoral degree | Must have spent at least two years of study, if the university bylaw so stipulates | Master’s degree |
| Must have spent a minimum period of three years of study, in case the latter does not require getting a Master’s degree | Bachelor’s degree |
Related to evidence of residence in the country of study during the study period
| Program | Condition |
| The education programs that are wholly or partially based on courses | Must have attended all the courses at the country of study during the provision of these courses for at least (168 days) |
| Post-graduate studies that are wholly or partially based on the research study system in the theoretical specialties that don’t require availability of labs or any further practical applications* | Must be present at the concerned educational institution’s main Campus during the period specified for research conduct for at least (30 days) per academic year from the period required for obtaining the relevant degree |
| Post-graduate studies that are wholly or partially based on the research study system in the medical, engineering or any other scientific specialty that requires availability of labs or any further practical applications or supplies* | Must be present at the concerned educational establishment during the period specified for research conduct for at least (90 days) per academic year from the period required for obtaining the relevant degree |
| The Standards and Research Committee may, in certain cases, partially exempt any person from the conditions related the duration of attendance on grounds pertaining to research type or place or on any other grounds deemed appropriate by the committee as per the executive regulations adopted by the same. | |
General conditions
- The interested party must have complied with the program of study in which they were enrolled according to the regulations and bylaws adopted by the concerned educational institution in the host country, and without prejudice to the requirements of Equivalency System.
- In case transferring credits from an educational institution to another, these credits must be obtained from an institution licensed and accredited by the appropriate accreditation bodies in the country of study. the maximum credits transferred percentages of the total credits required for obtaining the relevant degree:
- Category 3: Should not exceeds 75%
- Category 4: Should not exceeds 50%
- In case of getting credits based on an untraditional educational system, these credits must be obtained from an educational institution recognized by the Ministry of Education, UAE as a provider of online programs. If credits are earned from an institution other than the one issuing the named degree the maximum number of credits should not exceed 18 credits or the equivalent thereof in similar programs. Untraditional study programs include programs that are fully online, hybrid or blended in nature. The maximum credits percentages of the total credits required for obtaining the relevant degree:
- Category 2: Should not exceeds 50%
- Category 3: Should not exceeds 35%
- Category 4: Should not exceeds 25%
- Academic Degree Equivalency requests for Master and Doctoral degrees in medicine, law and engineering may be considered on condition that the proceeding university degree (the bachelor’s degree) is in the same specialty of the degree required to be assessed.
Required documents to apply for certificate equivalency
To apply an equivalency, the following documents must be attached:
- Intermediate Diploma and bachelor’s degrees:
| Required Documents | Description |
|---|---|
| Graduate Certificate and transcript | Duly attested either from Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation or the UAE embassy in the country of study |
| Transferred hours transcript | A copy of the transcript for each institution independently (If the Transferred hours was 15 hours or above). |
| Genuine Certificate (Authenticity of the qualification) | Original letter of the embassy of the country issuing the qualification with the academic institution’s reply.Qualifications issued from certain countries are exempted from providing this letter (click here to review the list of the countries that the Ministry corresponds the specialized authorities in these countries to get the authenticity of the certificate) |
| Legal translation of certificate or transcript | If the certificate and transcript is issued in any language other than Arabic or English. |
| High school certificate | Duly attested(except for the cases where high school certificate is 20 years old), and in such cases, a letter of the embassy of the country issuing the high school certificate is required, indicating the authenticity of the high school certificate and its duration. |
| Attendance in the country of study | Passport and a proof of residence (entry and exit seals for the country where the applicant studied), or a copy of the first entry to the country. For who enrolled in the year 2000 and after |
Postgraduate / higher degrees’ Degrees:
| Required Documents | Description |
|---|---|
| Graduate Certificate and transcript | Duly attested either from Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation or the UAE embassy in the country of study |
| Transferred hours transcript | A copy of the transcript for each institution independently (If the Transferred hours was 15 hours or above). |
| Genuine Certificate (Authenticity of the qualification) | Original letter of the embassy of the country issuing the qualification with the academic institution’s reply.Qualifications issued from certain countries are exempted from providing this letter (click here to review the list of the countries that the Ministry corresponds the specialized authorities in these countries to get the authenticity of the certificate) |
| Legal translation of certificate or transcript | If the certificate and transcript is issued in any language other than Arabic or English. |
| Bachelor’s degree | Duly attested, with its transcript (if it is required). |
| Preceding equivalency | Obtained from the Ministry of Education (if available). |
| Attendance in the country of study | Passport and a proof of residence (entry and exit seals for the country where the applicant studied), or a copy of the first entry to the country. For who enrolled in the year 2000 and after. |
| Starting date | An official letter stating the starting date for the Master and Doctoral degrees. |
| Thesis abstract | For Master and Doctoral degrees, a copy of the thesis abstract is required. |
| College name and Major (If it is not mentioned in the certificate) | Official letter issued by the awarding university, indicating the college name and the research area and the major. |
To equalize any qualification issued by a higher education institution outside the UAE, please ensure that you provide all the required documents and information to the higher education department, as mentioned above. The Ministry can reject the application if you do not attach all the required documents or complete the required information and the fees will not be refunded.
- Click on start the service
- Register or Log in to your account or UAE PASS
- Fill out the application and upload the required documents.
- Application will be reviewed by the Certificate Equivalency Department to confirm all required attachments are uploaded
- Applicant may be notified to provide any additional information / documents if required
- Pay the fees through MOE portal
- Application will be reviewed, and issuance of final decision is generated (Equalize / Reject) which will be sent to the registered email.
Notes:
- The application may be referred to the committee in exceptional cases for further assessment.
- In case the required documents were not provided within 7 days, the application will be closed. The equalization officer will contact the applicant for 3 times before closing the application.
For further enquiries and assistance, please contact through the following email address: [email protected]
