Birth Certificate for use in the U.A.E.

FAQ – Birth Certificate Authentication and Certification

• Why are digital signatures not accepted for Birth Certificate?

  Digital signatures may be recognized within certain U.S. states; however, they are not universally accepted across all states or foreign jurisdictions. Since international authentication requires uniform acceptance, Birth Certificate bearing a digital signature may be rejected. For this reason, only wet ink signatures are accepted.

• Why must the signer’s name be printed or typed beneath the signature onBirth Certificate?

  Signatures alone may be unclear or illegible, making it difficult to establish the identity of the signer. Some jurisdictions reject Birth Certificate if the printed or typed name of the signer is not included, deeming subsequent authentications invalid. Therefore, the signer’s name and state of execution must appear beneath the signature.

• Why is online notarization of Birth Certificate> not accepted?

  Online notarizations are authorized in certain U.S. states; however, they are not recognized at the federal level nor consistently accepted internationally. As a result, Birth Certificate notarized online may face rejection by foreign authorities. Only in-person notarizations by a commissioned notary public are accepted.

• Why does the UAE Embassy accept certifications from all 50 U.S. Secretaries of State for Birth Certificate instead of requiring authentication by the U.S. Department of State?

  During past global disruptions, the U.S. Department of State experienced delays of several months in processing authentications. To prevent disruption of commercial and legal matters, the UAE Embassy determined that certification of Birth Certificate by any U.S. Secretary of State would be sufficient. Authentication by the U.S. Department of State remains optional. Applicants may request this additional step at an extra cost of $30, with an additional two weeks of processing time.

• Is certification of Birth Certificate required from the applicant’s own Secretary of State?

  Certification of Birth Certificate may be obtained from the Secretary of State of the applicant’s state or from any of the 50 U.S. Secretaries of State. Under the Standard Service, certification is processed through the State of Maryland. However, applicants may independently obtain certification from their own state before submission. This does not affect service fees.

• How can the State of Maryland certify Birth Certificate executed in another state?

  All notarized documents are first verified as original by a commissioned notary public. Once verified, the Maryland Secretary of State certifies the notarial act as valid. This certification is recognized for subsequent UAE Embassy attestation, regardless of the state in which Birth Certificate was originally executed.