Degree attestation is the procedure of authenticating an academic degree in order for it to be recognized by any authorized body in the UAE. In Sharjah, it is primarily part of applying for: 

• Professional job positions 

• Resident visas 

• Further education 

• Licensing in different occupations  

Because employers and government departments need assurance that the degree received was awarded by an accredited institution. 

"MOE attestation" is just an abbreviation of "Ministry of Education attestation", meaning that the Ministry of Education of the UAE carries out the attestation, which includes verification of educational certificates such as degrees or diplomas. 

No. MOE attestation confirms that your certificate is authentic and was legally issued. Equivalency, on the other hand, is a separate process where the Ministry of Education assesses your qualification against UAE educational standards and issues an equivalency certificate - often needed for government jobs, further education, or specific licensing bodies. Attestation is usually a prerequisite step before applying for equivalency. 

Requirements vary by certificate type and issuing country, but generally include the original degree or diploma certificate, original transcripts/mark sheets, passport and visa copies, and sometimes an Emirates ID copy or prior embassy/consulate attestation. School-leaving certificates and professional qualification documents may need additional supporting paperwork.

The time taken for the processing depends on the type of certificate and the country of issuance. Generally, the processing time ranges from 10 to 60 working days. However, in some cases, processing can be done faster depending upon the completeness and adequacy of the documents. 

Yes. Transcripts and mark sheets can be attested separately. But in many cases, the applicants prefer to do both the degree certificate and transcripts at the same time. This is because some types of visa, employment, or equivalency applications require these two documents as a pair. 

The general steps in the attestation process are similar for both diplomas and degrees. The verification is done with the issuing authority/institution or board, which is followed by confirmation with the Ministry of Education. However, there can be a difference in the accreditation requirements required for diploma certificates from some technical institutions as opposed to university degrees, depending on the issuing authority. 

In case there are discrepancies like missing stamps, formatting problems, or unverifiable institution information, the Ministry of Education might refuse the application or ask for additional paperwork (direct confirmation from the issuing university). Hence, it is better to make sure that all the documents are in order before submitting them.

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Is attestation of online diplomas necessary? 

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Yes, online degrees undergo the same MOE attestation process as traditional degrees because the institution that issued the degree has to be validated and certified. It is worthwhile to note that the college would often require additional proof of accreditation for such certificates. 

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Who usually needs document attestation in Sharjah? 

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Document attestation is a service required by foreign students applying to higher education institutions in the UAE, qualified professionals (teachers, engineers, doctors) looking for regulated job opportunities, employers hiring new specialists, parents enrolling children into schools, and people applying for a UAE equivalency certificate.