A certified true copy of your passport is a photocopy of your passport’s bio-data page that a notary public has compared, page by page, against the original and stamped to confirm it’s an exact match. In Dubai, you get one from the Dubai Courts Notary Public service or an authorized private notary office; in Abu Dhabi, the equivalent service — sometimes listed as a “Duplicate Copy” — is available through the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD), either at an ADJD-authorized notary or digitally through the TAMM Abu Dhabi platform.
If a bank, a visa application, your child’s school, or a UAE government counter has asked you for a “certified true copy” of your passport, this guide walks through what that actually means, where to get one in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, what to bring, and when you’d need to take the extra step of full attestation as well.
What Is a Certified True Copy of a Passport?
A certified true copy of a passport is a photocopy of the bio-data page — and any other pages a receiving authority specifies, such as a visa or entry stamp — that a notary public has checked against your original passport and stamped and signed to confirm it matches. That stamp is what makes the copy acceptable in place of handing over your actual passport, which most banks, schools, and government counters won’t let you do anyway.
It’s a narrower service than full certificate attestation, and the two get confused often. Notarization confirms a copy is accurate; attestation is a separate chain of authentication — typically running through a Ministry of Foreign Affairs and, for foreign documents, an embassy — that UAE and foreign authorities use to recognize documents issued through someone else’s system. A certified true copy of your passport doesn’t usually need that longer chain, since a passport is already a government-issued document whose authenticity isn’t in question; the notary’s job here is only to confirm the copy in your hand matches it. For how that longer attestation chain works for documents that do need it, see our guide on what certificate attestation means and why you need it.
How to Get a Certified True Copy of Your Passport in Dubai
In Dubai, certified true copies of a passport are issued by a notary public — either at a Dubai Courts notary service centre or at a private notary office that Dubai Courts has licensed to perform the same function. The general steps look like this:
- Bring your original passport and a clear photocopy of the page(s) you need certified.
- Take a token or book an appointment at the notary service centre, or visit your chosen licensed private notary office directly.
- The notary checks your original against the copy and confirms your identity before stamping and signing the copy.
- Pay the notary’s fee at the counter and collect your certified copy.
Dubai Courts also runs notary services online for UAE Pass account holders, but a passport true copy typically still requires your original to be checked in person, so confirm with your chosen notary office whether an in-person visit is needed before you go. Fees and processing times vary by notary office — most same-day — so it’s worth confirming both when you book, or contact us and we’ll confirm current requirements for you.
How to Get a Certified True Copy of Your Passport in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi runs this through the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) rather than Dubai Courts. ADJD lists the service among its notary public functions, often under “Duplicate Copy,” and it’s available both in person through ADJD-authorized public and private notaries and digitally through the TAMM Abu Dhabi platform or the ADJD app, using a UAE Pass login.
As in Dubai, you’ll need your original passport for the notary to check against the copy. If you’re starting the request through TAMM or the ADJD app, check the platform’s current document-upload requirements first, since some notarial services still require the original passport to be presented in person before the copy is certified. Confirm the current fee and turnaround with ADJD or your chosen notary, since both can vary by service type.
What You'll Need to Bring
Requirements can vary slightly by notary office, but most applicants need:
- Your original passport — a photo or scan of it isn’t accepted; the notary needs to check the physical document.
- A valid form of ID for yourself — your Emirates ID if you’re a UAE resident, or the same passport if you’re not yet a resident.
- A clear colour photocopy of the page(s) the receiving authority asked for — usually the bio-data page, sometimes a visa or entry-stamp page as well.
- An authorization letter if someone else is submitting on your behalf, since most notary offices won’t accept a passport from anyone other than its holder without one.
- A certified Arabic translation, only if the receiving authority specifically requires the copy in Arabic — our legal translation team can confirm whether that applies to your situation.
Certified True Copy vs. Full Attestation — Which Do You Need?
Most of the time, a notarized true copy of your passport is enough on its own — it’s what banks, schools, and most UAE government counters mean when they ask for one. You’d need to go further, into full attestation, mainly if the receiving authority needs the document recognized through the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) chain specifically — for example, if a foreign authority asks for an attested rather than merely notarized copy, or if the copy needs to be legalized for recognition outside the UAE.
If you’re not sure which one your situation calls for, the safest step is to check the exact wording the requesting authority used, or ask us directly — see our certified true copy service page for how we handle both straightforward notarized copies and the full attestation chain when a document needs it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a certified true copy of a passport?
It’s a photocopy of your passport’s bio-data page (and sometimes other pages) that a notary public has compared against the original and stamped and signed to confirm it’s an exact match — accepted in place of handing over your actual passport.
Where can I get a certified true copy of my passport in Dubai?
At a Dubai Courts notary service centre or at a private notary office licensed by Dubai Courts. Bring your original passport and a photocopy of the relevant page(s).
Where can I get a certified true copy of my passport in Abu Dhabi?
Through the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) — at an ADJD-authorized notary in person, or digitally through the TAMM Abu Dhabi platform or the ADJD app, often listed as a “Duplicate Copy” service.
Do I need my original passport to get a certified true copy?
Yes. A notary needs to check your physical original passport against the copy before stamping it; a photo or scan of your passport isn’t accepted for this step.
Is a certified true copy the same as an attested copy?
No. A certified true copy only confirms the copy matches your original passport. Attestation is a separate process that runs documents through the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (and, for foreign documents, an embassy) for official recognition. Most passport copies only need notarization, not full attestation — unless the specific authority you’re dealing with asks for an attested copy.
Can someone else get a certified true copy of my passport on my behalf?
Often yes, with a signed authorization letter, though requirements vary by notary office. Most notaries won’t accept a passport from anyone other than its holder without one, so check with your chosen notary office before sending someone else.
For the broader picture of how UAE attestation works, see our guide on what certificate attestation means and why you need it, and if you’re trying to tell certified copies apart more generally, our explainer on what a certified true copy is. You can also see how we handle both notarization and full attestation on our Certified True Copy service page.
Need a Certified True Copy of Your Passport?
We can guide you to the right notary service in Dubai or Abu Dhabi, confirm exactly what to bring, and handle full MOFA attestation and embassy legalization as well if your situation needs it.
