Getting a Certified True Copy of a Bank Statement in Dubai

Who asks for a certified copy of a bank statement

The most common reason people need this is a visa application, where the immigration authority wants proof of funds that cannot easily be altered. Embassies ask for the same thing when a visa or residency application needs financial evidence. Universities sometimes ask international students for a certified statement to show they can cover fees and living costs, and courts occasionally need one as evidence in a financial dispute. In each case, the requesting body is really asking for one thing: a document they can trust is an accurate copy of what your bank issued.

Bank stamp or notarised copy: which one do you need

There are two different ways a bank statement gets “certified” in the UAE, and they are not interchangeable.

A bank-stamped statement is printed and stamped directly by your bank, usually at a branch, confirming it came from them. Some banks will do this for account holders on request; others only provide statements through online banking without a physical stamp.

A notarised certified true copy is different. Here, a notary examines your original statement (whether bank-stamped or not) alongside a copy, confirms they match, and applies a notarial stamp, signature and the date to the copy. This is what most embassies and universities mean when their form specifically asks for a “certified true copy” or “notarised copy” rather than just a bank letter.

If the form or the requesting body does not specify, a bank stamp is often enough for straightforward things like a landlord or a local business asking for proof of income. A notarised certified true copy is usually what is needed for anything going to an embassy, a foreign authority or a formal visa process, because it carries independent verification rather than just the bank’s own letterhead. When in doubt, check the exact wording the requesting body used and ask them directly if a bank stamp will do, since accepted practice varies by institution.

Online and e-statements

Most UAE banks now issue statements as downloadable PDFs through online or mobile banking rather than handing out printed statements over the counter. An e-statement can be certified: you print it, and the notary compares the printed copy against the original PDF or against your online banking account shown on your phone or laptop, then certifies the printed copy as a true copy. Some people ask whether an online bank statement can be certified without ever being printed. In practice, a notary certifies a physical document, so the online statement needs to exist as a printed page before it can be stamped and signed.

Steps to get your bank statement certified

1. Download or collect your statement. Get the statement from your bank, either printed at a branch or downloaded through online banking, covering the period the requesting body has asked for.
2. Check what the requesting body wants. Confirm whether they will accept a bank-stamped statement or specifically need a notarised certified true copy, and how many copies they need.
3. Bring your original identification. A valid passport or Emirates ID is required so the notary can confirm your identity against the account holder’s name on the statement.
4. Bring the original statement and the copies. The notary needs to see the original (printed or shown on your banking app or online portal) to compare it against the copies being certified.
5. The notary certifies the copies. Each copy is stamped, signed and dated to confirm it matches your original statement.
6. Collect your certified copies. You leave with the number of certified copies you asked for, ready to submit.

We prepare the paperwork and check the copies match what your bank issued, and our in-house notary public carries out the certification itself.