# Declaration of Residency in the UAE > How a UAE declaration of residency works, what it should say, the documents behind it, and how our in-house notary public notarises it in Dubai. Source: https://notaryservicesdubai.com/declaration-of-residency-uae/ Last updated: 29 September 2026 Publisher: Notary Services Dubai, Business Bay, Dubai (+971 54 380 1094) A declaration of residency in the UAE is a signed statement in which you confirm your current home address, used when you cannot show a tenancy contract or utility bill in your own name. It is signed in front of a notary public, who checks your ID and witnesses the signature; our in-house notary public does this at our Business Bay office, online, or on a home visit. Banks, schools, embassies and visa processes are the most common reasons someone asks for one. Many residents in Dubai and the wider UAE live somewhere their name is not on the Ejari or the DEWA account, for example with a spouse, parents or a flatmate. A declaration of residency fills that gap with a document you sign personally. Quick answer ## At a glance - A declaration of residency is a personal, signed statement of your address, not a tenancy document. - It is normally notarised in Dubai before a notary public. - It commonly supports bank account opening, school admission, visa steps and family sponsorship. - If it is going abroad, it needs MOFAIC attestation after notarisation. - If you can show your name on an Ejari, DEWA bill or Emirates ID, a certified proof of address may be the simpler route. ## What is a declaration of residency and who asks for it A declaration of residency is a written statement, signed by you, that sets out where you currently live in the UAE. Unlike an Ejari certificate or a DEWA bill, it does not come from a landlord or a utility company. It comes from you, the declarant, and it is notarised so an authority can rely on it. People typically need one when: - Their name does not appear on the tenancy contract, for example a spouse or a live-in parent. - A bank, school or government office asks for proof of address and the usual documents are not in the applicant's name. - A UAE resident needs to confirm their address for a matter abroad, such as a visa application, inheritance case or family sponsorship in another country. - A landlord, employer or authority in the UAE specifically asks for a notarised declaration rather than a bill. ## What it should state, with a sample layout A declaration of residency in the UAE should be short, factual and free of anything you cannot personally confirm. A typical layout includes: 1. Your full name, nationality and Emirates ID or passport number. 2. Your current residential address, written exactly as it appears on any supporting document you hold. 3. A statement that you reside at that address, and since when, if known. 4. The purpose of the declaration, for example "for submission to [bank/school/embassy]". 5. The date, city and your signature, followed by the notary's attestation. Sample wording: "I, [full name], holder of Emirates ID / passport number [number], hereby declare that I currently reside at [address], Dubai, United Arab Emirates. This declaration is made for the purpose of [purpose] and its contents are accurate and complete." Keep it in plain, factual language. A declaration that reads like a legal essay is more likely to be rejected than one that states the facts clearly. ## Supporting documents: Ejari, DEWA bill, Emirates ID A notary or the receiving authority will usually want to see something alongside the declaration itself, even if it is not in your name. Bring what you have: - **Emirates ID** (original, for identity verification at the notary). - **Passport** with residence visa page, if applicable. - **Ejari or tenancy contract** , even if it is in a spouse's, parent's or landlord's name, since it shows the address exists and is occupied. - **DEWA bill** for the same address, if available. - Any letter from an employer confirming company-provided accommodation, if that applies to you. None of these documents need to be in your own name for a declaration of residency to make sense. That is the whole point of the document: it covers the gap between where you live and what the paperwork shows. ## Notarisation and attestation if it goes abroad You sign the declaration before a notary public in Dubai, who confirms your identity and witnesses your signature. That notarisation is normally enough for use inside the UAE. If the declaration is going to be used outside the UAE, for example to support a family, immigration or inheritance matter in another country, it will usually need MOFAIC attestation after notarisation. The UAE is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so there is no apostille route: the document goes through the standard legalisation chain instead, and depending on the destination country, may also need attestation by that country's embassy in the UAE. ## When a certified proof of address is the better route If your name does appear on an Ejari, DEWA bill, tenancy contract or bank statement, a certified true copy of that document is often simpler and faster than drafting a fresh declaration. See [proof of address certification in Dubai](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/proof-of-address-certification-in-dubai/) if that fits your situation better. A declaration of residency exists specifically for the cases where the standard documents are not in your name. How we help ## How we help There are three ways to get it notarised with us: in person at our Business Bay office with our in-house notary public, through our online notary public services, or on a home visit. We prepare the declaration of residency in the correct format and check it against the details on your Emirates ID and passport. You sign, and our in-house notary public checks your ID and applies the seal. If the document needs to travel abroad, we take care of the MOFAIC attestation step and Arabic translation where the receiving country requires it. FAQ ## Frequently asked questions ### What is a declaration of residency? It is a signed, notarised statement in which you confirm your current residential address in the UAE, used when the usual proof of address documents are not in your name. ### When is a declaration of residency needed in the UAE? It is commonly asked for by banks, schools, embassies and visa or family sponsorship processes, particularly when the applicant is not the named tenant on the property. ### What should a declaration of residency say? Your full name and ID details, your current address, a statement that you reside there, the purpose of the declaration, and your signature witnessed by a notary. ### Does a declaration of residency need to be notarised? Yes. It is signed before a notary public, who verifies your identity and witnesses the signature, which is what gives the document standing with the authority requesting it. ### Can a declaration of residency replace a tenancy contract? No. It supplements a tenancy contract or Ejari rather than replacing it. If you hold documents in your own name, a certified copy of those is usually the more direct route. More answers, grouped by topic, are on our [questions and answers page](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/faq/). Keep reading ## Related services Services ### [Affidavits and declarations](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/affidavit-in-dubai-how-to-get-affidavit-in-dubai/) Need an affidavit in Dubai? See the common types, what to bring and how the notary step works. We prepare, translate and book notarisation for you. Read more Affidavits and declarations ### [Affidavit of support](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/affidavit-of-support-in-the-uae/) What an affidavit of support is, the documents you need, and how it works in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. We prepare, translate and book notarisation for you. Read more Affidavits and declarations ### [Affidavit of same person](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/affidavit-of-same-person/) Names spelled differently on your documents? How an affidavit of one and the same person works, what to bring, and how we prepare it in Dubai. Read more More in affidavits and declarations - [Affidavit of single status](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/affidavit-of-single-status/) - [Common law union declaration](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/statuary-declaration-of-common-law-union/) - [Declaration of unemployment](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/declaration-of-unemployment-in-uae/) - [Gift deed](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/gift-deed-in-dubai/) - [Acknowledgement of debt](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/acknowledgment-of-debt/) - [Acknowledgement of cash receipt](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/acknowledgment-of-cash-receipt/) - [Wills](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/wills-in-uae-secure-your-legacy-in-the-emirates/) - [Commissioner of oaths](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/commissioner-of-oaths-in-dubai/) - [Power of attorney](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/power-of-attorney-in-dubai/) Reviews ## What clients say Read what people we have helped say about us on our Google profile, or read [about Notary Services Dubai](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/about-notary-services-in-dubai/). About this page Prepared by the Notary Services Dubai team in Business Bay, Dubai. Last reviewed . ### Official sources we checked (4) - Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2022 on the regulation of the notary profession: [https://uaelegislation.gov.ae/en/legislations/1563](https://uaelegislation.gov.ae/en/legislations/1563) - Dubai Law No. 4 of 2013 concerning Notaries Public in the Emirate of Dubai (Dubai Legislation portal, dlp.dubai.gov.ae) - MOFAIC attestation service: [https://www.mofa.gov.ae/en/services/attestation](https://www.mofa.gov.ae/en/services/attestation) - HCCH Apostille Convention status table (UAE is not a party): [https://www.hcch.net/en/instruments/conventions/status-table/?cid=41](https://www.hcch.net/en/instruments/conventions/status-table/?cid=41) Get started ## Next step Call or WhatsApp +971 54 380 1094, or email support@notaryservicesdubai.com, and we will confirm what your declaration of residency needs to say before you sign. Office open Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. WhatsApp and online requests answered 24/7. For the underlying document that a declaration of residency sits alongside, see our [affidavit in Dubai](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/affidavit-in-dubai-how-to-get-affidavit-in-dubai/) guide. If you also need to confirm employment status for the same application, see our [declaration of unemployment](https://notaryservicesdubai.com/declaration-of-unemployment-in-uae/) page.