What Is Certified True Copy? Meaning, Uses and Attested Copies

What Is Certified True Copy? What a Certified True Copy Means

So, what is certified true copy in practice? It is an ordinary copy with a statement added. The person certifying looks at your original, looks at the copy, and confirms they match page by page. Then they write a short wording on the copy, sign it, date it and stamp it.

You will also hear “certified copy”, “true copy” and “attested true copy”. In daily use in the UAE they mean the same thing: a copy that someone with authority has checked against the original. The certified true copy meaning does not change if the wording on the stamp is slightly different.

What the Certification on the Copy Says

The wording is short. It normally states that the copy is a true copy of the original seen by the person certifying. It also carries the date, the signature and the stamp of the person who did the check.

Look for these points before you hand the copy to anyone:

• The statement that the copy matches the original.
• The date of the check.
• The signature and stamp of the person who certified it.
• Every page of the copy covered, either by the stamp on each page or by a clear note of the page count.

A copy with a blank date, a missing stamp or a page left out is often turned away. Check it before you leave the office.

Certified True Copy, Attested Copy and Original Compared

People ask for the difference between true copy and attested copy all the time. In the UAE the words overlap, so the safest approach is to ask the office what it needs and then match your copy to that.

A certified true copy is therefore not the same as the original. It is a reliable stand-in for the original in many situations, but an office can still ask to see the original.

Attested True Copy Meaning and True Copy Attestation

Attested true copy meaning is usually this: a copy that was certified by a notary and then, where the receiving office requires it, attested further. True copy attestation is the step of getting that official confirmation on the copy.

For documents used abroad, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFAIC) attests documents in the UAE. Its fee is AED 150 for personal documents and AED 2,000 for commercial documents, as listed on the MOFAIC attestation page. This is separate from any notary fee. Foreign documents follow a different chain, because the UAE is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention: they are attested in the issuing country first, then by MOFAIC in the UAE.

For the step by step process, read our guide to certified true copy attestation in Dubai.

When UAE Offices Ask for a Certified True Copy

Offices ask for a certified true copy when they need a copy on file but do not want to keep your original. Common cases include:

• A bank opening or reviewing an account.
• A company registrar or free zone updating company records.
• An embassy or consulate handling a visa or a renewal.
• A university or employer checking a certificate.

Each office sets its own rules about who may certify and how recent the copy must be. Ask for those rules before you start. If a bank wants a certified copy of your ID, our page on a certified true copy of a passport shows what is normally checked, and certified passport meaning explains the wording.

How to Get a Copy Certified in Dubai

The steps are short when you come prepared.

1. Bring the original document. A notary cannot certify a copy of a copy.
2. Bring a copy, or ask us to make one from your original.
3. Bring your Emirates ID or passport so your identity can be checked.
4. Tell us where the copy will be used, so the wording and any later attestation fit the receiving office.
5. We check the copy against the original, then certify it with a signature, date and stamp.

We handle your certification with in-house notary public services at our Business Bay office. If you cannot come in, ask us about home visit notary services or our online notary public services. See also how a notarized document in the UAE differs from a certified copy.

Notarial acts in the UAE are regulated by Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2022 on the regulation of the notary profession. We confirm our fee when you send us the document.

Common Mistakes When You Ask What Is Certified True Copy

• Bringing only a copy and no original.
• Certifying a copy that is blurry, cropped or missing a page.
• Signing or stamping the copy before the check.
• Assuming a certified copy also satisfies MOFAIC attestation. It does not.