Documents You Need to Move to Dubai

There is no single universal “Dubai relocation document pack”. The required documents depend on your residency route, whether family members are moving with you, whether you plan to open a bank account and whether you are setting up a company.

However, some documents are much easier to prepare before leaving. Use this guide as a practical pre-departure checklist.

Requirements for specific procedures may change. Always verify the document list for your exact residency route and authority before filing.

1. Passport

Check the validity of your passport. For most UAE immigration procedures, the passport should be valid for at least six months.

Prepare:

• a colour scan of the main page;
• several paper copies;
• a separate electronic copy in secure cloud storage.

2. Proof of income and employment

Even if these documents are not needed at the first residency stage, they may be required by a bank.

Useful documents include:

• employment contract;
• salary or income certificate;
• recent bank statements;
• evidence of the source of significant savings;
• tax documents where they help support your income profile.

Major UAE banks list proof of income and address among the standard requirements for certain personal accounts.

3. Marriage certificate

If your spouse will obtain residency as a dependent, the marriage certificate is one of the key documents proving the relationship.

The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs includes marriage certificates among official personal documents that may be subject to attestation.

Before travelling, check:

• whether your existing certificate is suitable;
• whether attestation is required for your specific procedure;
• whether translation is needed;
• which authority must certify it.

Do not complete a complicated chain of certifications “just in case”. First check the exact procedure you will use.

4. Children's birth certificates

Birth certificates are used to prove family relationships for dependent residency and may also be requested in education-related processes.

As with marriage certificates, birth certificates fall into the category of documents for which official attestation procedures exist in the UAE.

5. School documents

If your child has already attended school, request the academic documents before you move.

At a minimum, prepare:

• the latest report card or academic report;
• evidence of previous schooling;
• a transfer or leaving certificate if required;
• medical and vaccination records;
• documents relating to special educational needs where relevant.

KHDA states that admission to a Dubai private school above Grade 1 requires evidence of previous schooling.

If the documents are issued by a school in Russia, it is better to collect them before you are already in the UAE.

Read more: Moving to Dubai with Children.

6. Diplomas and professional documents

Not everyone will need them. However, if you plan to work in a regulated profession, apply under a particular residency category or prove a professional qualification, bring your diploma and supporting academic documents.

Educational certificates are also among document categories that may require formal attestation.

Doctors, teachers and certain other regulated professionals may also need separate professional licensing procedures.

7. Documents for a bank account

Prepare a banking file in advance:

• bank statements;
• proof of address outside the UAE;
• salary certificate or equivalent income evidence;
• employment contract;
• source-of-funds documents;
• business documents for entrepreneurs.

For example, Emirates NBD lists a passport, UAE residence visa, Emirates ID, salary documentation or self-employed alternatives and proof of address for a resident current account. For non-resident accounts, the bank may request bank statements, a utility bill or a bank reference.

Read more: How to Open a Bank Account in the UAE After Moving.

8. Documents for entrepreneurs

If you are setting up a company or moving part of your business activity to the UAE, create a separate corporate file:

• incorporation and registration documents for existing companies;
• ownership structure;
• contracts with key clients and suppliers;
• invoices;
• corporate bank statements;
• financial statements if available;
• a description of the business activity;
• evidence of the source of capital.

This package often becomes especially useful later during bank compliance. The clearer the business history, the easier it is to answer bank questions.

9. Medical documents and medication

If you take medication regularly, check UAE import rules before travelling. Certain controlled medicines require prior approval.

Bring:

• the prescription;
• a doctor's letter or medical report;
• the international generic name of the medicine;
• an appropriate supply within the permitted limits.

Do not rely only on the Russian trade name of a medicine, as the brand name may be different in the UAE.

Which documents may require attestation?

Pay particular attention to:

• marriage certificates;
• birth certificates;
• educational documents;
• certain official certificates and records.

The procedure depends on the country of issue and the purpose for which the document will be used.

How to organise your documents

Create a clear digital folder structure:

• 01_Passports;
• 02_Family;
• 03_Bank;
• 04_Income;
• 05_Education;
• 06_Business;
• 07_Medical.

Store each document as a separate high-quality PDF with a clear filename, for example Bank_Statement_July_2026.pdf rather than scan003_final.pdf.

Pre-departure document checklist

• passports are valid for more than six months;
• passport copies are prepared;
• bank statements are available;
• proof of income is ready;
• marriage and birth certificates are collected;
• school documents are ready;
• diplomas are packed where relevant;
• attestation requirements have been checked;
• entrepreneurs have prepared a corporate file;
• medicine import rules have been checked where relevant;
• all key documents are backed up securely online.

For residency questions: UAE Residency and Relocation.

Back to the complete Dubai relocation guide.