UAE Driver Experience Certificate explained: How to apply, fees and MOFA attestation

Dubai: If you’re moving abroad and want to apply for a driving licence in that country, your driving record in the UAE will prove invaluable. To show evidence of driving experience, you will require a Driver Experience Certificate. We break down how the Certificate saves time and effort, and how to apply for it. What is a Driver Experience Certificate? The Driver Experience Certificate is a document that includes your traffic records, and shows your driving licence issuance date, as recorded in the issuing emirate. The Certificate has been updated to meet international standards, for use abroad. The Driver Experience Certificate doesn’t just validate your driving history in foreign countries, it also serves as an official traffic record, and can be provided to potential employers, who require you to have driving experience. You can alternatively apply for a ‘To Whom It May Concern’ Certificate at the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and UAE Ministry of Interior (MOI), if you don’t currently have a driving licence or training file, but want a document with your previous traffic record. Things to note before applying To be eligible to apply for the Driver Experience Certificate via the RTA, you must have a driving licence issued in Dubai. Before applying for the Certificate, ensure any outstanding fines and dues with the RTA have been paid in full. The Driver Experience Certificate must be authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) for international use, according to the RTA. The certificate is valid for 60 days from its date of issuance. How to apply for a Driver Experience Certificate You can easily apply for the Certificate online, via the RTA website or the RTA Dubai app, which is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Follow these steps to apply on RTA’s website: Visit rta.ae, select ‘RTA Services’ and choose ‘Apply for a Driver Experience Certificate’. Log in by entering one of the following details: Emirates ID number and expiry date, driving licence number and issuance date, or plate number. Enter the one-time password sent to your registered phone number, and verify your identity. Pay all the due fines and fees. Upon submission, you will receive the Certificate by email instantly. Cost : The service costs Dh100, and the Knowledge and innovation fee is Dh20. Do I need to have the Certificate attested? To make the Driver Experience Certificate valid for international use, you must ensure it has been authenticated and stamped by MOFA. Imran Khan, managing director at I K Lawyers, explained: “Within the UAE, the Driver Experience Certificate does not require attestation and is generally accepted as an official digital document for employment, insurance, and other local purposes. However, for use outside the UAE, the certificate must be attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and further legalisation (such as apostille or embassy attestation) may be required depending on the destination country.” Attestation ensures your traffic record has been certified by the authorities, and can be admitted in court and other formal procedures, if needed. It also makes the process of applying for jobs, getting visas, or acquiring an international driving licence smoother. In order to attest your Driver Experience Certificate, first obtain it from the RTA, ensuring it has a verification mechanism, such as a QR code, reference number or barcode. Follow these steps for digital attestation: Visit the official MOFA service portal at mofa.gov.ae/en/services/attestation. Register to apply for the service. Select ‘Digital document’ from the list of three options: Digital document, commercial document and personal document. Enter the required details, including issuing authority, document type, and applicant details. Confirm the document has been issued in the UAE, then select the destination country. Upload the Driver Experience Certificate. Review the details and pay the fees via credit card. You will receive a confirmation message upon successful submission, including a reference number. You can use this number to track your application status via ‘My Workspace’ on MOFA’s website. The process generally takes two hours if the application is made during working hours, according to MOFA. You also have the option of selecting courier-based attestation, wherein MOFA will attest the document and send it to you by courier service in one to three working days (depending on the courier provider). Cost : The service costs Dh150.