Case Study: Apostilling a Child’s Birth Certificate for a UAE Travel Visa

📄 Case Study: Apostilling a Child’s Birth Certificate for a UAE Travel Visa

Client: Sarah M., resident of Irvine, California

Document: California Birth Certificate (child, age 5)

Destination Country: United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Purpose: Family visit visa application for the UAE

Service Provider: Orange County Apostille

🔍 Background

Sarah M. planned to take her 5-year-old son to Dubai to visit her husband, who had recently relocated there for work. As part of the UAE family visit visa application for children, a certified birth certificate with proof of parentage is required. This document must be authenticated for international use—but because the UAE is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, a full document legalization process was required instead of a simple apostille.

✅ Step-by-Step Process Followed

Step 1: Obtaining a Certified Birth Certificate

Sarah visited the Orange County Clerk-Recorder’s Office in Santa Ana to request a certified copy of her son’s birth certificate.

🔗 Orange County Clerk-Recorder Vital Records Request

She confirmed that:

• The certificate was issued by the State of California

• It was signed by the County Registrar

• It was suitable for international use

Step 2: Notarization Not Required for Vital Records

Since certified birth certificates are issued by a public authority, they do not require notarization. Orange County Apostille verified the document was already acceptable for submission to the California Secretary of State.

🔗 California Secretary of State – Apostille Requirements

Step 3: Authentication by the California Secretary of State

Sarah submitted her document to the California Secretary of State in Sacramento through Orange County Apostille, who offered a courier service to expedite processing.

• Processing time: 2–3 business days

• Cost: $26 (Secretary of State fee + service fee)

The Secretary of State authenticated the birth certificate with a Certificate of Authentication (not an apostille, since the destination is a non-Hague country).

🔗 California Secretary of State – Authentication Certificate

Step 4: Authentication by the U.S. Department of State

Next, the document needed to be federally authenticated. Orange County Apostille sent it to the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C.

• Location: 600 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20006

• Processing time: Approx. 2 weeks

• Cost: $20 + service fee

🔗 U.S. Department of State Authentication Services

Step 5: Legalization by the UAE Embassy in Washington, D.C.

After the U.S. Department of State authentication, the final step was embassy legalization. The document was submitted to the:

Embassy of the United Arab Emirates

3522 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008

• Requirements:

• Copy of passport

• Cover letter explaining purpose

• Authenticated document

• Embassy fee: Approx. $40–$55

• Timeline: 5–7 business days

🔗 UAE Embassy in Washington, D.C. – Legalization Services

Step 6: Submission to UAE Consulate or Immigration Office

Once the birth certificate was legalized by the UAE Embassy, it was submitted to the UAE Consulate in Los Angeles as part of the child’s visa application.

Sarah submitted:

• Legalized birth certificate

• Child’s passport

• Copy of father’s UAE residency permit

• Marriage certificate

• Visa application form

🔗 UAE Consulate in Los Angeles – Services

📬 Final Outcome

Within 10 days of submission, the UAE granted a 90-day family visit visa for Sarah’s son. The authenticated birth certificate was recognized by UAE immigration officials without issue.

Sarah later returned to Orange County Apostille to complete the same process for her child’s school transfer certificate, also needed for UAE enrollment.

🔁 Summary of Steps

🔗 Helpful Government Backlinks

• California Secretary of State – Apostille & Authentication

• U.S. Department of State – Document Authentication

• Embassy of the United Arab Emirates – Legalization Services

• Orange County Clerk-Recorder – Birth Certificates

• Orange County Apostille – Authentication Services