Academic certificates are documents you need again and again — for a new job, a visa application, university admission or professional licensing. Each time, authorities usually want to see the original certificate, which creates a practical problem: you can only hand it to one place at a time. This guide explains How to Get a Duplicate Academic Certificate from your school, university or exam board, so you always have an official copy ready.
A duplicate certificate is an official extra copy issued by the institution itself — not a photocopy you made at home. It is printed from the institution’s records, carries the official seal and signatures, and is accepted by employers, embassies and government offices just like the original. The only visible difference is that it is usually stamped or printed with the word “DUPLICATE”.
Quick Answer
To get a duplicate academic certificate, contact the registrar or examinations office of the institution that issued your certificate and apply for a duplicate copy. You will generally need an application form or written request, proof of identity, your student details (roll or enrollment number, year of completion), the reissuance fee — and, if your original was damaged, the damaged original itself. The duplicate is printed from the institution’s official records and stamped “DUPLICATE”. If you will use it in the UAE for visa or employment purposes, it must go through the same attestation chain as any other academic certificate.
Duplicate, Replacement and Certified Copy: What’s the Difference?
The terms get mixed up constantly, so it helps to know exactly what each one means before you apply:
| Document type | When it’s issued | How it’s marked |
|---|---|---|
| Duplicate certificate | When you need an extra official copy, or the original is damaged or lost | Stamped or printed “DUPLICATE” |
| Replacement certificate | When the original is lost, stolen or destroyed | May or may not be marked; takes the original’s place |
| Certified true copy | When someone certifies that a photocopy matches the original | Bears the certifier’s stamp and signature |
In practice, many institutions treat a lost-original case as a duplicate request and issue the new certificate marked “DUPLICATE”. The application process is nearly identical either way. If your original is genuinely lost or destroyed, also read our guide on how to replace a lost academic certificate, which covers police reports and affidavits of loss.
When Do You Need a Duplicate Certificate?
There are more everyday reasons for a duplicate than most people realise:
- Multiple applications at once. Applying to several jobs or universities simultaneously, where each wants to hold your certificate during processing.
- Visa filing while the original is elsewhere. Your current employer may be holding your original for your existing visa file while a new employer needs one for a fresh application.
- Professional licensing or equivalency. Licensing bodies and the UAE’s degree equivalency process often require the original certificate to stay with them for weeks.
- A damaged original. Certificates get torn, water-damaged or faded. A duplicate gives you a clean, usable document.
- Backup. Many people simply want a second official copy stored somewhere safe in case the original is ever lost.
How to Get a Duplicate Academic Certificate: The Steps
The process is run by your issuing institution — your school, university or exam board — and it usually follows these steps:
- Find the right office and form. Look on the institution’s website for the registrar, examinations office or student records department. Many institutions now have a “duplicate certificate” request form online; if not, a formal written request letter works.
- Prepare your documents. Have your ID, student details and any supporting documents ready before you apply — see the checklist below.
- Write your application. Address it to the registrar or controller of examinations. Include your full name as printed on the certificate, enrollment or roll number, programme name, year of completion, and the reason you need the duplicate (extra copy, damaged original, lost original).
- Pay the fee. Duplicates are issued against a fee, usually charged per copy. Pay through the institution’s official portal or bank and keep the receipt.
- Surrender the damaged original, if you have one. If your original is damaged, most institutions ask you to send it back with the application — partly to prevent two valid-looking originals circulating, and partly as proof.
- Wait for verification and printing. The registrar checks your application against the institution’s archives before printing. This verification stage is where most of the waiting happens.
- Check the duplicate on arrival. Compare it with your records: name spelling, degree title, year, and reference numbers. Report any printing error immediately — corrections are much easier right after issuance.
Documents You’ll Usually Need
| Document | Why it’s needed | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Passport or national ID | Proves you are the certificate holder | A clear copy is usually enough |
| Enrollment or roll number, year of completion | Lets the registrar find your records | Check old admission letters or result cards |
| Application form or request letter | Formal record of your request | Use the institution’s own form if one exists |
| Damaged original certificate | Required when the reason is damage | Send it back with the application |
| Police report or affidavit | Required by some boards when the original is lost | Ask the institution whether it needs one |
| Fee payment receipt | Proof you paid the issuance fee | Keep a copy for your records |
Fees and Timelines
Fees are set by each institution and are usually charged per copy, so ordering two or three duplicates at once costs more than ordering one. As a rough guide, expect a modest fee in the low hundreds of dirhams’ equivalent per copy for standard processing, with express or urgent services available at a higher price. International courier charges are typically separate.
For timelines, a straightforward duplicate request usually takes 2 to 6 weeks from the date your complete application is accepted. Exam boards can take longer during peak periods such as exam season. If you need the duplicate for a deadline — a visa filing, a job start date, an equivalency application — ask about urgent processing and allow extra time for attestation afterwards.
Using a Duplicate Certificate in the UAE
A duplicate stamped “DUPLICATE” is fully valid for official use, but like any academic certificate, it needs the right preparation before UAE authorities will accept it:
- Attestation. The duplicate must go through the full attestation chain — education authority and foreign ministry in the issuing country, the UAE embassy or consulate there, and finally MOFAIC in the UAE (see the MOFAIC official website for current procedures). Our guides to the UAE document attestation process and how to attest an academic certificate walk through each step.
- Legal translation. If the certificate is in a language other than English or Arabic, it needs certified translation before attestation — see the UAE legal translation requirements.
- Equivalency. If you earned the degree abroad and need it recognised for a UAE job or licence, you’ll need an equivalency certificate on top of attestation — explained in our academic certificate equivalency guide.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is a duplicate certificate as valid as the original?
Yes, for almost all purposes. A duplicate is issued by the same institution, printed from the same official records, and carries the same seals and signatures. Employers, embassies, universities and UAE government authorities accept it exactly like the original — the “DUPLICATE” marking is simply an anti-fraud measure, not a downgrade.
Why is the word “DUPLICATE” stamped on it?
To prevent fraud. The marking makes it clear that this is an officially reissued copy, so nobody can pass off multiple copies as multiple originals. It does not affect the document’s validity or the attestation process.
How many duplicate copies can I get?
Usually as many as you need — institutions rarely cap the number, since each copy carries its own fee. If you know you’ll need the certificate for several applications (jobs, visas, licensing), it is cheaper and faster to order multiple copies in one application than to come back later for more.
What if my school or university no longer exists?
Student records are normally transferred to a successor institution or to the country’s education regulator or ministry when an institution closes. Contact the relevant ministry of education or accreditation body and ask where your institution’s records are now archived — the duplicate is issued from those records.
Can I get a duplicate of someone else’s certificate?
No — only the certificate holder (or their authorised representative with a signed authorisation letter and ID copies) can apply. This is a basic identity protection rule at every institution.
The Bottom Line
Getting a duplicate academic certificate is a simple, if slow, administrative process: apply to the institution that issued your certificate, provide your ID and student details, pay the per-copy fee, and wait for verification and printing. Order more copies than you think you need, check every detail when they arrive, and get each duplicate attested before using it for official purposes in the UAE.
Last Updated: 8 October 2026
About the author: Zaviyar Sultan is a UAE-focused writer at Asandada24, covering driving, visas, banking, insurance and everyday UAE life. His guides are researched from official UAE government and regulator sources and updated regularly.
Asandada24 is an independent informational website, not affiliated with the UAE government or any agency mentioned; content is general information only, not legal, immigration or financial advice; verify critical details with official sources before acting.