Certified True Copy of an Expired or Renewed Trade License
Find out whether your specific case needs the expired license certified or the renewal completed first, before you book.
A certified true copy of an expired trade license would be a copy of the license as it existed before it lapsed, examined and certified as a genuine match to that document by a licensed UAE legal professional, carried out in house.
Whether a receiving authority will actually accept a certified copy of an expired license, rather than requiring the renewed license instead, depends on that authority’s own policy. This is not something we can guarantee in advance, and it varies by receiving party.
When the Trade License Has Lapsed
A certified true copy of expired trade license dubai is a narrower case than certifying a current license, because whether an expired license can be certified at all depends on the policy of the specific authority requesting it. This page sets out what to check before proceeding.
Who Typically Faces This Situation
Who Can Request Certification
The request is normally made by the company’s general manager or an authorized signatory named on the license, or by someone holding a valid power of attorney for the company.
How It Works
- Send us the expired trade license and tell us which authority the certified copy is for.
- We advise you to confirm with that authority whether they accept a certified copy of an expired license, or require the renewed one instead.
- Where the expired license is accepted, it is certified; where renewal is required first, we can proceed once the renewed license is available.
- You receive a certified copy matched to what the receiving authority has confirmed it will accept.
Mistakes to Avoid
Typical Situations
A company whose trade license had lapsed while renewal was in progress was asked for a certified copy covering the period the expired license was still valid.
A business responding to a historical contract dispute needed a certified copy of the trade license as it stood at a past date, before the current renewal.
A company preparing for an audit needed to confirm whether the auditor would accept a certified copy of the expired license or required the renewed one instead.
How This Differs From Certifying a Current License
Certifying a current, valid trade license is the straightforward general case covered on our main Certified True Copy of Trade License page. Certifying an expired license is narrower and depends on the specific receiving authority’s own policy on whether it will accept a lapsed document at all. Always confirm with the receiving authority before booking, rather than assuming the expired license will be treated the same as a current one.
Our plain-language guide explains how these differ.
Read the comparison guideWhat to Bring
- The expired trade license itself
- The renewed trade license, if renewal has already been completed
- Certificate of Incorporation or MOA
- Passport copy and Emirates ID of the authorized signatory
- Written confirmation from the receiving authority on whether an expired license is acceptable, where available
If You Are Working to a Deadline
Confirming the receiving authority’s requirement takes priority over speed here, since certifying the wrong version of the license would not help against a deadline. Once the correct version is confirmed, see our Same-Day Certified True Copy Attestation page for urgent options.
Cost
What This Costs
Fees depend on which document ends up being certified, the expired license or the renewed one, and how urgently it is needed. See Certified True Copy Attestation Fees and Process for how our fees and process work.
Who Carries Out the Certification
Certification, whether of the expired license or the renewed one, is carried out by a licensed UAE legal professional carried out in house.
Where We Cover
We issue certified true copies for companies across Dubai, and also certify for companies based in Abu Dhabi or Sharjah as well. See Certified True Copy Attestation in Abu Dhabi and Certified True Copy Attestation in Sharjah for details specific to those emirates.
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Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
In some cases yes, if the receiving authority accepts a certified copy of the document as it stood before it expired. This is not guaranteed and depends on that authority’s own policy.
This depends on what the receiving authority actually needs. If they need a document covering a past period, the expired license may be the relevant one. If they need your current standing, renewal first is usually the safer route. Confirm with them directly.
Ask them directly before booking. Certifying the wrong version of the license wastes time and may need to be redone.
We can advise based on what you tell us about the request, but the receiving authority’s own confirmation is the reliable source.
Yes, they are different documents from different points in time, and a receiving authority may specifically want one or the other rather than treating them as interchangeable.
Get the Right Certified Copy for Your Situation
Get certification of the expired or renewed trade license, once confirmed with the receiving authority.
Get In Touch
Send Us Your Details
Submit an enquiry and we will get back to you. We collect your name, phone number, document type, purpose of certification, and preferred time to proceed.