Salary Certificate and Salary Transfer Letter in the UAE: What They Are and Samples
The difference, what banks need, and two sample letters you can copy.
Almost every personal loan, credit card and bank account application in the UAE asks for one of two letters from your employer. This guide explains the difference, what each should contain and when banks ask for them, with sample text you can copy.
Salary certificate vs salary transfer letter
| Salary certificate | Salary transfer letter | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Proof of employment and salary | Confirmation that your salary will be paid into a given bank |
| Issued by | Your employer (HR or accounts) | Your employer, usually in the bank's own format |
| Addressed to | "To whom it may concern" or a named party | One specific bank |
| Typically contains | Name, ID, job title, joining date, salary breakdown | Employee details and the bank where the salary will be credited |
| Used for | Bank accounts, loans, cards, visas, rent | Salary-linked loans and cards |
What to include in a salary certificate
- Company letterhead, with the company name, address and trade licence details.
- Your full name, passport number and Emirates ID number.
- Job title and date of joining.
- Salary breakdown: basic salary, allowances and total monthly salary in AED.
- The purpose or recipient, if the bank asks for it.
- Date of issue, signature, name and designation of the signatory, and the company stamp.
Sample salary certificate
Copy this text onto company letterhead and replace the bracketed parts. Your employer's HR team may have its own format.
Sample salary transfer letter
Most banks require their own format, so ask the bank for its template first. If no format is given, a letter like this is a starting point.
When banks ask for them
A salary-linked personal loan usually needs a salary certificate or salary transfer letter, recent bank statements, your Emirates ID and passport with the residence visa page, and an AECB check. As one example, Mashreq's published terms for its debt consolidation loan ask for a salary transfer letter in Mashreq's format, or a salary certificate for government and semi-government employees. Banks also use them to check your salary and employer against their own lists, and employees of companies outside a bank's approved list often face a higher minimum salary (see our guide to personal loans for non-listed company employees).
Not sure which documents your bank will accept?
Ask a Fintrust advisor →Tips before you ask HR
- Ask the bank for its format and how recent the letter must be before you request it, so HR issues the right one first time.
- Check the details match your Emirates ID and passport, including the spelling of your name.
- Make sure the salary figure is the one the bank will count. Some banks count only the basic and certain allowances.
- Keep your salary credits consistent in your bank statements, because lenders compare them with the letter.
Check how a new instalment fits your income with our DBR calculator.
About the author
Ajith Prasad is the founder of Fintrust, an independent banking and financial consultancy serving businesses in Dubai and across the UAE, built on 25+ years inside the UAE banking and financial services industry - most recently as Manager of Issuance and Acquiring at Mercury Payment Services LLC, with earlier leadership roles at Standard Chartered, Dunia Finance, Banque Misr, and National Bank of Dubai. Full bio →
Frequently asked questions
A letter from your employer, on company letterhead, confirming your name, job title, date of joining and salary. Banks, embassies, landlords and visa offices ask for it as proof of income.
A letter from your employer, usually in the bank's own format, confirming that your salary will be credited to that bank. Banks ask for it when you take a salary-linked loan or card.
A salary certificate proves your income and employment to anyone who asks. A salary transfer letter is addressed to one bank and confirms your salary will be paid into your account there.
Your employer, usually the HR or accounts department. Ask for it on company letterhead, signed and stamped, with the issue date on it.
Sometimes. Banks assess self-employed applicants on business income, and some lenders accept bank statements showing salary credits, but terms are usually tighter. Ask the lender which documents it accepts.
Banks usually want a recent date, but the limit differs by bank and product. Ask the bank how recent the letter must be before you request it from your employer.
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