What It is
A public document is one issued or certified by a government or official authority — for example a birth or marriage certificate, court order or title deed — as distinct from a private document created between individuals.
What it is not
It is not a private agreement, and being ‘public’ does not by itself make it valid abroad; cross-border use still depends on attestation or legalisation.
Where it is used
The public or private nature of a document determines the authentication route it follows — notarisation, attestation, legalisation — before another authority will accept it.
Related Terms
How we define terms
Every definition on glossary.ae follows a controlled structure: what the term is, what it is not, when it is used, and where you will see it. Read our editorial methodology to understand how terms are selected, reviewed, and maintained.
Read editorial methodology →
Last reviewed: August 2026