New Families

The following documents must be submitted by start of the school:

• Student’s Passport

• Student’s Visa

• Student’s Emirates ID Card (both sides): original ID must be scanned by Admissions Office. Diplomatic ID: copy will suffice.

• Student’s immunization record

• Parent (Sponsor) Passport

• Parent (Sponsor) Visa

• Parent (Sponsor) EID (both sides): original ID must be scanned by Admissions Office. Diplomatic ID: copy will suffice.

• Final report card

• Final Transcript (Grade 10-12)

• Transfer certificate (applicable for students new to Abu Dhabi, attestation information available HERE)

• Update Contact details HERE

• Medical Forms. Click HERE.

It is mandatory that all students be registered with the Abu Dhabi Department for Education and Knowledge (ADEK) within 30 days of the start of school. Kindly ensure you provide the Admissions Office the listed documents prior the start of school to finalize the registration at GEMS American Academy and ADEK authorities:

1. The child(ren) and Parent’s ORIGINAL Emirate ID card

2. Copy of the child’s immunization record

3. Most recent Photo (JPEG format) – for Student ID

4. For UAE citizens: Copy of the family book for KG1 enrollees

5. Final School Report Card: Obtain an original year-end report card for your child for 2019-2020 (must be in English)

   1. • For students entering Grade 2 and above coming from other Abu Dhabi schools, a copy of the eSIS Final Report for 2019-20 is required aside from the school report

6. Official transcripts (Grade 10 and above)

7. Transfer Certificate: This document's requirements are determined by which country your child is currently attending school. Please scroll down for detailed information and sample. Please follow the ATTESTATION requirement strictly.

   1. • • If you are coming from outside Abu Dhabi: Have this form completed when your child withdraws from the current school and hand carry the original to our office within 30 days from the start of school. This is a requirement of the Abu Dhabi Education and Knowledge (ADEK) and Ministry of Education in Abu Dhabi and should be considered as an official certificate; the Ministry has the authority to refuse the document if they choose. You are welcome to scan and email the document to me to ensure correctness, especially, prior to obtaining attestations.

        • If you are coming from another school within Abu Dhabi: Please make sure that your child(ren) is cleared and is either WITHDRAWN on the previous’ school eSIS or TRANSFERRED to our eSIS #9086

Please note that failure to register students within the grace period (30 days from the start of the school) will result in fines. Unfortunately we will have to invoice the families. ADEK also allows to register students with a Court Letter. Our Government Relations Executive will provide the accompanying letter to sponsor to submit to Abu Dhabi Judicial Department.

(for applicants from Grade 2 and above)

All students in Grades 2 and above must submit a Transfer Certificate before enrolment. Without it, your child’s start date will be delayed as this is a Ministry of Education requirement.

What is a Transfer Certificate (TC)?

• A TC is not the same as a school record or school transcript.

• A TC should clearly state to which grade a student was promoted at the end of the previous year or the grade in which the student is currently enrolled (if enrolling mid-year).

• It is a good idea to use the sample form provided in this package.

• Transfer Certificates must be in English or Arabic and must display an official school stamp.

Who needs a Transfer Certificate?

• All students in Grades 2 and above require a TC.

• Students in KG1, KG2 and Grade 1 only require a TC if they enroll after October (mid-year enrolment).

Why do we need a Transfer Certificate?

• The Ministry of Education in Abu Dhabi requires that each student from grade 2 and above submits a TC as well as a UAE residence visa and UAE ID Card for registration.

• When a Grade 12 student enrolls after October (mid-year enrollment), they can only be admitted if they are coming from an American curriculum or IB Curriculum, with a TC.

• Residence visas must be submitted as soon as they are completed.

Which stamps do I need for my Transfer Certificate?

Stamp requirements are dependent on the school location from which you are transferring. Find your previous school’s location below to determine the necessary stamping authority:

Please complete this form by providing both parents' contact information and an alternative contact. Contact information (email and mobile number) is required in order to ensure that our communication reaches you. Also please complete the consent section of the form for photograph authorization. Where there is no respond, consent will be implied.

At GEMS American Academy, we issue parent ID cards to our parents only. No ID Cards are issued for guardians, domestic helpers, drivers or relatives.

The Parent ID includes photos of the parent. The Parent ID does not expire and is valid as long as the child attends GAA. You will be asked to return Parent IDs, should you withdraw from GAA.

New Parents, you may obtain your Parent photo identity card by emailing a photo (jpeg format) along with the parent’s first and last name to pre_gaa@gemsedu.com Please also include your child/children’s full name and grade in the email as well.

UPDATE! Once you have uploaded your photo/photos, we will email you your card in JPEG/PDF format to be saved on your mobile phones and presented upon entry to school.

All students from KG to Grade 12 are issued a Student ID, which can also be used as a cafeteria card for grades 6-12. Please make sure to submit your child's most recent photo in jpeg format to Admissions team. The IDs will be delivered in the classrooms.