The UAE Good Conduct Certificate — sometimes called the Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) — is an official confirmation from UAE police that an applicant has no criminal record in the country. Since 2018 it has been required for many employment, visa, and immigration purposes, both inside and outside the UAE. This is the practical 2026 walk-through, with a focus on the Dubai Police process which serves the largest expatriate population.
When you need a UAE Good Conduct Certificate
| Purpose | Who typically asks |
|---|---|
| UAE employment in regulated sectors | DHA / DOH / MOHAP for healthcare, KHDA / ADEK for teachers, DFSA / FSRA for finance, MOHRE for security guards |
| Foreign work visa | UK Skilled Worker, Australia 482/186, Canada Express Entry, Saudi & Qatar work permits |
| Foreign study visa | Some PG and PhD programmes |
| Immigration / permanent residency | Canada PR, Australia PR, UK ILR, NZ residence |
| Family migration | Spousal and partner visas in the EU, UK, US, AU, NZ, CA |
| UAE Golden Visa | Required for select talent and investor categories |
| Adoption / fostering | UAE family courts and overseas adoption agencies |
Eligibility — who can apply
You must have held a UAE residence visa, an Emirates ID, or a long-term work permit at some point. The certificate is issued only for the period(s) you spent residing in the UAE. Three categories:
- Currently a UAE resident — apply through the police force of your emirate of residence.
- Former UAE resident now abroad — apply remotely through the same online channels; biometrics are not required again because they remain on file.
- Visitor / tourist who has never held UAE residence — generally cannot apply; the certificate is meaningless because you have no Emirates ID file in the police database.
Dubai Police process — current applicants in Dubai
- Open the Dubai Police app or visit dubaipolice.gov.ae. Log in with UAE Pass.
- Select "Good Conduct Certificate" service.
- Choose purpose — Internal (UAE) or External (overseas).
- Choose language(s) — Arabic, English, or bilingual.
- Choose attestation — none, MOFA only, or MOFA + Apostille / Embassy.
- Pay the fee — typically AED 110 (internal) or AED 220 (external).
- Visit a fingerprinting centre if biometrics are not on file — Tasjeel, Al Barsha, or any Dubai Police station.
- Receive the certificate by email / app within 1–3 working days; physical copy collectable from the issuing centre or by courier.
Process for former UAE residents now abroad
- Same dubaipolice.gov.ae portal — log in with the previous UAE Pass account or create a temporary applicant profile.
- Upload a clear scan of your old Emirates ID and a current passport copy.
- Pay the fee online; biometrics are pulled from the previous file.
- Receive the certificate by email — typically 3–7 days because manual review is involved.
- For overseas use, request MOFA attestation in the same flow, then arrange UAE Embassy attestation in your country (or use the new UAE Apostille for Hague countries).
For other emirates
| Emirate | Issuing authority | Portal |
|---|---|---|
| Abu Dhabi | Abu Dhabi Police | adpolice.gov.ae |
| Sharjah | Sharjah Police | shjpolice.gov.ae |
| Ajman | Ajman Police | ajmanpolice.gov.ae |
| RAK | RAK Police | rakpolice.gov.ae |
| Fujairah / UAQ | MOI | moi.gov.ae |
You only need a certificate from the emirate(s) where you have actually held an Emirates ID / residence — the UAE police forces share federal data and a Dubai certificate covers your federal record.
Fees and timing
| Item | Fee (AED) | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Internal (UAE use) | 110 | 1–2 working days |
| External (overseas use) | 220 | 1–3 working days |
| MOFA attestation | 150 | Same day |
| UAE Apostille (Hague countries) | 150 | Same day |
| Express service | +100 to +300 | 2–6 hours |
Validity
- The certificate has no statutory expiry.
- In practice, most receiving authorities want it to be no older than 3 months (UK, Schengen) or 6 months (Canada, Australia, New Zealand) at the date of submission.
- UAE employers generally want it issued within the last 30 days.
If you have a record
If you have a UAE conviction or pending case, the certificate will reflect this — and Dubai Police will not "scrub" the record. Options:
- For settled cases that have been formally dismissed or where the sentence has been completed and the legal expungement period has passed, the record is removed automatically.
- For open cases, the certificate cannot be issued until the matter is resolved.
- For sealed juvenile records, these do not appear on the certificate.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a fresh fingerprint scan?
Only if your prints are not already in the police database. Most UAE residents who underwent biometric capture for Emirates ID after 2018 have prints on file already.
Can someone collect the certificate on my behalf?
Yes — you can authorise pickup through the app or via a notarised PoA. The digital copy can be downloaded by anyone with the access link.
Can I use my UAE Good Conduct Certificate in Saudi or Qatar?
Yes — for those purposes you order the External version, with MOFA attestation, then attest at the destination country's embassy in the UAE (or use the Apostille for Saudi as both UAE and KSA are now Hague parties).
What if I lived in multiple emirates?
One federal certificate covers your record across all emirates — but a few employers explicitly request the certificate from the specific emirate where you lived longest. Always confirm.
Do dependants need their own certificate?
Yes — every adult applicant needs their own. Children under 18 are typically exempt unless the destination country specifies otherwise.
How do I prove it is genuine?
The certificate carries a QR code and reference number; the receiving authority can verify on the issuing police force's portal. The MOFA attestation adds a second verification layer.
How we help
Visa Simplified handles end-to-end Good Conduct Certificate applications in Dubai and the other emirates, including remote applications for former residents now abroad. We chain in MOFA attestation and Apostille for overseas use, plus legal translation if your destination country requires it. Related reading: our breakdowns of UAE Apostille Convention and embassy attestation by source country.
Need help with this?
Our PRO consultants handle the full process end-to-end — documents, government submission, and delivery. Service fee is fully refundable pre-submission.