Police Clearance Certificate in the UAE: How to Apply?
A UAE police clearance certificate, also called a good conduct certificate, confirms you have no criminal record in the country. Residents apply through the Ministry of Interior with UAE Pass using their Emirates ID and passport; the fee is AED 200 and it is issued in about one to five working days. The MOI certificate is valid for 30 days.
- Open MOI smart services and sign in with UAE Pass.
- Apply for the clear criminal record certificate.
- Pay the fee, AED 200 for residents.
What is a police clearance certificate?
A police clearance certificate (PCC) and a good conduct certificate are two names for the same document: an official statement that you have no criminal record or pending cases in the UAE. It is commonly asked for when you take a job abroad, apply for certain visas, or go through processes such as company licensing or family sponsorship.
There are two levels, and choosing the right one matters. Dubai Police issues an emirate-level certificate that covers only your history in Dubai, while the Ministry of Interior (MOI) issues a federal certificate that covers all seven emirates. If your employer or the authority asking for it wants a nationwide record, you need the MOI federal certificate.
How to apply, in the UAE and from abroad?
If you are in the UAE, the process is straightforward and online:
- Open the Ministry of Interior smart services at moi.gov.ae and sign in with UAE Pass.
- Choose the issuance of a clear criminal record certificate and confirm your details.
- Upload your Emirates ID and passport copy, pay the fee, and receive the certificate digitally.
Applying from outside the UAE is more involved, because your fingerprints are no longer on a live local record. You must provide a 10-print fingerprint card taken by your local police and attested by the UAE embassy in your country, along with your passport and your old UAE visa details. Plan extra time for that step, as the embassy attestation is what holds most overseas applications up.
Fees, processing time and validity
The fee depends on who you are and where you apply from.
| Applicant | Fee | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| UAE citizen | AED 100 | Emirates ID |
| UAE resident | AED 200 | Emirates ID and passport copy |
| From outside the UAE | About AED 300 (USD 88) | Attested 10-print fingerprint card, passport, old visa details |
Processing usually takes one to five working days. On validity, the MOI federal certificate is valid for 30 days from issuance under Ministerial Decision No. 600 of 2024. Validity can differ between emirates and authorities, so always check both how long your certificate lasts and the deadline of whoever you are submitting it to, a certificate that expires before your application is processed will have to be redone.
When you need one, and attestation?
You will most often be asked for a good conduct certificate when applying for a job overseas, for immigration or long-term visas, or for residency routes such as the UAE Golden Visa. It also comes up for company licensing, tenancy in some cases, marriage, and adoption.
If the certificate is for use outside the UAE, getting it issued is only half the job, it must then be attested so the destination country recognises it, usually through the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the relevant embassy. Because you apply through UAE Pass, it helps to have that set up first; our UAE Pass guide covers it, and you will find related processes in our UAE government services guide. For the employment context, see our UAE work and labour guide.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a police clearance certificate in the UAE?
If you are a resident, apply through the Ministry of Interior smart services at moi.gov.ae using UAE Pass, with your Emirates ID and passport, and pay AED 200. The certificate is issued digitally in about one to five working days. For a Dubai-only record you can apply through Dubai Police instead, but the MOI certificate covers all emirates.
How long is a UAE good conduct certificate valid?
The MOI federal certificate is valid for 30 days from the date of issuance under Ministerial Decision No. 600 of 2024. Validity can vary by emirate and authority, so confirm the period on your certificate and make sure it will still be valid when the organisation you are giving it to processes your application.
Can I apply from outside the UAE?
Yes, but you need an attested fingerprint card. Take a 10-print fingerprint at your local police, have it attested by the UAE embassy in your country, and submit it with your passport and old UAE visa details. The fee from abroad is about AED 300 (USD 88). Allow extra time for the embassy attestation step.
Do I need to attest the certificate?
Only if you will use it outside the UAE. For local purposes the digital MOI certificate is accepted as issued. If you are sending it to a foreign employer, university, or government, it must be attested, typically through the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the destination country’s embassy, before it is recognised abroad.
Last verified: July 2026
Reviewed by: UAEexplained editorial team
Source: UAE Ministry of Interior (MOI); UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs
