Police Clearance Certificate (Good Conduct) in the UAE

A Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) — also called a Good Conduct Certificate or Certificate of Good Conduct — is an official document confirming that you have no criminal record in the UAE. It is issued by the police and interior authorities and is one of the most commonly requested documents for employment, immigration, licensing and study, both inside the UAE and abroad.

You can obtain it federally through the Ministry of Interior (MOI) or, in Dubai, through Dubai Police. Both are digital services accessed with your UAE Pass. This guide explains who needs a PCC, how to apply, the fees, processing time and how to get it attested for use overseas.

Who needs a Police Clearance Certificate?

A PCC is typically requested for:

• Employment — many UAE and overseas employers ask new hires for a good conduct certificate;
• Immigration or residence abroad — most countries require a PCC from every country you have lived in;
• Professional licensing — some regulated professions and licences require it;
• Study and scholarships — certain universities and programmes abroad request one;
• Family, adoption or legal matters — where proof of a clean record is needed.

The certificate covers your record in the UAE. If a foreign authority needs proof for the period you lived elsewhere, you apply to that country separately.

How to apply for a Police Clearance Certificate in the UAE

There are two main routes. Use the one that matches where and how the certificate will be used, and always follow the current steps on the official portal.

1. Ministry of Interior (MOI) — federal

1. Open the MOI UAE app or moi.gov.ae and log in with UAE Pass.
2. Start the Good Conduct / Criminal Status Certificate service.
3. Select the purpose and whether the certificate is for use inside the UAE or abroad — this affects the fee and the language.
4. Complete your data, upload the documents, and pay. The federal certificate is often issued within minutes through MOI smart services.

2. Dubai Police

1. Open the Dubai Police app or dubaipolice.gov.ae and log in (UAE Pass).
2. Go to Certificate Services → Good Conduct Certificate.
3. Select the applicant type (resident inside the UAE, or applicant outside the country), the purpose (employment, immigration, education, licensing), the requesting body and the language (Arabic or English).
4. Upload your Emirates ID, passport and a personal photo, then pay the fee.

Documents you will usually need

• Emirates ID (and a valid passport copy);
• A recent passport-size photograph with a white background;
• For applicants who have left the UAE — a copy of the old UAE residence visa and, in some cases, fingerprints taken at a police station or via an approved centre abroad.

Police Clearance Certificate fees and processing time (2026)

Fees depend on the authority and whether the certificate is for use inside the UAE or abroad. As a general guide (confirm the current tariff on the official portal before applying):

These figures are indicative and are set by the authorities, so verify the current amounts at the time of applying.

Validity and attestation for use abroad

A UAE Police Clearance Certificate is generally valid for three months from the date of issue, so apply close to when you actually need it. If the certificate will be used outside the UAE, it usually needs to be attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFAIC) and, depending on the destination country, legalised by that country's embassy. Attestation carries an additional fee. Confirm the exact attestation chain with the receiving authority or embassy before you submit.

How Avyanco can help

For companies and their staff, a good conduct certificate often sits within a wider onboarding or relocation process — employment visas, Emirates ID, attestation and document clearing. Our PRO & government services team handles the government paperwork end to end, and our visa & immigration specialists coordinate it alongside the employment-visa and Emirates ID sequence when you are hiring or relocating staff. Government identity data should only ever be entered on the official u.ae-linked portals.