Most people in the UAE eventually need to provide a police clearance certificate. You may need to provide this document to a potential employer to accompany a job offer, or your employer may require this to renew your work visa. Other reasons may include applying for a residence or citizenship permit.
A police clearance certificate confirms that you have no criminal record in the UAE. It is also known as a Good Conduct Certificate or Clear Criminal Record Certificate.
It is always issued by the relevant authorities, and it reflects your criminal record status at the time it is issued. It is not meant to be and should not be treated as a recommendation letter.
The process to apply for police clearance has improved and is no longer done in-person at a police station. You may use this guide to learn more about police clearance certificates in the UAE, including costs, documentation, and the application process.
Companies request it because it is less time consuming and cheaper to outsource background checks. It is an official way of asking “Is this person employable?
Who Can Apply?
The conditions aren’t restrictive. You can apply if you are:
- A citizen of the UAE
- A resident of the UAE
- A person previously residing in the UAE
- Someone acting on behalf of the applicant
Those currently living in the UAE can apply online. Former residents can also make an application. However, old Emirates IDs and fingerprints are required for some steps.
A UAE police clearance certificate is required for a new job. Let’s say Sara, a UAE citizen, resided in Sharjah for six years and recently moved back to her home country. Sara’s employer wants to see a UAE Police Clearance Certificate. Since Sara is not a resident of the UAE, he can’t apply online. As a former resident of UAE, he can make an application online from abroad.
Why Do People Look for This?
Some think this document is only used to fulfill immigration requirements. There are several situations in which this document is needed such as:
- Applying for employment and/or immigration sponsorship in the education, health, and social services, and security sectors
- Obtaining employment or study sponsorship
- Seeking employment or immigration sponsorship in other countries
- Applying for citizenship
- Applying for immigration or non-immigration sponsorship (e.g. family visiting visa, relatives sponsorship, etc.)
- Applying for professional licenses
- Undergoing corporate or employment sponsorship checks
The circumstances will help you determine the type of certificate you will need. A certificate to be used within the UAE will cost less and take less time to obtain. A certificate to be used abroad will cost more and may require additional attestation.
Where to Apply?
Most people find this part confusing. There is no single uniform system across the UAE.
Residents of Dubai should apply through Dubai Police. They have an online system (and an app) where you can apply for the certificate. The certificate costs 200 AED and will be valid for 3 months.
Residents of the other emirates should apply through the Ministry of Interior (MOI). Residents of Sharjah and other Northern Emirates can apply online through the MOI app. The same rules apply in Abu Dhabi.
If in doubt, consider where your UAE residence was last registered.
Documents and Requirements
It will help speed up the process if you have these documents before starting.
Residents:
- Emirates ID
- UAE Pass Account
- Passport copy
- Email and Mobile number
- Debit/ Credit Card
Former Residents (Outside UAE)
- Passport copy
- Emirates ID and Residency visa copy (if available)
- Fingerprints (if Emirates ID is not available)
- Power of Attorney (if representative is acting on behalf of applicant)
Depending on your situation, other documents may be requested. Therefore, it is recommended you consult the online questions to determine what to upload.
MOI App Process
Non residents of Dubai may find this the quickest and easiest process.
- On your Android, Apple, or Huawei device, download the MOI UAE App.
- Use your UAE Pass account to login.
- Select Police services, then the service “Issuance of Certificate of Good Conduct”.
- Select where you will use the Certificate.
- Complete the online form. Add required documents.
- Pay the fee using your credit/ debit card.
- The Certificate will be immediately available to you electronically.
If you want to use the bigger screens, you can access the service on MOI’s website (moi.gov.ae) as well. You will receive the same certificate.
AMO (MTI) certificates issued by MOI cover all Emirates.
Applying through Dubai Police
If you reside in Dubai, proceed as follows:
- Open the Dubai Police mobile application or visit dubaipolice.gov.ae
- Conduct login using your UAE Pass or account
- Select Police Clearance Certificate
- Provide your details and upload the required documents
- Determine the location of use (local or abroad)
- Pay the related fees
- Wait for your certificate
Generally, Dubai Police issues the certificate within a few hours from the time of application. However, you should allow 5 working days to be on the safe side.
Costs
Fees vary depending on the location of issue and purpose of the certificate.
MOI (other than Dubai)
As of the publication of this article, fees charged by MOI (other than Dubai) for Police Clearance Certificate were approximately AED 50.
Certificates for Dubai PoliceClearance to be used abroad are roughly AED 100.
Emirates IDs typically cost between AED 200-400, and fingerprinting costs AED 50. policybazaar
In addition, AED 300 is charged for MOFA attestation. emirates247
Dubai Police:
There are different charges for different categories. UAE nationals pay approximately AED 100. For residents and those living abroad, the charges are approximately AED 200 and AED 300 respectively. bayut
There are small fees known as Knowledge and Innovation Dirhams which are AED 10 each totalling to AED 20. emirates247
Charges are subject to change. Check the official app to confirm.
How long does it take?
The MOFA process can take a few minutes.
A wait of 5 working days is typical for a Dubai Police clearing certificate. Delays often occur due to poor quality copies of supporting documents, name discrepancies and incomplete forms.
What is the Expiration?
Validity gets overlooked. A UAE Police clearance is only good for 3 months. Some organizations require a more recent clearance. Some require a sponsor letter. Many applicants find themselves rushing to get clearance after everything else is processed. emirates247
Requirements may vary. If you need Police clearance, that is usually required if the certificate will be submitted outside of the UAE. Attestation is an additional verification that is usually processed through the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
To be safe, verify what the receiving organization will actually accept. Sometimes they will accept the Police clearance and you will have spent 300 AED unnecessarily. Police clearance is beneficial, not just to get a visa, but to demonstrate you are a low-risk individual. This can benefit you when applying for jobs. Employers appreciate candidates that do not delay the document verification process. A UAE Police Clearance can help in employment visa processes.
It allows access to certain occupations. Positions in fields such as teaching, nursing, and finance are a few examples where a potential employer may deny your application based upon your criminal background.
It facilitates international travel. Some countries may require a police clearance certificate from every country you have previously resided in.
It accelerates visa processing. Obtaining a police clearance certificate may expedite processing your residency and citizenship applications.
It provides reassurance. People often wait until they have to provide a police clearance certificate before checking to see what is on their criminal record.
Other Benefits
There are other benefits of having a police clearance certificate.
It builds professional and personal relationships. Some individuals may prefer renting or employing people with no prior criminal record.
It aids in business opening. Banks may require police clearance certificates as part of the documentation to open a business.
It is convenient. As it is in an electronic format, you may keep it and provide a copy via email.
It reduces the cost and takes less time than traditional police record checks. Because it is completed via the app, there is no need to pay or visit a service center.
All of these benefits make obtaining a police clearance certificate valuable.
Typical Errors
Errors that occur during document submission include the following:
- Submitting an application to the wrong authority. Most UAE residents submit applications to the wrong authorities (i.e.Dubai residents submit applications to MOI or Vice Versa).
- Submitting an incorrect certificate. An Embassy will not accept a UAE local use certificate.
- Uploading illegible documents. Documents containing poor quality photos will be rejected.
- Mismatched names. Names on all documents (including the application) must match the names on the passport and Emirates ID.
- Not obtaining attestation. A document cannot be accepted without attestation.
- Submitting application too early. A document will only remain valid for the duration it was issued to the applicant.
Some helpful hints
- UAE Pass can be used to submit/renew certain documents. Activating UAE pass can take a long time if it has not been previously used.
- Once a document is issued, scan and print a copy for your records.
- Ask the accepting authority about attestation and the preferred language (English/Arabic).
- Obtain authorization from a trusted person in the UAE if you are not currently in the country.
- Retain the payment receipt. It will help if a document is rejected.
Conclusion
Actual process of acquiring the UAE Police clearance certificate has been simplified and digitalized. The main thing is using the right channel; for those in Dubai it is through Dubai Police, while for the rest of the UAE it is done through the Ministry of Interior. Also, consider the purpose of the certificate and match it with the correct type. Maintain your documents in order. Finally, pay the fee once you have clarified the cost.
The greatest challenge, however, is the expiry of the certificate. It is prudent to confirm attestation if the certificate has to be sent abroad. It is always less stressful to plan for the unexpected.
It goes without saying, requirements and fees are liable to change and so it is prudent to cross check through the official websites of the Ministry of Interior and/or Dubai Police.
