Starting in June 2026, the UAE immigration authorities are gradually introducing a new requirement for UAE residence visa applicants. Citizens of certain countries will be required to submit a police clearance certificate from their country of citizenship.
- Scope: Certificates target new employment and investor visas only; renewals without gaps remain generally exempt but may still face ad hoc requests.
- Country coverage is fluid and implemented via internal ICP directives; unlisted nationalities may still be asked for a certificate without prior public notice.
- Legalisation: A full multi-step attestation chain is required, as the UAE does not accept an Apostille alone; missing stamps invalidate the certificate.
- Multiple jurisdictions: Rules may differ between ICP, GDRFA Dubai, and individual free zones, so requirements must be confirmed per emirate and licensing authority.
- Planning impact: Employers and investors must factor in added time, cost, and certificate validity (typically three months) when sequencing visa submissions.
Summary of the New Requirement
The UAE Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) has started requiring a police clearance certificate from applicants applying for employment and investor residence visas. The certificate is not required for all applicants, but only for citizens of specific countries (see below).
The police clearance certificate must be issued by the competent authority of the applicant’s country and legalised for use in the UAE. Failure to submit the certificate or defects in its execution may result in the suspension of application processing or the refusal of an UAE residence visa.
Who Needs a Police Clearance Certificate?
A police clearance certificate may primarily be required for individuals applying for:
- New UAE employment or investor visas (employees, directors, managers, and shareholders of UAE companies), and
- Entry permits for employment in the UAE.
Currently, the requirement applies only to citizens of 45 countries and is being phased in throughout 2026. It remains unclear whether more countries will be added to the list.
| Effective Date | Applicant’s Country of Citizenship |
|---|---|
|
From 16 June 2026 |
Afghanistan, Algeria, Bhutan, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Cuba, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, India, Iraq, Lebanon, Lithuania, Morocco, Mexico, Mozambique, Nepal, Pakistan, Senegal, Somalia, Syria, Tonga |
|
From 15 August 2026 |
Albania, Bangladesh, Colombia, Cyprus, Fiji, Mauritius, Nigeria, Philippines, Sudan, Tunisia, Zimbabwe |
|
From 15 November 2026 |
Belarus, China, Georgia, Iran, Mauritania, Nicaragua, Rwanda, Serbia, Seychelles, Slovenia, South Africa |
It is currently not possible to verify this list against official sources. In practice, the requirement may extend to other countries or, conversely, not apply to some of those listed.
Who Is Exempt from Submitting a Certificate?
Based on available information, the requirement does not apply to:
- Citizens of countries not listed above (subject to potential list updates);
- Applicants applying for other visa types unrelated to employment or business in the UAE (specific requirements must be confirmed on a case-by-case basis);
- Individuals renewing existing UAE employment or investor visas without a break, as the rule applies only to new applicants. However, it cannot be ruled out that authorities may request a certificate under certain circumstances.
Form and Content of the Police Clearance Certificate
A Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) is an official document issued by a competent authority indicating whether an individual has a criminal record or history of criminal prosecution in a given country. Depending on the issuing jurisdiction, it may be designated under various titles (e.g., Police Clearance Certificate, Criminal Record Check, Certificate of Good Conduct).
While the format, content, and issuance procedures are governed by the national laws of the applicant’s home country, the document must satisfy specific criteria to be accepted by UAE immigration authorities as a valid foreign public document. To meet these requirements, the certificate must be accompanied by an official translation into English or Arabic and be fully legalised (attested) for use in the UAE.
Applicants residing outside their country of citizenship may also be required to provide a Police Clearance Certificate from the country of their current or recent actual residence at the time of applying for a UAE residence visa.
Document Legalisation for Use in the UAE
The UAE requires full legalisation (not an Apostille) because it is not a party to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention. Therefore, an Apostille stamp is not sufficient.
Document legalisation in the UAE involves a consecutive authentication of a document by authorized bodies, starting with the document’s country of origin and followed by the UAE. The number of steps may vary depending on the country. However, in all cases, the certificate must be attested by the competent authority of the issuing country, followed by the UAE diplomatic mission (Embassy or Consulate) in that country, and finally undergo MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) attestation in the UAE.
Failure to follow the correct authentication chain or missing stamps will render the document invalid for use in the UAE.
Key Considerations
Lack of Official Public Announcement: The update has not been formally announced and is being implemented via internal ICP directives. Certain countries are reportedly being notified of this decision through diplomatic channels.
Fluctuating Country List: The country list – which is taking effect in three phases – is non-exhaustive. For citizens of several countries, both included and unlisted (e.g., Indonesia, Kenya, Uganda, Sri Lanka), the requirement to provide a police clearance certificate began as early as April 2026. Therefore, the absence of an applicant’s country of citizenship from the list does not guarantee that a certificate will not be required.
Jurisdictional Differences: Residence visa and entry permit applications for all emirates except Dubai are processed through the ICP. In Dubai, applications are handled by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA), whose rules and procedures may vary. Additional nuances may also arise depending on specific free zones.
Timeline and Cost Planning: UAE employers hiring staff from abroad, as well as UAE companies with foreign shareholders and directors, are advised to budget for extra time and expenses required to obtain a police clearance certificate. When planning the residence visa application process, sufficient time must be allocated for obtaining, translating, and legalising the police clearance certificate for the investor or sponsored employee.
Validity Period: It is crucial that a certificate obtained in advance does not expire before the residence visa application is submitted. Typically, a police clearance certificate remains valid for three months from its date of issuance.
How We Can Help
With extensive experience supporting UAE residence visa applications for investors, partners, and employees, our specialists can help you with:
- Determining requirements: Establishing whether a police clearance certificate is needed in your specific case, based on the applicant’s nationality, visa category, and the processing authority involved.
- Structuring the process: Mapping out the steps for obtaining, translating, attesting, and legalising the police clearance certificate in the relevant country.
- Visa processing: Securing your UAE residence visa in full compliance with all current documentation requirements.
Tags: UAE
