In This Guide
- Quick answer: check your nationality, then act now if Phase 1 applies
- The 45 countries: which phase applies to your nationality
- Which visa types are affected and which are not
- How to get the Police Clearance Certificate from your home country
- The attestation chain: three steps between your PCC and the ICP counter
- The most common rejection: translating after attestation
- How long does the whole process take — and when to start
- UAE-issued Criminal Clearance Certificate: a different document for different purposes
Quick answer: check your nationality, then act now if Phase 1 applies
Effective 16 June 2026, the UAE Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) requires nationals of 45 countries to submit an attested Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) — also called a Good Conduct Certificate — when applying for a new employment visa or work entry permit. The rule is being rolled out in three phases; if your nationality is in Phase 1, the requirement is already live.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Who announced it | UAE ICP (Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security) |
| Phase 1 effective date | 16 June 2026 (already in force) |
| Phase 2 effective date | 15 August 2026 |
| Phase 3 effective date | 15 November 2026 |
| Total countries affected | 45 |
| Visas affected | New employment visas and new work entry permits only |
| Visas NOT affected | Tourist, visit, student, dependent, and family residence visas |
| Where to get the PCC | Competent authority in your home country (police, national bureau, or equivalent) |
| Critical order of steps | Translate first, then attest — never attest first, then translate |
The rest of this guide covers the full country list, what counts as a valid PCC, the exact attestation chain, and the translation-order mistake that causes most rejections at the ICP counter. For background on the UAE residence visa process more broadly, see the UAE residency visa services page.
The 45 countries: which phase applies to your nationality
ICP published the list in three tranches. Nationals already living and working in the UAE on existing visas are generally not affected by mid-cycle renewals, but anyone applying for a new employment visa or new work entry permit from the dates below must submit an attested PCC. Check the official ICP portal or the UAE Embassy in your home country for any updates, as the list may be revised.
Phase 1 — Effective 16 June 2026 (23 nationalities)
| Country | Country | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | Algeria | Bhutan |
| Bulgaria | Cameroon | Cuba |
| Egypt | Ethiopia | Gambia |
| Ghana | India | Iraq |
| Lebanon | Lithuania | Mexico |
| Morocco | Mozambique | Nepal |
| Pakistan | Senegal | Somalia |
| Syria | Tonga |
Phase 2 — Effective 15 August 2026 (11 nationalities)
| Country | Country | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Albania | Bangladesh | Colombia |
| Cyprus | Fiji | Mauritius |
| Nigeria | Philippines | Sudan |
| Tunisia | Zimbabwe |
Phase 3 — Effective 15 November 2026 (11 nationalities)
| Country | Country | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Belarus | China | Georgia |
| Iran | Mauritania | Nicaragua |
| Rwanda | Serbia | Seychelles |
| Slovenia | South Africa |
Your nationality is not on any of the three lists? The PCC requirement does not currently apply to you for UAE work visas. That may change in a future phase, so check the ICP website before filing any new work entry permit application.
Which visa types are affected and which are not
ICP has been precise about scope. The requirement applies only to certain visa categories, which means a large number of UAE residents are unaffected by this particular rule change — even if their nationality is on the list above.
| Application type | PCC required? |
|---|---|
| New employment visa (work entry permit) | Yes |
| Tourist visa (including e-visa and visa on arrival) | No |
| Visit visa | No |
| Student visa | No |
| Dependent / family residence visa | No |
| Investor or partner visa | Confirm with ICP — not currently listed |
| Golden Visa | Confirm with ICP — separate track |
The rule also applies only to new applications. If you are already on a valid employment residence visa in the UAE and are simply renewing an existing visa inside the country, this requirement does not currently apply to your renewal. However, if you leave the UAE and are re-entering on a new work entry permit, the PCC will be required if your nationality is in a triggered phase. Always confirm the current scope directly with your employer's PRO or the ICP portal before filing.
How to get the Police Clearance Certificate from your home country
Every country has its own issuing authority and its own name for the document. The requirement is the same regardless of what it is called: an official certificate from a government authority confirming you have no criminal record (or disclosing what is on record). Common names include Good Conduct Certificate, Certificate of Good Character, Criminal Record Certificate, Police Certificate, or National Police Clearance.
The issuing authority varies by country:
- India: Local police station or online through the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Passport Seva portal
- Pakistan: National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) online or in-person
- Egypt: Egyptian Ministry of Interior (MOI) / Criminal Record Department
- Philippines: Philippine National Police (PNP) Clearance Centre online at pnpclearance.ph
- Nepal: Nepal Police Headquarters (Naxal, Kathmandu) or District Police Office
- Ghana / Nigeria / Ethiopia / others: National Police Service, Criminal Investigations Department, or equivalent
Processing times vary widely — from a few days (online-first countries like the Philippines) to four to eight weeks (countries with manual in-person systems). If you need to travel to the UAE on a specific date, start this process at least two months before your planned departure to allow time for both home-country issuance and UAE attestation.
Important: most PCCs are issued for the applicant in their home country. If you are already outside your home country and cannot travel back, check whether your home country's embassy in the UAE (or another GCC country where you are resident) can accept the application. Many do, but processing times are often longer and there may be specific forms to file.
The attestation chain: three steps between your PCC and the ICP counter
A raw PCC issued by your home country authority is not accepted by ICP on its own. It must go through an attestation chain to be recognised in the UAE. The chain has three stages, and they must be completed in this exact order:
-
Translation (if the document is not in Arabic or English)
Have the PCC translated into Arabic or English by a certified legal translator. This must happen before attestation — see the warning in the next section. -
Attestation by the UAE Embassy or Consulate in your home country
Take the original PCC (and its certified translation, if applicable) to the UAE Embassy or Consulate General in your home country and have them attest it. This is the UAE government's confirmation that the issuing authority is genuine. Fees and appointment availability vary by location. -
Attestation by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) — if required
After you arrive in the UAE, some application routes require a further MoFA attestation stamp inside the UAE. Your employer's PRO or the ICP application portal will tell you whether this step is needed for your specific case. The MoFA attestation can be done at MoFA offices in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, or through the UAE Pass app on select document types.
| Stage | Who does it | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Translation | Certified legal translator | Home country (or abroad) |
| 2. UAE Embassy attestation | UAE Embassy / Consulate | Home country |
| 3. MoFA attestation (if required) | UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs | Inside UAE |
Confirm the exact steps for your specific nationality and visa category with your employer's PRO or the ICP portal before filing. Requirements can differ slightly by nationality and emirate of visa issuance.
The most common rejection: translating after attestation
This is the mistake that causes the most delays at the ICP counter and it is entirely preventable. The rule is simple but counterintuitive:
Always translate the PCC before it is attested. Never attest first, then translate.
Here is why. When the UAE Embassy or Consulate attests your PCC, their seal and signature cover exactly the document in front of them at the time of attestation. If you later take the attested certificate to a translator and get a translation, that translation is a new, separate document — one that carries no attestation. ICP sees an attested original and an unattested translation and rejects the packet, because the translation has not been verified by any official authority.
The correct sequence is:
- Obtain the PCC from your home country authority.
- If the PCC is not in Arabic or English, have it translated by a certified translator in your home country.
- Take both the original PCC and the certified translation to the UAE Embassy. The Embassy attests both together, so the translation is covered by the same attestation seal.
- Bring the attested original and the attested translation to the UAE with your other visa documents.
Some UAE Embassies also accept documents that have already been attested by the home country's own Ministry of Foreign Affairs (home MOFA) before coming to the UAE Embassy. Ask the UAE Embassy specifically whether they require home-country MOFA attestation first — the answer varies by country.
How long does the whole process take — and when to start
The total time depends almost entirely on how fast your home country issues its PCC. UAE Embassy attestation once you have the document is usually one to five working days. Plan backwards from your intended UAE start date:
| Stage | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Home country PCC issuance | 3 days – 8 weeks (varies enormously by country) |
| Certified translation (if needed) | 1–5 working days |
| UAE Embassy attestation in home country | 1–5 working days (appointment dependent) |
| UAE MoFA attestation inside UAE (if required) | 1–3 working days |
| Total (typical) | 3–10 weeks |
Recommended: start at least 8 weeks before your intended UAE employment start date if your home country has a slower manual process. For online-first systems (Philippines, India MEA portal), 4 weeks is usually comfortable. Confirm timelines with the relevant authority in your home country — delays during peak periods and public holidays are common.
UAE-issued Criminal Clearance Certificate: a different document for different purposes
Separate from the home-country PCC requirement above, the UAE Ministry of Interior (MOI) issues its own Criminal Clearance Certificate (CCC) for UAE residents or former residents. This is the document you need when a foreign country (or a UAE authority) asks you to prove your UAE record is clean — for example when applying for a visa to a third country, for a job reference check, or for certain professional licence renewals inside the UAE.
Key facts about the UAE Criminal Clearance Certificate:
- Issued by the UAE Ministry of Interior through the ICP portal or via Amer centres in Dubai
- Valid for 30 days from the date of issuance — time your application carefully
- Can be applied for online through the ICP website or the UAE Pass app
- Requires valid Emirates ID or passport (for former residents)
- Fees and processing times are published on the ICP eServices portal; confirm before filing
This UAE-issued certificate is not a substitute for the home-country PCC that ICP is now requiring from the 45 listed nationalities. They are two different documents serving two different purposes. The new rule requires your home country's record, not the UAE's record of you.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are already inside the UAE on a valid employment residence visa and are renewing it in the normal course, the PCC requirement does not currently apply to your renewal. The requirement applies to new employment visa applications and new work entry permits. If you leave the UAE and need a new work entry permit to return to a new job, you will need to get the attested PCC at that point. Always confirm with your employer's PRO before any visa-related travel.
Yes, start now. Getting a PCC from your home country can take up to eight weeks in some countries, and the UAE Embassy attestation appointment can have its own wait. If your intended UAE start date is in August or September 2026, you need to have started the home-country application by early to mid-July at the latest. Do not wait until August 15.
Many home-country embassies in the UAE accept PCC applications from their nationals living abroad, but the process, fees, and timelines vary widely. Contact your home country's embassy in Abu Dhabi or Dubai directly to ask whether they handle PCC applications, what documents they require, and what the typical processing time is. Some embassies forward the application to the national police authority and the wait can be longer than applying in person at home.
ICP will reject the application because the translation is not covered by the attestation seal. The UAE Embassy attests only what is presented to them on the day of attestation — if the translation is produced afterwards, it is a separate, unattested document. You would need to go back to the UAE Embassy with both the original and the translation and start the attestation stage again. Avoid this by always translating before attesting.
There is no single universal answer — it depends on what the issuing country's authority stamps on the certificate and what ICP accepts. Many PCCs are considered valid for three to six months from the date of issuance. The UAE's own Criminal Clearance Certificate is valid for 30 days. To be safe, time your home-country PCC application so the certificate is not more than three months old by the time you submit your UAE visa application. Confirm the accepted validity window with the ICP portal or your employer's PRO before filing.
For now, yes — the PCC requirement does not apply to nationalities not on the published list. However, ICP has not indicated that the list is final. Additional phases or additional countries could be added in future. Check the ICP website before any new employment visa application, especially if your country has been mentioned in regional immigration news.
Domestic worker visas and certain other sponsored visa categories may have different requirements managed through the Tadbeer system or MOHRE rather than the standard ICP employment entry permit route. The published rule refers specifically to employment visas and work entry permits processed through ICP. Confirm the specific requirement for domestic worker categories with MOHRE or the relevant Tadbeer centre.
Stuck on a Government Service Step?
Wathim publishes free plain-English guides to GCC visas, IDs, driving licences, attestation, and fines. If a fee table looks off or a step is missing, tell us and we will update the guide. You can also book a free guidance call with our GCC services desk.
Wathim Editorial
GCC Services Desk
The Wathim team writes plain-English guides to GCC government services. We track ICP, GDRFA, MOHRE, Absher, Muqeem, Qiwa, Metrash, LMRA, ROP Oman, and MOI Kuwait so expats can plan visa, residency, ID, and licence steps without guesswork.
