At a glance
- Local name
- Good Conduct & Behaviour Certificate (PCC)
- Country
- United Arab Emirates
- Process steps
- 9
- Fee items
- 7
- Online portals
- 6
- FAQs
- 8
- Pitfalls covered
- 8
- Last verified
- 2026-06
What is Good Conduct & Behaviour Certificate (PCC) in UAE?
The Good Conduct and Behaviour Certificate, almost always called the Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) abroad, is issued by the police of each emirate and confirms that the applicant has no criminal record in the UAE during the period they were a resident. It is the standard proof required for many overseas immigration applications (Canadian permanent residence, UK skilled-worker visa, Australian visas, US adjustment of status, Schengen residence applications), for select UAE sectors (regulated education, healthcare, security, banking compliance) and for some private-sector roles where employers run background checks at hire. The certificate covers only the time you spent as a UAE resident; it does not cover periods you were a tourist or before your first Emirates ID.
Each emirate has its own issuing police authority and its own app and portal: Dubai Police (dubaipolice.gov.ae and the Dubai Police app), Abu Dhabi Police (adpolice.gov.ae and the ADP app under TAMM), Sharjah Police, Ras Al Khaimah Police, Ajman Police, Umm Al Quwain Police, and Fujairah Police. The federal Ministry of Interior's MOI UAE app aggregates services across the smaller emirates and is the simplest channel for residents of UAQ, Ajman, Fujairah and RAK. The application is the same in essence: log in with UAE Pass or the police app's own credentials, select 'Good Conduct Certificate' (the menu name varies slightly by emirate), choose the purpose and language, pay the fee, and wait 2 to 5 working days for the digital certificate.
Fees in 2026 are AED 100 for current residents through the police app for Dubai and similar for most emirates. Former residents (people who held a UAE residence visa in the past but no longer do) pay AED 200 in many emirates. MOFA attestation, if the certificate is going to be used outside the UAE, adds AED 150 per document at mofa.gov.ae. Express same-day service is available at selected centres for an extra AED 150. Total cost for a typical PCC used for overseas immigration: about AED 250 to 400 including attestation, plus translation if the receiving country needs it in a language other than Arabic or English.
Fingerprints are the one in-person step. Every UAE resident has fingerprints on file from when they first received their Emirates ID, so the vast majority of current residents complete the PCC application entirely online. Residents who never had fingerprints captured (a small group, mostly people whose Emirates ID issuance predated the current biometric system, or people whose records have been corrupted) need to attend a police station for a 10-minute capture. Former residents applying from outside the UAE typically need to provide fingerprints from a local police station in their current country, on a form that the UAE embassy accepts, which is the slowest part of an overseas PCC application and can add 2 to 4 weeks.
Language and purpose selection matter more than residents often realise. The certificate is issued in Arabic by default; an English version is available at no extra cost in Dubai and most emirates, and a few embassies require both. Some receiving countries are strict about the stated purpose: 'for immigration to Canada', 'for employment in Saudi Arabia', 'for personal use' all appear on the certificate face. A purpose-of-issuance mismatch with the receiving authority can cause rejection at the destination. Always choose the purpose that matches the application the certificate will support.
Three operational notes that catch residents out routinely: certificates do not formally expire but most receiving countries (Canada, UK, Australia, US) accept only certificates issued in the last 6 months, so timing the application close to the immigration filing date matters; a PCC application is rejected outright if there is an active criminal case on the file, and resolution of even a closed-but-pending case can take months; and the certificate covers only the issuing emirate by default in some cases, so a resident who has lived in multiple emirates may need a separate PCC from each (although a single federal aggregated PCC is increasingly the norm in 2026).
What documents do I need for Good Conduct & Behaviour Certificate (PCC)?
Bring originals AND coloured photocopies of every item. Files are rejected at counter for a single missing page or unattested certificate.
Documents required
- ✓Emirates ID (current or expired) of the applicant
- ✓Passport copy
- ✓Recent passport-size colour photo (some emirates upload from the police app gallery)
- ✓Purpose-of-issuance details (e.g., immigration to Canada, employment in Saudi Arabia, KHDA teacher registration, personal use)
- ✓Fingerprints on file at the police, or willingness to attend a station for a 10-minute capture
- ✓For former residents applying from abroad: fingerprints from a local police station on an acceptable form, plus the UAE embassy's intake forms
- ✓For overseas use: MOFA attestation through mofa.gov.ae
- ✓For non-English/non-Arabic destinations: legal translation by a UAE Ministry of Justice-licensed translator
Eligibility
- →Current or former UAE resident with an Emirates ID record
- →No active criminal case at the time of application
- →Fingerprints captured at least once in the UAE during a residency period
- →Application purpose matches the receiving authority's requirement
- →For express same-day service: attendance at a Fawri-capable police centre on the same day
How much does Good Conduct & Behaviour Certificate (PCC) cost in UAE in 2026?
Government fees current to 2026-06. All payments via the relevant portal wallet or SADAD-equivalent rail; service-centre cash counters typically charge a small extra typing fee.
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Good Conduct Certificate (current UAE resident) | 100 AED | Standard fee through the emirate's police app. AED 100 in Dubai, similar across other emirates. |
| Good Conduct Certificate (former UAE resident) | 200 AED | Some emirates charge a higher fee if the applicant no longer holds a UAE residence visa. |
| MOFA attestation | 150 AED | Required if the certificate will be used outside the UAE. Online through mofa.gov.ae or the MOFA Smart App. |
| Express same-day service | 150 AED | Same-day issuance at selected police centres. Confirm Fawri availability for the service in your emirate. |
| Legal translation (to a third language) | 80 to 150 AED | Per page. UAE Ministry of Justice-licensed translators only. |
| UAE Embassy attestation abroad (former residents) | varies AED equivalent | Required when the certificate is to be used through diplomatic channels; fees vary by country. |
| Re-issuance after typing error | 100 AED | If the issued certificate carries an error that requires a fresh issuance; some emirates correct for free if reported within 7 days. |
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How do I apply for Good Conduct & Behaviour Certificate (PCC) step by step?
The end-to-end flow for Good Conduct & Behaviour Certificate (PCC) in UAE. Total wall-clock time: 2 to 5 working days standard for the certificate itself; same day with express service at selected police centres. MOFA attestation adds the same business day. Total: about a week for a UAE-issued PCC ready for overseas use, longer if a fingerprint capture is needed or if the resident lives in an emirate with limited service centre coverage..
- 1
Open the right emirate's police app
Dubai: Dubai Police app or dubaipolice.gov.ae. Abu Dhabi: ADP app or adpolice.gov.ae, also accessible via TAMM. Sharjah: Sharjah Police app. RAK, Ajman, UAQ, Fujairah: respective emirate police app or the federal MOI UAE app. Sign in with UAE Pass for the fastest path; the police apps also accept their own credentials.
⏱ 5 minutes📍 online - 2
Find the certificate service
Search 'Good Conduct Certificate' or 'Criminal Status Certificate'. Dubai Police shows it under 'Police Certificates'; ADP shows it under 'Certificates'; MOI UAE lists it under 'Certificates & Reports'. Read the on-screen instructions for the specific emirate and confirm the latest fee and processing time.
⏱ 5 minutes📍 online - 3
Choose purpose and language
Select the intended use of the certificate: immigration to a named country, employment in a named country, personal use, or institutional (named institution). Choose the language: Arabic only, English only, or both. Some receiving authorities specifically require an English version, others an Arabic, and a few embassies want both. Mismatches can cause rejection at the destination.
⏱ 5 minutes📍 online - 4
Pay the fee
Pay AED 100 (current resident) or AED 200 (former resident) plus AED 150 for express if selected, by debit, credit, Apple Pay or Google Pay through the in-app cashier. Knowledge and innovation fees are typically rolled into the displayed amount.
⏱ 2 minutes📍 online - 5
Fingerprint capture, only if not on file
If your fingerprints are not on file at the police (mostly former residents and a small group with corrupted records), attend the nearest police station with your passport and Emirates ID for a 10-minute capture. Current residents whose Emirates ID was issued under the current biometric system almost always have fingerprints already on file and can skip this step.
⏱ 30 minutes📍 center - 6
Receive the digital certificate
The certificate is issued as a digital PDF inside the police app and emailed to the applicant. Standard processing time is 2 to 5 working days; express same-day service delivers within hours at selected centres. The certificate has a verification QR code; receiving authorities scan this to confirm authenticity directly with the issuing police.
⏱ 2 to 5 working days📍 online - 7
MOFA-attest for overseas use
If the certificate is going to be used outside the UAE, attest it through mofa.gov.ae or the MOFA Smart App for AED 150 per document. The MOFA attestation is needed before the receiving country (or the UAE embassy in that country) will accept it. Translation to a third language, if required, is done by a UAE Ministry of Justice-licensed translator before MOFA attestation.
⏱ Same day📍 online - 8
Submit to the receiving authority
Upload or submit the attested certificate to the receiving authority (Canadian IRCC, UK Home Office, Australian Department of Home Affairs, Saudi employer's Muqeem onboarding, KHDA teacher registration, etc.). Most embassies accept the digital PDF with QR code; a printed copy with original MOFA stamp is occasionally requested for in-person submissions.
⏱ Same day📍 online - 9
Re-apply if the purpose changes
If your downstream application changes (e.g., you switch from a Canadian PR application to an Australian work visa), apply for a fresh certificate with the new purpose stated. Receiving authorities are getting stricter about purpose matching, and reissuing is faster than negotiating a re-purposed older certificate.
⏱ 2 to 5 working days📍 online
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Which portal do I use for Good Conduct & Behaviour Certificate (PCC) in UAE?
These official portals handle Good Conduct & Behaviour Certificate (PCC) for UAE. Each page on Wathim has the login flow, common errors and sibling fallback when one is down.
Not the issuing authority; ICP holds the residence visa file that supports the PCC application but does not issue the certificate itself.
Portal guide →Not used for PCC issuance; Dubai's certificate runs through Dubai Police.
Portal guide →Authorised Dubai centres that submit PCC applications, MOFA attestation and the downstream overseas application package in one visit.
Portal guide →Federal SSO required to file good-conduct-certificate requests on MOI and on Dubai Police channels.
Portal guide →Abu Dhabi Police good-conduct-certificate service for AD residents.
Portal guide →Dubai Police good-conduct-certificate request, payment and status check in one wallet.
Portal guide →💡 Most Amer and Tasheel centres can submit PCC applications, MOFA attestation and the overseas application package in a single trip for AED 100 to 200 in service fees on top of the police and MOFA government fees. This is useful when the resident is packaging the certificate with attested educational and personal-status documents for an overseas immigration application (e.g., a Canadian PR file that needs PCC, attested degree, attested marriage certificate and IELTS results all submitted together). For a single domestic-use PCC, the in-app flow is faster and cheaper.
How do I renew Good Conduct & Behaviour Certificate (PCC) and what are the penalties?
PCCs do not renew because each certificate is a snapshot of the applicant's police record at the time of issue. Most overseas receiving authorities (Canada IRCC, UK Home Office, Australian Department of Home Affairs) accept certificates issued within the last 6 months for immigration applications, and a few are stricter (Australia sometimes 3 months). Plan the PCC application close to the date of submission of the downstream application to maximise the validity window. Re-applying for a fresh certificate later is straightforward and costs the same AED 100 to 200 plus attestation.
Fines & penalties
- ⚠Applying with false purpose-of-issuance details: application rejected and the fee not refunded; possible flag on the police file
- ⚠Active criminal case on the file: certificate cannot be issued until the case is closed; some closed cases take time to clear in the system
- ⚠Submitting a tampered or altered PCC abroad: receiving country can reject the entire immigration application and refer the matter to the UAE police
- ⚠Using an expired certificate (older than 6 months in most jurisdictions): rejected at the receiving authority and a fresh PCC is needed
- ⚠Submitting without MOFA attestation for overseas use: rejected by the receiving embassy or authority
- ⚠Submitting the Arabic version where English was required (or vice versa): rejected and re-issuance needed
- ⚠Forged fingerprint capture form for overseas former-resident applications: criminal offence under UAE federal identity law
What goes wrong with Good Conduct & Behaviour Certificate (PCC) applications?
These failures repeat across every Good Conduct & Behaviour Certificate (PCC) case Wathim sees in UAE. Catch them before submitting to save a counter rejection.
- !Forgetting MOFA attestation for overseas use: the certificate is issued, but the receiving authority abroad rejects it
- !Wrong language: Canada, UK, US and Australia want the English version; some Schengen countries want the Arabic version or both
- !Stale certificate: most countries want one issued within 6 months and a few (Australia) within 3 months; time the application close to the destination filing date
- !Applying as a former resident from outside the UAE without checking which emirate has your file: the application has to go through the right emirate's police, not just the federal MOI app
- !Mismatched purpose-of-issuance: a 'personal use' certificate is increasingly rejected by embassies that want a named-country purpose
- !Active or recently closed criminal case: the system will not issue until the case is cleared, and the resident often does not know about a closed case still pending in the back-end
- !Submitting the digital PDF without the QR-code-verifiable original to receiving authorities that want a wet-stamped original: a few Schengen consulates still ask
- !Re-applying multiple times in parallel: the police apps reject duplicate active applications and you may lose the original fee
Frequently asked questions about Good Conduct & Behaviour Certificate (PCC) in UAE
AED 100 for current UAE residents through the police app (Dubai Police, ADP, Sharjah Police, RAK Police, Ajman Police, the federal MOI UAE app or your relevant emirate's portal); AED 200 for former residents in many emirates. Add AED 150 for MOFA attestation if the certificate will be used outside the UAE, and AED 150 for express same-day service. Total for a typical overseas-use PCC: about AED 250 to 400.
2 to 5 working days standard; same day with express service at selected police centres for an extra AED 150. MOFA attestation, if needed, adds the same business day. The whole package (certificate plus attestation) for overseas use is typically ready within a week of starting the application, longer if a fingerprint capture is needed.
Yes, from many emirates via the police app or through the UAE embassy or consulate in your current country. Former residents typically need to provide fingerprints from a local police station on an acceptable form, plus the UAE embassy's intake forms. The overseas part of the process can add 2 to 4 weeks to the timeline. Apply through the emirate where you were last resident.
The same document. The UAE official name is the 'Good Conduct and Behaviour Certificate'; the same document is called Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) by most overseas authorities and immigration consultants. The contents and the issuing authority are identical.
It was briefly mandatory for new work permits in 2018, but the requirement was rolled back. As of 2026, PCCs are not generally required for the standard MOHRE work permit. Some specific sectors (regulated education through KHDA or ADEK, healthcare through DHA or DOH, security industry, some banking compliance roles) do require a PCC at hire. Always confirm with the employer or the sector regulator before applying.
Attest the issued PCC through mofa.gov.ae or the MOFA Smart App for AED 150 per document. The MOFA attestation gives the document a verifiable QR code that the receiving country's embassy or authority can check. Translation to a third language, if required, is done by a UAE Ministry of Justice-licensed translator before MOFA attestation.
No. The police app will reject the application if there is any open criminal case on the file. Even closed cases that have not been fully marked as resolved in the system can cause a hold. If a case appears on your file in error, you need to clear it through the police station that handled the case before applying for a PCC. This is one of the most frequent causes of stalled overseas immigration applications.
In 2026, the federally aggregated PCC issued through any emirate's police app generally covers the applicant's full UAE residency record across all emirates. A few legacy use cases still require a separate PCC from each emirate the resident lived in, particularly for older periods predating the federal record system. Receiving authorities sometimes ask explicitly; if so, apply through each relevant emirate's police app and bundle the certificates.
