A step-by-step, country-by-country reference for attesting your Police Clearance Certificate (also called a Certificate of Good Conduct, Police Clearance Report, or Good Conduct Certificate) for use in the United Arab Emirates.
Informational content only. KDHA PRIVE FZC LLC is not a government authority, embassy, consulate, or authorized attestation agency. This page is published for general knowledge and awareness purposes only. It does not replace, override, or guarantee the official requirements, fees, processing times, or procedures set by any government, embassy, consulate, or ministry. Always confirm current requirements directly with the relevant issuing authority, embassy, consulate, or the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs before relying on any information here.
A Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) — known in different countries as a Certificate of Good Conduct, Police Clearance Report, Certificate of No Criminal Record, or simply a good conduct certificate — has become a mandatory document for nationals of certain countries applying for residency, employment, or family visas in the UAE. A PCC alone is not enough: it typically needs to pass through several layers of official attestation before UAE authorities will accept it.
On this page
What is a PCC / Certificate of Good Conduct?
A Police Clearance Certificate is an official document issued by a police authority, criminal records bureau, or equivalent government body, confirming whether an individual has any criminal record on file at the time of issuance. Different countries use different names for what is functionally the same document:
- Certificate of Good Conduct — common term used across parts of Africa, Europe, and the Gulf
- Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) — used widely across South Asia, the Philippines, and the Gulf
- Certificate of No Criminal Record — common in Europe and parts of the CIS region
- Police Clearance Report / Background Clearance Certificate — used in some Southeast Asian and African jurisdictions
Regardless of the name on the document, if it’s being submitted for a UAE visa or residency application, it generally needs to go through the same attestation chain described below.
The Attestation Steps, Explained
Step 1 — Obtain the PCC / Good Conduct Certificate in your home country
Apply through your national police authority, criminal records bureau, or the relevant passport/immigration office. Requirements, in-person presence rules, and turnaround times vary by country.
Step 2 — Attestation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (or equivalent) in your home country
Before any embassy will act on the document, your home country’s foreign affairs ministry — or in many cases a state, provincial, or regional authority first — must certify that the certificate and the signature on it are genuine. This intermediate step is the one most frequently skipped or misunderstood, and skipping it is the single most common reason PCC attestation gets delayed.
Step 3 — UAE Embassy or Consulate attestation (true copy)
Once your home country’s foreign ministry has certified the document, it goes to the UAE Embassy or Consulate located in your country of issuance. They stamp it to confirm they recognize the prior attestation and that it’s ready for use in the UAE.
Step 4 — Final attestation by UAE MOFA
The final stage is completed by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MOFAIC) through their official online portal. Applications generally require a UAE Pass login.
👉 Official portal: mofa.gov.ae/en/services/attestation
Country-by-Country: PCC Issuing & Foreign Affairs Attestation Authorities
The table below lists the typical issuing authority and the foreign affairs body responsible for the pre-embassy attestation step for a range of nationalities commonly processing PCC / Certificate of Good Conduct attestation for the UAE.
| Country | PCC / Good Conduct Issuing Authority | Foreign Affairs Attestation Authority |
|---|---|---|
| India | Regional Passport Office / State Police | State Home Department (or SDM) → Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) |
| Philippines | National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) | Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) — Apostille |
| Pakistan | Police / NADRA-linked verification | Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Pakistan) |
| Bangladesh | Police Special Branch | Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Bangladesh) |
| Nepal | Nepal Police | Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Nepal) |
| Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka Police (CID) | Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Sri Lanka) |
| Egypt | Ministry of Interior | Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Egypt) |
| Jordan | Public Security Directorate | Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Jordan) |
| Lebanon | Internal Security Forces | Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants |
| Syria | Ministry of Interior | Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
| Yemen | Ministry of Interior | Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
| Sudan | Ministry of Interior | Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
| Morocco | Sûreté Nationale / Gendarmerie | Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation |
| Tunisia | Ministry of Interior | Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
| Algeria | Ministry of Interior | Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
| Nigeria | Nigeria Police Force | Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Nigeria) |
| Kenya | Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) | Ministry of Foreign & Diaspora Affairs |
| Ethiopia | Federal Police Commission | Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
| Ghana | Ghana Police Service (CID) | Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration |
| South Africa | South African Police Service (SAPS) | Department of International Relations & Cooperation (DIRCO) |
| Uganda | Uganda Police Force | Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
| China | Local Public Security Bureau (PSB) | Ministry of Foreign Affairs (China) |
| Indonesia | POLRI (National Police) | Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemlu) |
| Iran | Police (NAJA) | Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
| Afghanistan | Ministry of Interior | Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
| Russia | Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) | Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
| Ukraine | Ministry of Internal Affairs | Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
| United Kingdom | ACRO Criminal Records Office | FCDO Legalisation Office |
| United States | FBI (via Channeler) / State-level | US Department of State — Authentications Office |
| Canada | RCMP | Global Affairs Canada |
| Australia | AFP (Australian Federal Police) | Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) |
| Germany | Bundeszentralregister (Federal Office of Justice) | Federal Foreign Office / Regional authority |
| France | Casier Judiciaire National | Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs |
| Italy | Casellario Giudiziale | Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
| Turkey | Turkish National Police | Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
| Vietnam | Ministry of Public Security | Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
| Thailand | Royal Thai Police | Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
Common Mistakes That Cause Rejection or Delay
- Skipping the home-country foreign ministry step. UAE embassies will not attest a PCC that hasn’t first been certified by the issuing country’s own foreign affairs authority.
- Expired documents. Most Police Clearance Certificates are only valid for 3–6 months from issuance. If the attestation chain takes too long, the certificate may need to be reissued.
- Missing certified translation. If the certificate isn’t in English or Arabic, a certified translation is required before embassy attestation — not after.
- Assuming an Apostille is sufficient on its own. Some countries issue Apostilled documents under the Hague Convention, but the UAE still requires UAE Embassy attestation and final UAE MOFA attestation regardless of Apostille status.
A Caution About Agents and “Service Providers”
Important: For most countries, the Police Clearance Certificate / Certificate of Good Conduct requires the applicant to be physically present — for fingerprinting, biometric verification, or in-person identity checks — at the time the police carry out the background verification. This step generally cannot be completed by a third party on your behalf.
If you come across an agent, consultant, or “service provider” offering to obtain your PCC or complete your police verification entirely on your behalf without your presence, treat this as a red flag. Please be cautious of being scammed, and verify any claims directly with the official issuing authority in your home country before paying for or relying on such a service.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a Police Clearance Certificate and a Certificate of Good Conduct?
Functionally, they are the same type of document — an official record confirming whether a person has any criminal record. The name used simply depends on the issuing country: “Police Clearance Certificate” is common in South Asia and the Gulf, while “Certificate of Good Conduct” is more common in parts of Africa and Europe.
Is a PCC required for every nationality applying for a UAE visa?
No. The requirement applies to certain nationalities and certain visa categories, and the list can change. Always confirm current requirements with your visa sponsor, employer, or the relevant UAE authority before assuming whether a PCC is required in your specific case.
How long does full PCC attestation for the UAE take?
Timelines vary significantly by country, and depend on how quickly each stage — issuance, home-country foreign ministry attestation, UAE Embassy attestation, and final UAE MOFA attestation — is completed. There is no single fixed timeline across all nationalities.
Can someone else obtain my PCC or attend the police verification for me?
In most countries, no. Police clearance verification typically requires the applicant’s physical presence for fingerprinting or biometric checks. Be cautious of any party claiming they can complete this step for you without your presence.
How long is an attested PCC valid for use in the UAE?
Validity periods vary, but most Police Clearance Certificates and Certificates of Good Conduct are treated as valid for 3–6 months from their date of issuance. Confirm the exact validity window with the authority requesting the document.
Does an Apostille replace the need for UAE Embassy and MOFA attestation?
No. Even if your home country issues an Apostilled document under the Hague Apostille Convention, the UAE still generally requires UAE Embassy attestation in the issuing country followed by final attestation from the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Where do I complete the final UAE MOFA attestation step?
Through the official UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MOFAIC) online portal or smart application, generally requiring a UAE Pass login.
