Getting A UAE Police Clearance Certificate – The Complete Guide

If you previously lived in the United Arab Emirates and have since relocated to a new country, you will likely need to provide a UAE Police Clearance Certificate for your new residence permit or work visa. Obtaining these from overseas can be a pain, but it doesn’t have to be complicated, as our Dubai team provides all the information you’ll need.

When would I require a Police Clearance Certificate?

You could require a Police Clearance Certificate if you are applying for a new position in the UAE, but you may also be in need of this document if you have moved overseas. It is becoming increasingly common to be required to provide police and background checks for your job application. This is certainly the case in job roles which involve high security, such as banking, or access to children and vulnerable adults.

You will likely need to provide at least several years of background checks. Depending on how long you were residing in the Emirates, you may need to provide more than one certificate if this period does not cover the time frame required. This will be advised by your employer.

What documents would I need to supply for the certificate?

Each Emirate deals with these clearances differently. If you resided in Dubai, you will not be required to return to the UAE for your PCC to be issued. Since the end of the 2019, it is no longer a requirement to provide fingerprints as part of your application. Previously, this was only required if you were not in possession of an Emirates ID. This recent change makes it much easier for applicants to have a third party request this document on their behalf.

To apply for a PCC in Dubai, the following documents will be required:

• Passport Copy for Applicant
• Visa Cancellation page for Applicant (if you have since left the UAE)
• 1 x Scan Copy Passport Photograph
• Confirmation of Language Certificate is required in (Arabic or English)
• Confirmation of who the document is being presented to
• Emirates ID

Once this document has been issued, it is only valid for 3 months. If you are using the document outside of the UAE, it is likely you will require legalisation for the document in the form of a MoFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) stamp.

How long does it take for all the stages to be completed?

To have the police document issued takes roughly 3-5 days, depending on the speed of the Police Department in Dubai. Again, the timeframe will vary in each Emirate. Once this has been issued, the MoFA can be applied which can be processed within the same working day.

The MoFA stamp must be applied for in person, and you are unable to have this completed via any other means (post, for example). An appointment is not required, but the queuing works on a ticketing system. This can involve lots of waiting around, especially during peak times! If you are attending, be sure to leave plenty of time to have this stage completed.

Can I get help with applying for my PCC?

If you require your PCC from Dubai and returning for this yourself isn’t feasible, Vital Consular can help. We can apply for the clearance on your behalf, and once it’s ready we will collect it from the Police Department and have the MoFA stamp applied, before couriering it to you anywhere in the world.

Simply visit our site and request a personalised quotation based on your requirements. You can also give us a call directly on +44 (0) 330 088 1142, send us a message via WhatsApp on mobile, use our live chat system, or e-mail us at sales@vitalconsular.com. Our friendly team of specialists are on hand to answer all of your queries.