A police clearance certificate — also called a good conduct certificate or criminal clearance certificate in the UAE — is proof that you have no criminal record in the country. Employers, immigration authorities and licensing bodies ask for it regularly, and the application is now almost entirely online. If you are new to the UAE, this guide explains exactly How to Apply for a Police Clearance Certificate, walking through each route step by step: the Ministry of Interior (MOI) for most emirates, Dubai Police for Dubai, and the process for applicants living outside the UAE.
The system you use depends on where your record is held. Residents of Dubai normally apply through Dubai Police, while residents of Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and the other emirates apply through the MOI. Former residents applying from abroad have a separate process that usually involves fingerprints. Read on for the full breakdown.
Quick Answer
To apply for a UAE police clearance certificate, log in with UAE Pass on the MOI website or app (all emirates except Dubai) or the Dubai Police website or app (for Dubai), choose the certificate service, upload your Emirates ID, passport and photo, pay the fee, and receive the certificate by email. Applicants outside the UAE need proof of previous residency and, in most cases, a fingerprint card attested by their local authorities and the UAE embassy. Processing is often within a few working days.
How to Apply for a Police Clearance Certificate: The Main Routes
There are three main ways to get the certificate. Pick the one that matches your situation.
Route 1: Through the MOI (All Emirates Except Dubai)
The Ministry of Interior runs the federal service, and its MOI website lists the “Issuance of Criminal Clearance Certificate” among its e-services. The process is:
- Open the MOI UAE app or the MOI website and log in with UAE Pass.
- Find the “Issuance of a Criminal Clearance Certificate” service and start it.
- Enter your details — full name, mobile number and email address.
- Choose the purpose (employment, immigration, education, licensing or other) and whether the certificate will be used inside the UAE or abroad.
- Select the certificate language — Arabic or English.
- Choose delivery by email or courier (courier carries extra charges).
- Pay the service fee by card and submit.
The certificate is usually emailed within a few working days once everything checks out.
Route 2: Through Dubai Police (For Dubai Records)
If your UAE record is in Dubai, apply through the Dubai Police app or website. Log in with UAE Pass, open the certificate services section, and select the good conduct / police clearance certificate. You will confirm your identity (usually with a one-time password), choose the purpose and language, upload your documents and pay. The certificate arrives by email and stays saved in your Dubai Police account, which makes re-downloading it later easy.
For more background on the certificate itself — what it covers, who it is issued to, and how the “good conduct” naming fits in — see our overview of the UAE police clearance certificate and our good conduct certificate guide.
Route 3: Applying from Outside the UAE
Former residents can still get a certificate, but the process has extra steps because your identity and fingerprints need to be verified from a distance. You will typically need proof of your previous UAE stay (a copy of your old residence visa or Emirates ID, even if expired), a passport copy, a recent photo, and a fingerprint card taken by the police where you currently live. That fingerprint card usually needs attestation by your country’s foreign ministry and the UAE embassy there before the application will be accepted.
Start the application on the MOI or Dubai Police portal as an outside-the-UAE applicant, upload everything, and expect longer processing — plan for a couple of weeks rather than a couple of days. If attestation sounds unfamiliar, our document attestation process guide explains how UAE attestation works in general.
In-Person Applications
If you cannot use the online channels — for example, if you have no Emirates ID and need biometric fingerprinting — you can apply in person at a police service centre. Bring your original documents, and be aware that in-person applications usually carry an additional service charge compared to applying online. Fingerprinting at the centre is what the system uses to pull your record when digital identity documents are not available.
What You Need Before You Apply
Having your documents ready makes the online application take minutes. For residents, the standard set is:
- Valid Emirates ID
- Passport copy
- Recent passport-style photograph
- Valid email address for delivery
- A debit or credit card for the fee
Former residents applying from abroad should add: proof of previous UAE residency (old visa copy, entry/exit stamps), an attested fingerprint card, and a clear statement of the certificate’s purpose. Full details for each applicant type are in our police clearance certificate requirements and documents article — check it before you start, since a missing document is the most common reason applications get delayed.
Fees and Processing Time
Fees depend on where you apply, whether the certificate is for use inside or outside the UAE, and whether you apply online or in person. As a rough guide, federal MOI fees are the lowest, Dubai Police fees are higher (with different rates for citizens, residents and applicants outside the country), and applying at a physical service centre adds roughly AED 100 on top of the online fee. Certificates for use abroad may also need attestation, which is charged separately.
Because fees are revised from time to time, treat any figure you see online as a guide and confirm the current amount on the official portal at the payment step — it is shown before you commit. Processing is usually quick for straightforward resident applications (often within a few working days, sometimes faster), while overseas applications involving fingerprints take longer. We break down typical fees and timelines in more detail elsewhere on this site, but the official portal always has the final word.
Tracking, Downloading and Verifying Your Certificate
After you submit, you will receive a reference or application number. Keep it — it is how you follow the application’s progress on the same portal where you applied. Our guide on how to check your police clearance application status shows exactly where to enter it.
Once approved, the certificate is delivered to your email and can usually be downloaded from your account on the portal as well. Save a copy in at least two places (your email and a cloud drive, for example), because employers and embassies often ask for it again months later. Step-by-step download instructions are in how to download a police clearance certificate. If an employer or authority needs to confirm the document is genuine, the certificate carries reference details they can check against the issuing portal’s records.
Using the Certificate: Validity and Attestation
A police clearance certificate does not last forever. Authorities generally want one issued recently — immigration bodies commonly expect it to be no older than three months, and some employers set their own shorter windows. If your plans slip, you may need to apply again.
For use outside the UAE, the certificate typically needs attestation: first by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and then by the embassy of the destination country. Each attestation step carries its own fee and adds a few days. Ask the receiving authority exactly what level of attestation they require before you pay for anything, since requirements vary by country and purpose.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I apply for a police clearance certificate without an Emirates ID?
Online applications generally require an Emirates ID for identity verification. Without one, you will usually need to visit a police service centre in person for fingerprinting so your record can be located.
How long is a UAE police clearance certificate valid?
There is no single printed expiry, but receiving authorities commonly require the certificate to have been issued within the last three months. Check with whoever asked for it before relying on an older certificate.
What if I lived in the UAE years ago and have no documents left?
You will need some proof of your previous stay — an old passport with UAE entry/exit stamps, a copy of a former residence visa, or an expired Emirates ID. Without any evidence of residency, the authorities may not be able to locate a record for you.
Can someone apply on my behalf?
In most cases the application is tied to your own UAE Pass identity, which makes third-party applications difficult. From abroad, some applicants use the UAE embassy or an authorized representative with a power of attorney — confirm what the portal accepts for your case.
What happens if my application is rejected or delayed?
Delays are most often caused by missing documents, unclear fingerprint cards or mismatched personal details. Re-check the requirements list, make sure your name matches your passport exactly, and contact the issuing authority’s support channel with your reference number if the status does not move.
The Bottom Line
Applying for a UAE police clearance certificate is straightforward once you use the right channel: MOI for most emirates, Dubai Police for Dubai, with a longer fingerprint-based route for former residents abroad. Get your documents in order first, confirm the current fee on the official portal, keep your reference number, and save the issued certificate somewhere you can find it again. Do that, and what looks like a bureaucratic hurdle becomes a ten-minute task.
Last Updated: 8 October 2026
About the author: Zaviyar Sultan is a UAE-focused writer at Paxi, covering driving, visas, banking, insurance and everyday UAE life. His guides are researched from official UAE government and regulator sources and updated regularly.
Paxi is an independent informational website, not affiliated with the UAE government or any agency mentioned; content is general information only, not legal, immigration or financial advice; verify critical details with official sources before acting.