UAE Phases In Police Clearance Requirement for 45 Countries – Phase 2 Takes Effect August 15
- Xavi
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
DUBAI, August 8, 2026 — The United Arab Emirates is rolling out a phased police clearance certificate requirement for employment visa applicants from 45 countries, with Phase 2 taking effect on August 15, 2026, adding Bangladesh, Nigeria, the Philippines, and eight other nationalities to the list.
The requirement, administered by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) , mandates that citizens of designated countries obtain a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) — also known as a Good Conduct Certificate — confirming they have no criminal record before applying for a UAE work visa.
Three-Phase Rollout
The ICP is implementing the requirement in three phases:
Phase | Effective Date | Countries Added |
Phase 1 | June 16, 2026 | 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 | August 15, 2026 | Bangladesh, Nigeria, Philippines, Sudan, Tunisia, Colombia, Zimbabwe, Cyprus, Albania, Mauritius, Fiji |
Phase 3 | November 15, 2026 | Belarus, China, Georgia, Iran, Mauritania, Nicaragua, Rwanda, Serbia, Seychelles, Slovenia, South Africa |
Note: The ICP has not published a single consolidated public list. The schedules above are drawn from notices circulated by free zones and registration authorities.
What the Certificate Is and Who Needs It
A Police Clearance Certificate is an official document issued by the competent police or government authority in an individual's country of nationality or residence, confirming the absence of a criminal record.
Who Must Submit
The requirement applies to:
New employment visa applications
New work entry permit applications
Who Is Exempt
The requirement does not currently apply to:
Tourist visas
Visit visas
Student visas
Dependent or family residence visas
Residence visa renewals (generally unaffected)
Attestation Requirements
The certificate must be recent — generally within three months of issue — and must go through a mandatory attestation chain:
Step | Action |
1 | Acquire the certificate from the relevant authority in the applicant's home country |
2 | Have the certificate attested by the UAE Embassy or Consulate in that country |
3 | Complete attestation with the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) |
Common Pitfall
Translation must be completed before attestation. A translation added after attestation falls outside the embassy's seal and will be rejected by the ICP. This ordering error is the single most common reason applications stall.
Special Cases
The country of attestation doesn't always correspond to the applicant's nationality. For instance:
Bhutanese nationals must have their certificate attested at the UAE Embassy in India
Gambian nationals at the UAE Embassy in Senegal
Impact on Employers and Applicants
Employers recruiting from the listed countries have been advised to factor in the additional time needed to obtain and legalise the documents ahead of visa submission. The procedure can take anywhere from several days to several weeks, depending on the country.
The requirement was first introduced in April 2026 and initially applied to citizens of 16 countries. Rather than a single public announcement, the policy spread through internal advisories, meaning many applicants learn of the requirement only when their applications are rejected.
Related News
For the latest visa updates, immigration policy changes, and 2026 developments worldwide, visit: visasupdate.com/blog/category/uae
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