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Police clearance certificate in Dubai

A police clearance certificate, also called a good conduct certificate, is issued by the Ministry of Interior (MOI) or Dubai Police and shows whether you have a criminal record in the UAE. We help you prepare and submit the application, then arrange attestation and translation if the certificate will be used abroad.

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Overview

What a police clearance certificate shows

A police clearance certificate confirms whether the person named on it has a criminal record in the UAE. Employers, universities, immigration offices and licensing bodies ask for it as proof of good conduct, most often when you apply for a job, a course, residence in another country or a professional license.

Two authorities issue it: the Ministry of Interior and Dubai Police. Both take applications online, through their websites and smart apps, and both have in-person service points. The certificate can be issued in Arabic or English, and the fee depends on factors such as the language, your nationality and where you currently live.

You can apply while you live in the UAE or after you have left. Former residents apply online and need a fingerprint card from the police in the country where they now live, attested by the UAE embassy there. We help you work out which route fits, prepare the application and submit it with you.

Who it's for

Who it's for

  • 01

    UAE residents

    Anyone living in the UAE who needs proof of good conduct for a new job, a professional license, a course of study or a visa for another country.

  • 02

    Former residents abroad

    People who have left the UAE and need a certificate covering their time here for immigration or employment overseas.

  • 03

    Employers and HR teams

    Companies asking new hires for certificates who want one clear process their staff can follow, with attestation handled in the same place.

Our part

What we do, and what we don't

Clear boundaries, so you know exactly what you're paying for and who decides each step.

Included

  • Confirming whether an MOI or Dubai Police certificate suits the body that asked for it
  • Checking your documents, photo and personal details before you apply
  • Completing and submitting the application with you through the chosen channel
  • Explaining the fingerprint card process if you live outside the UAE
  • Arranging Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) attestation when the certificate will be used abroad
  • Certified translation into another language where the receiving country needs it
  • Following up and letting you know when the certificate is ready

Not included

  • Deciding whether a certificate is issued or what it says
  • Removing, settling or disputing records held by the police
  • Advice on criminal cases, travel bans or pending charges
  • Taking fingerprints: for applicants abroad, the local police do this
  • Signing in to your UAE PASS or police app account for you
Documents

Documents you'll need

  • Passport copy, with your current or previous UAE residence visa
  • Emirates ID, if you hold or held one
  • A recent personal photo
  • For applicants abroad: a fingerprint card from your local police, attested by the UAE embassy in that country
  • Details of where the certificate will be used and the language you need
  • A mobile number and email address for notifications

The issuing authority may ask for extra documents depending on your residence status and the purpose of the certificate.

Fees and timing

Two fees, shown separately

  • Government fees, paid at cost

    Certificate fees are set by MOI or Dubai Police and vary with factors such as language, nationality and place of residence. They are paid at cost, as are MOFA attestation fees where needed, and listed separately from our service fee.

  • Global Sky PRO service fee

    Quoted in writing before we start, so you know the full cost up front.

  • Timing

    The issuing authority sets the processing time and shows it on its service card. For applicants abroad, getting and attesting the fingerprint card is usually the longest stage, and attestation adds time if the certificate is going overseas.

Process

How it works, step by step

Each step shows who does what, so you always know where things stand.

  • You
  • Global Sky PRO
  • Authority

  1. Step 1: Tell us the purpose

    You

    Share where the certificate will be used, which language the receiving body wants and whether you live in the UAE now.

  2. Step 2: Choose the route and check documents

    Global Sky PRO

    We confirm whether an MOI or Dubai Police application fits, check your documents and explain the fingerprint card steps if you are abroad.

  3. Step 3: Prepare and submit the application

    Global Sky PRO

    We complete the application with you and submit it through the website, app or service point. Where the service needs your personal sign-in, you log in and we guide you.

  4. Step 4: Police review and issue

    Authority

    MOI or Dubai Police check their records and decide whether to issue the certificate. The fee is paid when the application is made.

  5. Step 5: Attest and translate if needed

    Global Sky PRO

    For use abroad, we arrange MOFA attestation and, where the receiving country asks for it, certified translation.

  6. Step 6: Send it on

    You

    You receive the certificate through the channel you applied with, ready to pass to the employer, university or embassy that asked for it.

Good to know

Details that save time

Using the certificate outside the UAE

A certificate going to another country usually has to be attested before it is accepted there. For UAE-issued documents, the route starts with the issuing authority and then moves to MOFA.

The UAE is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so a UAE certificate cannot be apostilled. The receiving country may also ask for legalisation by its own embassy. We check what your destination requires before you apply, so the certificate is issued in the right language and attested once.

MOI or Dubai Police: how to decide

Both authorities issue police clearance certificates, and both accept applications from current and former residents. The deciding factor is usually what the organisation asking for the certificate specifies, so read their instructions first.

If the instructions name a particular issuer, follow them exactly. If they simply ask for a UAE police clearance certificate, we talk you through the practical differences between the two channels for your situation before you pay any fee.

Common reasons for delays

Most delays can be avoided with a quick check before you apply.

  • Name spellings that differ between passport, visa and application
  • A fingerprint card that has not been attested by the UAE embassy
  • Choosing a certificate language the receiving country does not accept
  • Starting attestation before checking the destination's rules
FAQs

Police clearance certificate: your questions

Short answers here. Your situation may differ, so ask us before you decide.

Still have a question?

An adviser replies during opening hours, Mon–Sat 10:00–21:00.

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How do I get a police clearance certificate in Dubai?

Apply to Dubai Police or the Ministry of Interior (MOI), online through their website or app, or at a service point. You provide your identity and residence details, choose the certificate language and pay the fee. The police check their records and decide whether to issue it. We help you prepare and submit the application, and arrange attestation if needed.

Can I apply for a police clearance certificate online?

Yes. Both the Ministry of Interior and Dubai Police accept online applications through their websites and smart apps. Applicants who have left the UAE also apply online, attaching a fingerprint card from their local police that has been attested by the UAE embassy in that country. In-person service points remain available for those who prefer them.

Who issues it: Dubai Police or MOI?

Both do. The UAE's official government portal lists the Ministry of Interior and Dubai Police as issuers of the police clearance, or good conduct, certificate. Which one you use often depends on what the receiving employer, university or embassy asks for. We check their instructions with you before you apply, so you request the right certificate.

Does it need attestation for use abroad?

Usually, yes. A UAE certificate used in another country is normally attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after it is issued, and the destination may ask for further legalisation. The UAE is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so an apostille is not an option. We confirm the steps your destination needs before you start.

Can I apply after leaving the UAE?

Yes. Former residents can apply online to the Ministry of Interior or Dubai Police. You need a fingerprint card issued by the police in the country where you now live, attested by the UAE embassy there, along with your identity documents. We explain each step and help you put the application together remotely.

How much does a police clearance certificate cost in the UAE?

The fee depends on the certificate language, your nationality and where you currently live, according to the UAE government portal, and the exact amount is shown on the issuing authority's service card and at payment. The Ministry of Interior (MOI) and Dubai Police each set their own fees. If the certificate is going abroad, attestation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs carries its own fee. Government fees are paid at cost, and our service fee is quoted separately in writing.

Source: u.ae: police clearance certificate

What is a police clearance certificate used for in the UAE?

A police clearance certificate is used to prove good conduct for work, study, immigration, obtaining licenses and other official purposes, according to the UAE government portal. Employers, universities, embassies and licensing bodies ask for it to confirm whether you have a criminal record in the UAE. It is issued in Arabic or English, so pick the language the receiving organisation accepts. We help you apply through the right channel and arrange attestation if it is going abroad.

Source: u.ae: police clearance certificate

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Global Sky PRO is not a law firm and does not give legal advice or court representation. We prepare, type and translate your documents and guide you through filing; for representation, please consult a licensed advocate. Last reviewed 31 October 2026 by the Global Sky PRO team.

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