How to get a police clearance (good conduct) certificate in Dubai and the UAE, from the Dubai Police and Ministry of Interior service cards: base fees (from AED 100 at Dubai Police, from AED 50 at MOI), documents, applying from abroad, processing time and validity.
u.ae: "A Police Clearance Certificate (PCC), known also as 'Good Conduct Certificate' is a proof of lack of the person's criminal record. In the UAE, the certificate is issued by police departments across the UAE". This guide is built from Dubai Police's Police Clearance Certificate service card, the Ministry of Interior's Issuance of Criminal Clearance Certificate card and u.ae's justice eServices page, read on 25 October 2026.
Dubai Police or the Ministry of Interior?
Quick answer: u.ae names two routes. You can apply online "through the website of Ministry of Interior and/or their smartphone app MOI UAE", or at an MOI service centre; and "In Dubai, the service is available through the website of Dubai Police and through the Dubai Police smart app", as well as at Smart Police stations.
The two certificates differ in fee, processing time and validity (below). We suggest checking which one the embassy, employer or licensing body that asked for it will accept before you apply.
Police clearance certificate fees
| Dubai Police | Ministry of Interior (MOI) | |
|---|---|---|
| UAE citizen | AED 100 | AED 50 for use in the UAE; AED 100 for use outside the UAE |
| Resident | AED 200 | AED 50 for use in the UAE; AED 100 for use outside the UAE |
| Applying from outside the UAE | AED 300 or $88 | Not listed on the card (see below) |
| Knowledge and innovation fees | AED 20 | |
| Applying in person | + AED 100 "if applied through service centers in person" | |
| Fingerprinting (visitors and GCC citizens) | AED 50 | |
| Attestation for use abroad | AED 300 Ministry of Foreign Affairs attestation fee | |
| Processing time | 5 working days | 3 minutes ("Estimated Delivery Time") |
| Validity | "3 months from the date of issuance" | "30 days from the date of issuance" |
Sources: the Dubai Police and MOI service cards linked above. The Dubai Police English card lists the knowledge and innovation fees as AED 20; its Arabic card lists AED 10 each. MOI's Arabic card words its AED 100 fee as a request and attestation fee for use outside the UAE, next to the separate AED 300 Ministry of Foreign Affairs attestation fee. MOI says its certificate "is issued in accordance with Ministerial Decision No. (600) of 2024" and that "Certificates issued for use abroad need to be attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs". MOFA's own fee for personal documents is in our MOFA attestation glossary entry, so confirm the attestation amount when you pay.
How to apply with Dubai Police
- Channels: the Dubai Police app (iOS and Android), the Dubai Police website, the 901 call centre, Dubai Now, Smart Police Stations and police stations. Digital channels and Smart Police Stations run 24/7; police stations 7:30 am to 10:00 pm.
- Who: "Individuals (citizen - resident - visitor - outside the UAE)."
- Emirates ID: "you can apply through a valid or expired Emirates ID number". Applicants without an Emirates ID "must visit a service center during official working hours in person to have their fingerprints taken"; the English card names Al Qusais, Ports, Al Rashidiya and Jebel Ali police stations, while the Arabic card says the centre is given in a text message or email.
- Eligibility: "The applicant must not be wanted by any authority or have a criminal record, which would prevent them from obtaining the certificate."
- Missing items: the Arabic card adds that if the applicant does not respond or complete missing items within 3 months of being told about them, the application is cancelled without a refund.
- Fees: "Fees paid and non-refundable."
Dubai Police says the certificate is "to be presented to official authorities that require such certificate whether it be for the work, study, immigration, obtaining a license or other uses."
How to apply with the Ministry of Interior
- Log in: "Log in with the digital ID (UAE PASS) to request a criminal clearance certificate via the smart application or the website of the Ministry of Interior". See our UAE PASS guide if you do not have an account.
- Steps (MOI): submit the application and fill in the data; pay the fees; complete fingerprinting (for visitors and GCC citizens); receive the certificate.
- ID: citizens and residents need "an ID card issued in the UAE"; visitors and GCC nationals need a valid registered passport and must complete fingerprinting.
- Period covered: the certificate is issued "for the period of his residence (for residents) or for the period of his visit (for visitors and GCC nationals)".
- Language: "The criminal clearance certificate is issued in Arabic and English only."
- Refunds: the fee "is non-refundable after submitting the application."
Applying from outside the UAE
u.ae: "If you are no longer a resident of the UAE, you need to get your fingerprint card from the country you are residing in and have it attested by the UAE Embassy there." You then send the request online to MOI or Dubai Police with:
- the fingerprint card approved by the UAE Embassy
- two recent passport-sized photographs
- a copy of your valid passport
- a copy of your last UAE visa
- the reason for the application.
Dubai Police's card adds that an applicant abroad "must have previously entered the UAE", lists a personal photo, passport copy and copy of the previous residence visa, and charges AED 300 or $88. MOI's English FAQ says a non-resident applies "After registering as a guest user in the digital ID, then logging in to the Ministry's website with the initial digital ID and applying for the service outside the country." Its Arabic FAQ limits that route to people who had a UAE Emirates ID before leaving, and says those who left before the Emirates ID was issued must attend the service centre at the Ministry's building in person, with their residence details, a ten-print fingerprint card attested through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs channels and an approved payment card. u.ae's and MOI's descriptions differ, so confirm the route with the channel you apply through.
Documents u.ae lists
u.ae lists a valid Emirates ID card, "a letter from the beneficiary stating that he/she does not have any pending criminal convictions", a recent passport-size photograph and a copy of the passport. The Dubai Police and MOI service cards do not list that letter, so follow the card of the channel you use.
For employers
Both cards describe the applicant as the individual (Dubai Police: "Individuals"), applying through UAE PASS or with their Emirates ID number; neither describes an employer applying on someone's behalf. If a licence, visa or client contract you are working on asks for one, note that Dubai Police's certificate is valid for 3 months and MOI's for 30 days, so time the request close to submission. For the employee's other files, see our Emirates ID guide and visa services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I get a police clearance certificate in Dubai? A: Through the Dubai Police app or website, Dubai Now, a Smart Police Station or a police station, using a valid or expired Emirates ID number. Applicants without an Emirates ID give fingerprints in person at a police station; the Arabic card says the centre is given by text message or email (Dubai Police).
Q: How much is a police clearance certificate in Dubai? A: Dubai Police lists AED 100 for citizens, AED 200 for residents and AED 300 or $88 from outside the UAE; the card also lists AED 20 knowledge and innovation fees, and AED 100 more if you apply in person at a service centre. MOI's certificate is AED 50 for use in the UAE and AED 100 for use outside it.
Q: How long does a police clearance certificate take? A: Dubai Police lists 5 working days. MOI lists an estimated delivery time of 3 minutes.
Q: How long is a police clearance certificate valid? A: Dubai Police says 3 months from the date of issuance; MOI says 30 days from the date of issuance.
Q: Can I get a UAE police clearance certificate from outside the UAE? A: Yes. u.ae says to get a fingerprint card in your country of residence, have it attested by the UAE Embassy, and apply online to MOI or Dubai Police with photos, your passport copy, your last UAE visa and the reason. Dubai Police charges AED 300 or $88 and requires that you entered the UAE before.
Q: Is a good conduct certificate the same as a police clearance certificate? A: Yes. u.ae says the Police Clearance Certificate is "known also as 'Good Conduct Certificate'"; MOI calls its version a Criminal Clearance Certificate.
Q: Do I need UAE PASS for a police clearance certificate? A: For MOI, yes: its card says to log in with UAE PASS on the MOI app or website. Dubai Police's card says "you can apply through a valid or expired Emirates ID number".
Q: Does an MOI police clearance certificate need attestation for use abroad? A: MOI says certificates issued for use abroad need Ministry of Foreign Affairs attestation, and its card lists an AED 300 attestation fee.
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