Dubai: Are you applying for a visit visa to a country you’ve never been to before, or getting verified for a new job?
In Dubai, you will need a police clearance certificate, which verifies the holder has not been involved in any unlawful actions during time spent in the UAE. However, if you are a resident of other emirates – Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah or Umm Al Quwain – you can use the Ministry of Interior’s (MOI) online portal to get a criminal clearance certificate, which serves the same purpose.
Why do I need the certificate?
Like a Dubai Police-issued police clearance certificate, the ‘criminal clearance certificate’ is commonly required for employment, immigration, visa applications, company licensing, renting property, adopting children and marriage.
Applicants seeking residency in countries like Canada, Australia or the UK, must provide this certificate for every country in which, they have resided. Within the UAE, it may be required for certain visa changes, or when applying for long-term residency categories.
Can I apply for the certificate even if I’m no longer a UAE resident?
According to the MOI website, a relative or friend of a former resident can submit a request for the certificate in person, at the General Directorate of the Federal Criminal Police at the Ministry of Interior, or the General Department of Criminal Security at the Ministry of Interior.
The following documents are required to apply:
- Copy of the applicant’s passport.
- Copy of the applicant’s old residence permit.
- Copy of the applicant’s Emirates ID.
- Two personal photographs.
What documents do I need to apply for the certificate online?
No special documents are required for UAE residents besides the Emirates ID and a valid passport.
However, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) citizens and visitors to the UAE are required to complete a fingerprinting procedure before the certificate is issued. Biometrics collection can be done at authorised service centres, like Tasheel, available across the UAE, or at Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP) Customer Happiness Centres.
Once processed, the criminal clearance certificate is issued in Arabic and English, and is valid for 30 days from the date of issuance.
How to apply for the criminal clearance certificate
If you are based in the UAE, you can apply for the certificate online through the following steps:
- Visit MOI’s website – moi.gov.ae – or download the MOI UAE app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. Sign in using your UAE PASS.
- Click on ‘Services’. Under ‘Police Services’, select ‘Issuance of Criminal Clearance Certificate’.
- Fill out the form with your personal details, including full name, and passport information.
- Specify whether you wish to use the certificate in the UAE or a foreign country. If it is the latter, note that you will also need to have the certificate attested – you can do so via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ (MOFA) attestation services.
- Specify the purpose of the certificate, such as immigration, work, study, and so on.
- Pay the fees and select whether you would like to get the certificate couriered to you, issued digitally, or would like for it to be collected in person. If you select in-person pick-up, you will need to visit the Federal Criminal Police department at the MOI, or a police station for collection – the exact location will be specified in a notification message upon completion of the service.
The processing time for this service is 24 hours.
Fees:
Service fees (for use within the country): Dh50
Service fees (for use outside the country): Dh100
Fingerprinting fees for visitors and GCC citizens: Dh50