Fees and steps checked on
PCC attestation makes a police clearance certificate valid in another country. A Dubai or UAE police clearance certificate going abroad is attested by MOFA and, if the destination country asks, by its embassy in the UAE. A certificate from your home country that you need in the UAE goes through that country's own chain, then the UAE embassy and MOFA.
Price: MOFA attestation of a UAE police clearance certificate from AED 250 plus VAT, usually 2 to 3 working days, all official fees included. Certificates from other countries are quoted after you share a copy on WhatsApp, with the total price before any work starts. See attestation fees.
Which direction is your certificate going?
| Your certificate | Where it will be used | Route |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai or other UAE police certificate | Abroad | MOFA, then the destination embassy if required |
| UK, US, Canadian or Philippine police certificate | In the UAE | Home-country chain, UAE embassy, MOFA |
Police clearance certificate attestation for use abroad
You get the certificate from Dubai Police or the police of your emirate first. How to apply, step by step, is on our police clearance certificate in Dubai page. The same document is also called a good conduct certificate.
People attest it for permanent residence or immigration files abroad, such as Canada PR, for jobs abroad and for study or licences. The chain after issue:
- MOFA attestation. The certificate is attested online by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. MOFA says its Customer Happiness Centres are closed, so this is done with UAE PASS or through a service like ours.
- Destination embassy, if asked. Some countries want their own embassy or consulate in the UAE to add a stamp. Others accept the MOFA attestation alone.
- Translation, if asked. Some countries want the certificate in their language. See legal translation in Dubai.
The UAE is not in the Apostille Convention, so a UAE police certificate cannot be apostilled, even for a country that uses apostilles. More on outgoing papers: UAE documents for use abroad.
Home-country police certificates for use in the UAE
Some UAE employers, licensing bodies and visa files ask for a police certificate from the country where you lived before. It must be attested before a UAE office accepts it. Our guide to police clearance for a UAE visa explains when one is asked for.
| Country | Certificate and issuer | Chain for the UAE |
|---|---|---|
| UK | Police certificate from ACRO Criminal Records Office | FCDO legalisation, then UAE Embassy London and MOFA, digital |
| USA | Identity History Summary from the FBI | US Department of State apostille, then UAE Embassy Washington and MOFA |
| Canada | Certified criminal record check, fingerprint based, from the RCMP | Global Affairs Canada, UAE Embassy Ottawa, MOFA |
| Philippines | NBI clearance from the National Bureau of Investigation | DFA apostille, UAE Embassy Manila, MOFA |
UK. GOV.UK says ACRO issues police certificates to people who emigrate or are asked for a certificate of good conduct by an embassy. You apply on the ACRO website.
USA. The FBI Identity History Summary is based on your fingerprints. The US Department of State says you can send FBI records to its Office of Authentications for an apostille, naming the country of use. For the UAE, the embassy and MOFA steps follow.
Canada. The RCMP runs fingerprint-based criminal record checks through accredited fingerprinting companies. The attestation route is on Canada RCMP police certificate attestation.
Philippines. If you are already in Dubai, the Philippine Consulate General Dubai takes fingerprints for the NBI form by appointment. A representative then submits it to the NBI in Manila. Once issued, the clearance goes to the DFA, the UAE Embassy in Manila and MOFA. See Philippines certificate attestation.
Timing and recency
A police certificate describes your record on the day it was issued. Receiving offices often want a recently issued one, though there is no fixed rule across countries. Plan the attestation so the certificate is still fresh when you submit it. The home-country chain takes weeks for most countries, while the MOFA step for a UAE certificate usually takes 2 to 3 working days.
Common problems and how to avoid them
- Apostille only. A UK, US or Philippine apostille is not enough for the UAE. The embassy and MOFA steps must follow.
- Wrong addressee. Some immigration offices want their own name on a UAE certificate, not "to whom it may concern".
- Old certificate. Applying too early can mean the certificate is too old by the time it is attested.
- Name order. Use the spelling and order in your passport.
How we help
We are a private document service in Dubai. We are not Dubai Police, MOFA, an embassy or a police authority, and we do not issue certificates. We check your certificate, confirm the route for the country where it will be used, and handle the attestation. The result can be checked on MOFA attestation verification.
Official sources
Checked :
- UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs: FAQ
- HCCH: Apostille Convention status table
- GOV.UK: criminal records checks for overseas applicants (ACRO)
- ACRO Criminal Records Office: police certificates
- US Department of State: criminal records for use abroad
- Royal Canadian Mounted Police: criminal record checks
- Philippine Consulate General Dubai: NBI clearance
