UAE Visa Now Requires a Good Conduct Certificate: What You Need to Know (2026)
The UAE’s Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) has introduced a significant new requirement for visa applicants from selected nationalities: a Good Conduct Certificate — also known as a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) — must now be submitted as part of the UAE visa application process.
This change took effect on 16 June 2026 for the first group of nationalities, with two further rollout phases continuing through 2026. If you are a business owner, investor, employer, or individual planning a UAE visa application, this update directly affects your timeline and documentation.
What Is a Good Conduct Certificate (UAE Visa)?
A Good Conduct Certificate, or Police Clearance Certificate, is an official document issued by the relevant authority in an applicant’s home country confirming whether or not they have a criminal record.
Under the new ICP requirement, eligible applicants from affected nationalities must obtain and submit this certificate before their UAE visa application can proceed.
Quick answer: A Good Conduct Certificate for UAE visa purposes is a criminal background clearance document, issued by your home country’s authorities, that must be attested and verified before your visa application is processed.
Who Is Affected?
The requirement applies to 45 nationalities and is being phased in across three implementation dates. It may affect:
- Employees being sponsored by UAE companies
- Investors and business partners applying for UAE investor or partner visas
- Dependents sponsored under a family visa
- Individuals renewing or applying for new residence visas
The specific impact depends on the applicant’s nationality, current visa status, and whether the application is being made from inside or outside the UAE.
What Documents Are Required?
For affected applicants, the Good Conduct Certificate must meet all of the following conditions:
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Issued by | Applicant’s home country authority |
| Attested by | UAE Embassy or Consulate in the relevant country |
| Verification | Electronically verified MOFA attestation only |
| Manual MOFA | Not accepted |
Important: If you are already in the UAE on a cancelled residence visa, a Good Conduct Certificate issued by the UAE Ministry of Interior (MOI) may be required instead of a certificate from your home country.
Three-Phase Implementation Timeline
The ICP is rolling out this requirement gradually. Here is the full schedule:
Phase 1 — Effective 16 June 2026 (23 Nationalities)
| # | Nationality | Attestation Country |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cameroon | Abuja, Nigeria |
| 2 | Algeria | Algeria |
| 3 | Egypt | Egypt |
| 4 | Ethiopia | Ethiopia |
| 5 | Cuba | Cuba |
| 6 | Bhutan | India |
| 7 | Bulgaria | Bulgaria |
| 8 | Mexico | Mexico |
| 9 | Afghanistan | Afghanistan |
| 10 | Nepal | Nepal |
| 11 | Iraq | Iraq |
| 12 | Pakistan | Pakistan |
| 13 | India | India |
| 14 | Mozambique | Mozambique |
| 15 | Ghana | Ghana |
| 16 | Lebanon | Lebanon |
| 17 | Somalia | Somalia |
| 18 | Gambia | Senegal |
| 19 | Lithuania | Latvia |
| 20 | Tonga | New Zealand |
| 21 | Senegal | Senegal |
| 22 | Syria | Syria |
| 23 | Morocco | Morocco |
Phase 2 — Effective 15 August 2026 (11 Nationalities)
| # | Nationality | Attestation Country |
|---|---|---|
| 24 | Bangladesh | Bangladesh |
| 25 | Colombia | Colombia |
| 26 | Sudan | Sudan |
| 27 | Tunisia | Tunisia |
| 28 | Zimbabwe | Zimbabwe |
| 29 | Nigeria | Nigeria |
| 30 | Cyprus | Cyprus |
| 31 | Albania | Greece |
| 32 | Mauritius | Mozambique |
| 33 | Fiji | New Zealand |
| 34 | Philippines | Philippines |
Phase 3 — Effective 15 November 2026 (11 Nationalities)
| # | Nationality | Attestation Country |
|---|---|---|
| 35 | Mauritania | Mauritania |
| 36 | Rwanda | Rwanda |
| 37 | South Africa | South Africa |
| 38 | Iran | Iran |
| 39 | Serbia | Serbia |
| 40 | Belarus | Belarus |
| 41 | Georgia | Georgia |
| 42 | Nicaragua | Colombia |
| 43 | Slovenia | Austria |
| 44 | Seychelles | Seychelles |
| 45 | China | China |
Why This Matters for Businesses in the UAE
For UAE businesses hiring employees from any of the 45 affected countries, this update adds a preparation step that cannot be skipped or rushed.
Obtaining a Police Clearance Certificate from a home country, completing attestation through the UAE Embassy, and securing electronically verified MOFA approval is a multi-step process. Depending on the country, this can take several weeks.
Without proper planning, businesses face:
- Delayed employee onboarding — particularly for roles with a start-date commitment
- Stalled visa processing for investors or partners mid-application
- Disrupted family sponsorship timelines
- Additional costs from expedited attestation services
If you are processing employee or work visas for staff from any of these nationalities, build the additional lead time into your HR and onboarding planning now.
Pre-Application Checklist: What to Verify Before You Apply
Before submitting any UAE visa application, confirm the following for each applicant:
- Is the applicant’s nationality on the affected list?
- What is their current UAE visa status?
- Are they applying from inside or outside the UAE?
- Does the certificate need to come from the home country or the UAE MOI?
- What is the correct attestation country for their nationality?
- Has the implementation date for their phase passed?
Getting clarity on these points early avoids last-minute delays and incomplete applications.
Plan Ahead. Preparation Avoids Delay
The UAE’s immigration framework continues to evolve, and staying ahead of regulatory changes is critical for businesses operating here. Whether you are onboarding new staff, renewing an investor or partner visa, or handling a business setup in Dubai, understanding the updated documentation requirements before you apply saves time, money, and frustration.
At EZONE, we monitor ICP and immigration updates on an ongoing basis and review visa requirements on a case-by-case basis for our clients. If you have an upcoming UAE visa application and need guidance on whether the Good Conduct Certificate applies to your situation, contact our team before starting the process.
Last updated: June 2026. Based on ICP guidance effective 16 June 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
It applies to new UAE visa applications for affected nationalities, including investor, partner, employee, and dependent or family sponsorship visas. Your specific visa category and immigration authority may determine the exact documentation required.
Manual MOFA attestation will not be accepted. The certificate must carry electronically verified MOFA attestation to be valid under the new requirement.
In this case, the Good Conduct Certificate is typically issued by the UAE Ministry of Interior (MOI), not the applicant's home country.
This varies by country and the UAE Embassy's processing times. In some countries, it can take two to four weeks or longer. It is advisable to start the process well in advance of any planned visa application date.
This is a formal ICP policy update with phased implementation dates. There is no indication it is temporary. Businesses and applicants from affected nationalities should treat this as a standing requirement going forward.
