Ghanaians now need Police Clearance Certificate to apply for work visa in UAE

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Accra has introduced a mandatory Good Conduct Certificate, also known as a Police Clearance Certificate, for all Ghanaian nationals applying for work visas.

The new requirement forms part of the UAE’s revised employment visa procedures and must be fulfilled before a work visa application can be processed.

In a statement, the Ministry said the directive is pursuant to UAE Cabinet Decision No. 1/36 of 2026 and the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) Decision No. 1/36 of 2026, which make it mandatory for prospective foreign workers to obtain a Good Conduct Certificate before applying for employment visas.

Under the new arrangements, applicants must obtain a Police Clearance Certificate from the Ghana Police Service and have it authenticated by Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Accra before it can be accepted by the UAE authorities as part of the visa application process.

“The Ministry further wishes to inform prospective applicants that the Good Conduct Certificate constitutes an additional requirement for employment visa applications and must be duly authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ghana and the Embassy of the UAE in Accra before it can be accepted by the UAE authorities,” the statement said.

According to the Ministry, the policy is being implemented in two phases. The first phase took effect on 30 March 2026 and applies to all categories of workers applying for employment visas from Ghana. The second phase came into force on 20 July 2026 and covers additional implementation measures affecting workers entering the UAE under the revised employment visa regime.

The Ministry further announced that Ghanaian nationals currently in the UAE on visit visas who intend to convert their status to employment visas have been granted a 45-day grace period from the effective date of the directive to regularise their immigration status.

“In addition, Ghanaians who are currently in the UAE on visit visas and intend to convert their status to work visas have been granted a forty-five (45)-day grace period from the effective date of the decision to regularise their immigration status,” the statement added.

The introduction of the mandatory Good Conduct Certificate forms part of the UAE’s broader efforts to strengthen security screening for foreign nationals seeking employment in the country.

The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP), which oversees the UAE’s immigration and residency system, has increasingly introduced measures aimed at enhancing the integrity of employment and residency procedures while streamlining immigration services.

The Ministry advised prospective applicants to begin the process of obtaining and authenticating their Police Clearance Certificates well in advance, noting that the additional documentation may extend visa processing timelines. It also urged employers, recruitment agencies and applicants to ensure full compliance with the new requirements to avoid delays or the rejection of work visa applications.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs assured the public that it will continue to work closely with the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Accra to ensure the smooth implementation of the new requirement and provide further clarification to applicants whenever necessary.

Source: Diplomatic Times