UAE Work Visa Good Conduct Certificate: Which Nationalities Need One in 2026
Applicants from 24 listed countries now need a police good conduct certificate for a new UAE employment visa, according to a RAKEZ notice. It is not required from every nationality.
UAEIn brief
- ICP's visa service page now lists a duly attested good conduct certificate for work entry permits, 'according to the announced categories'.
- According to RAKEZ, the requirement applies to new employment and investor visas for nationals of 24 countries, after 10 were added from 20 July 2026.
- Applicants outside the UAE or on a tourist visa need a home-country certificate attested by the UAE embassy.
- Applicants already in the UAE with a cancelled residence visa can get the certificate from UAE police.
- The UAE government has not published an official nationality list, and lists on agent websites conflict.
| Country | UAE |
|---|---|
| Organization | Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) |
| Official source | RAKEZ – Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone announcement relaying an ICP update ✓ rakez.com |
Some foreign workers now need a certificate of good conduct (police clearance) to get a new UAE employment visa. The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) lists it as a required document for a work entry permit, but only "according to the announced categories". It is not a rule for every nationality.
The clearest public list comes from the Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ), which relayed an ICP update on 17 July 2026.
The rule at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Authority | ICP (federal) |
| Applies to | New employment and investor visas |
| Nationalities covered | 24, according to RAKEZ |
| Latest additions | 10 countries, from 20 July 2026 |
| Outside the UAE or on a tourist visa | Home-country certificate, attested by the UAE embassy |
| In the UAE with a cancelled visa | Certificate from UAE police |
Which nationalities are covered
| Added from 20 July 2026 | Already covered |
|---|---|
| Ghana, Lebanon, Lithuania, Morocco, Mozambique, Pakistan, Senegal, Syria, Tonga, Zambia | Afghanistan, Algeria, Bhutan, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Cuba, Egypt, Iraq, Kenya, Mexico, Nepal, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Uganda |
Some business-setup and agent websites publish longer lists, with India, Bangladesh, the Philippines and China, but no government source has confirmed these. Ghana's foreign ministry said in August that the rule came from a UAE Cabinet decision, but there has been no public UAE statement listing nationalities.
What it means for job seekers
- Start early. Getting a police certificate and embassy attestation at home can take weeks. If your country is on the list, apply as soon as you get a job offer.
- Ask your employer or free zone. They submit the visa and can see the current ICP requirements for your nationality.
- Renewals and job changes have generally been reported as not affected, but this has not been officially confirmed.
- Don't buy a "certificate". Only your home police authority or UAE police can issue one. A fake certificate can get you banned.
Official sources
- ICP: issuance of a visa (required documents)
- RAKEZ: good conduct certificate required for 10 more nationalities
Before you apply, check the 13 types of UAE work permit and how to spot a fake UAE job offer.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a police clearance certificate for a UAE work visa?
Only if you are a national of one of the listed countries. According to RAKEZ, 24 nationalities currently need a good conduct certificate for a new employment or investor visa.
Which nationalities need a good conduct certificate for a UAE work visa?
According to RAKEZ: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bhutan, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Cuba, Egypt, Ghana, Iraq, Kenya, Lebanon, Lithuania, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tonga, Uganda and Zambia.
Do Indians need a police clearance for a UAE work visa?
India is not on the list published by RAKEZ. Some agent websites claim India will be added, but no official source has confirmed this.
Where do I get the good conduct certificate?
If you are outside the UAE or on a tourist visa, get it from police in your home country and have it attested by the UAE embassy. If you are in the UAE with a cancelled visa, get it from UAE police.
Apply only through the official source.
Open official notice →TheJobSeek never charges for jobs and is not a recruitment agency. If anyone asks you to pay for a job offer or visa in the name of this article, it is a scam.
