UAE: Certificate of Good Conduct required for work visa as of February 4

Event

Effective February 4, foreigners are required to submit a Certificate of Good Conduct to Emirati authorities in order to be issued a work visa in the UAE. The certificate can be obtained from a police department or foreign ministry of an individual's home country or of the last country of residence. In case the applicant lived in more than one country in the last five years, a certificate from each country of residence must be obtained. The document must then be certified by Emirati diplomatic representatives abroad or by a Customer Happiness Center of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation upon arrival.

Expatriates already in the UAE are also required to submit the document to the authorities in order to renew their visa. The application can be completed online on the UAE police department website and requires a UAE residence ID and an email address. The certificate costs AED 200 (USD 55) for UAE residents and AED 300 (USD 80) for non-residents. Tourists, students, and workers on medical or mission visas are not subject to the new rule.

Advice

Individuals are advised to consult the UAE Embassy in their home country or, if already in the UAE, their home diplomatic mission for additional information.