Ghanaians Seeking UAE Jobs Must Obtain Police Clearance Certificate Before Work Visa Approval
Credit: CNR
Ghanaians seeking employment opportunities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will now be required to obtain a Good Conduct Certificate, also known as a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC), as part of the mandatory documentation for securing a UAE work visa.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the new requirement in a public notice issued on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, following an official communication from the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Accra.
According to the Ministry, the directive is based on UAE Cabinet Decision No. 1/36 of 2026 and Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security Decision No. 1/36 of 2026, which require all foreign nationals applying for employment visas to present a valid Good Conduct Certificate as proof of their criminal record status.
Policy being implemented in two phases
The Ministry explained that the policy is being rolled out in two phases.
The first phase, which took effect on March 30, 2026, applies to all categories of workers applying for employment visas from Ghana and other designated countries.
The second phase, which became effective on July 20, 2026, extends the requirement to all foreign workers already residing in the UAE who are applying to regularise or maintain their employment status.
Police Clearance Certificate now mandatory
Under the new regulations, the Police Clearance Certificate becomes an additional mandatory requirement for employment visa applications.
Applicants must first obtain the certificate from the Ghana Police Service before having it authenticated by Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The document must then be legalised by the UAE Embassy in Accra before it can be accepted by UAE immigration authorities.
The Ministry stressed that failure to complete these authentication processes could result in delays or rejection of visa applications.
Grace period for visitors seeking work visas
The announcement also provides relief for Ghanaians currently in the UAE on visit visas who intend to switch to employment visas.
According to the Ministry, affected individuals have been granted a 45-day grace period from the effective date of the policy to regularise their immigration status and comply with the new documentation requirements.
Ministry urges compliance
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has advised all Ghanaian citizens planning to work in the UAE to familiarise themselves with the new rules and obtain the required Police Clearance Certificate well in advance of submitting their visa applications.
It also cautioned prospective migrant workers to rely only on information from official sources to avoid misinformation and possible exploitation by unauthorised travel agents or recruiters.
For further clarification, the public is encouraged to contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ghana Police Service, or the UAE Embassy in Accra.
The UAE remains one of the leading destinations for Ghanaian migrant workers, particularly in the construction, hospitality, domestic work, healthcare and service sectors. Officials say the new requirement is intended to strengthen background screening, improve security and enhance the integrity of the country’s employment visa system while ensuring that foreign workers meet the necessary legal standards before entering the UAE workforce.
