Ghanaians applying to work in the United Arab Emirates will now have to provide a Police Clearance Certificate before their employment visa applications can be processed, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced.
The new requirement follows a formal notification from the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Accra and reflects revised immigration rules governing foreign workers entering the UAE.
In a public statement issued on 4 August 2026, Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the measure was introduced under UAE Cabinet Decision No. 1/36 of 2026 and Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship Decision No. 1/36 of 2026.
Under the updated rules, every applicant for a UAE employment visa must obtain a Good Conduct Certificate, also referred to as a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC), before the application can be accepted by the relevant authorities.
The Ministry said implementation would take place in two stages. The first stage came into effect on 30 March 2026 and covers all categories of workers applying for employment visas from Ghana.
The second stage began on 20 July 2026. It extends the requirement to all categories of workers arriving in the United Arab Emirates, meaning the certificate is now required more broadly throughout the employment visa process.
The Police Clearance Certificate is an additional document for UAE employment visa applications. It must be authenticated by Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then by the Embassy of the UAE in Accra before it can be accepted by UAE authorities.
The Ministry has also announced a 45-day grace period for Ghanaians who are currently in the UAE on visit visas and want to change their immigration status to a work visa.
That period runs from the date on which the directive came into force and is intended to give affected individuals time to regularise their status under the new arrangements.
Ghanaians planning to travel to the UAE to find employment have been advised to take account of the new requirement and ensure they obtain and authenticate the necessary certificate before submitting their visa applications.
The Ministry said it would work with the Embassy of the UAE in Accra to support the implementation of the measures and help ensure that the revised process is followed.
It also directed members of the public seeking further clarification to contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ghana Police Service or the Embassy of the UAE in Accra.
The announcement applies to employment visa applicants from Ghana and to workers arriving in the UAE, with the separate 45-day window available to Ghanaians already in the country on visit visas who intend to switch to employment status.
