Ghanaians seeking UAE jobs must obtain Police Clearance Certificate – Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced a new requirement for Ghanaians seeking employment in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), mandating applicants to obtain a Good Conduct Certificate, also known as a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC), before securing work visas.

In a public announcement issued on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, the Ministry said it had received official notification from the Embassy of the UAE in Accra regarding the introduction of the measure.

According to the Ministry, the requirement stems from UAE Cabinet Decision No. 1/36 of 2026 and the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship Decision No. 1/36 of 2026, under which all persons applying for employment visas to the UAE must provide a Good Conduct Certificate.

The implementation of the policy is being carried out in two phases.

The first phase, which took effect on March 30, 2026, applies to all worker categories applying for employment visas from Ghana. The second phase came into force on July 20, 2026, and extends the requirement to all worker categories already present in the UAE.

The Ministry explained that the Good Conduct Certificate constitutes an additional requirement for employment visa applications and must be authenticated by both Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the UAE Embassy in Accra before it will be accepted by UAE authorities.

The announcement further noted that Ghanaians currently residing in the UAE on visit visas and seeking to convert their status to work visas have been granted a 45-day grace period from the effective date of the decision to regularise their immigration status.

The Ministry advised Ghanaian citizens intending to seek employment opportunities in the UAE to take note of the new requirement and ensure compliance to avoid delays in processing their visa applications.

It also urged prospective applicants to obtain information only from official sources and encouraged members of the public to contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ghana Police Service, or the UAE Embassy in Accra for further clarification where necessary.

The UAE remains one of the key destinations for Ghanaian migrant workers, particularly in the hospitality, construction, domestic work and service sectors. The new requirement is expected to strengthen background verification processes for foreign workers entering the Gulf nation.