Police clearance certificates (PCC) are directly accepted by GDRFA, MOHRE, and ICP when MOJ-certified. Failure to provide properly translated PCCs is among the top reasons for visa rejection at Dubai Courts.
| Standard Translation | OnlineTranslation.ae Legal Standards |
|---|---|
| Generic terminology | UAE Civil Procedure Law compliant terminology |
| Basic document copy | MOJ-certified legal stamp with QR verification |
| No attestation check | Pre-validation of attestation chain status |
| Variable formatting | GDRFA-specific submission formatting |
| Standard delivery | WhatsApp concierge with real-time updates |
The Ministry of Justice maintains strict standards for certified translations under Article 18 of the UAE Civil Procedure Law. Rejections happen when translations lack proper legal terminology, when attestation chains are incomplete, or when name spellings do not match passport data. GDRFA systems perform character-by-character name matching—if your PCC shows "Mohammad" but your passport shows "Mohammed," the application flags immediately. Immigration officers at Dubai Courts verify the MOJ stamp authenticity via QR code. Translations without valid verification codes are rejected outright. Additionally, expired PCCs (typically older than 3-6 months) trigger automatic rejection regardless of translation quality. Our pre-validation review catches these issues before you pay, preserving the attestation chain integrity.
Every police clearance certificate entering UAE official use must complete a specific authentication sequence. This attestation chain varies by country but follows a consistent pattern: issuing authority authentication, Ministry of Foreign Affairs verification in home country, UAE Embassy legalization, and finally MOFA UAE attestation.
For Hague Convention member countries—including India (member since July 2005), UK, USA, Philippines (2019), and Canada (January 2024)—the apostille replaces embassy attestation. The MEA apostille from India, FCDO from UK, or Secretary of State certification from USA establishes international validity. Non-Hague countries like Pakistan require the complete embassy chain.
Critical requirement: the MOJ-certified translation must be performed AFTER attestation completes. Translating before attestation invalidates the document for official UAE use. Our verification process confirms attestation status before accepting your document. If stamps are missing or sequence is incorrect, we advise on remediation before you incur translation costs. This preserves your attestation chain investment and prevents rejection at submission.
Police clearance certificates contain sensitive personal information—criminal history, personal identifiers, and government database references. Under Article 378 of the UAE Penal Code, unauthorized disclosure of confidential documents carries significant penalties. Our handling protocols exceed these requirements.
Every PCC translation is assigned to a single MOJ-licensed translator who signs a confidentiality undertaking. Documents are processed on encrypted systems with access restricted to the assigned translator only. We do not use cloud translation services, crowdsourced platforms, or offshore processing centers. Your criminal record check—whether clear or containing disclosures—remains confidential.
For high-profile cases involving executives, public figures, or sensitive legal matters, additional protocols are available. These include dedicated secure workstations, immediate document deletion upon delivery confirmation, and non-disclosure agreements covering our entire team. If your PCC is needed for Dubai Courts litigation, arbitration proceedings, or employment disputes at MOHRE, we provide chain-of-custody documentation confirming handling procedures.
Translation accuracy extends to challenging content. If your PCC discloses any record—minor traffic violations, historical charges, or dismissed cases—we translate the exact content without modification, omission, or interpretation. What appears on your original document appears on the translation. UAE authorities expect accuracy; our reputation depends on providing it.
Include all pages, stamps, and attestation marks. Let us know which country issued the certificate.
MOJ-licensed translator creates an accurate translation with proper legal terminology.
Collect in Dubai or arrange courier to your address. Digital PDF sent immediately upon completion.
Proper handling of legal terminology and official language used in police documents.
Translations formatted for GDRFA, ICP, and other UAE immigration authorities.
We understand PCC translations are often time-sensitive for visa deadlines.
Many UAE employers and MOHRE require police clearance certificates as part of the work permit application process, particularly for sensitive roles in finance, healthcare, education, and security.
The translation must accurately reflect the issuing authority, validity period, and any statements about criminal history.
GDRFA may request police clearance translations when renewing residence visas, especially if you have spent time outside the UAE or are changing visa categories.
Requirements vary by nationality and visa type, and we can advise on current practices.
Golden Visa applicants often need to provide police clearance certificates from their home country and any other countries where they have resided for extended periods.
ICP accepts our MOJ-certified translations for Golden Visa processing.
Certain professional licenses in the UAE require police clearance as part of the application. This includes healthcare professionals, financial services workers, and educators.
We ensure translations meet the requirements of the relevant licensing authority.
Police clearance certificates are called different things in different countries: Certificate of Good Conduct, Criminal Record Check, Police Verification Letter, Character Certificate, or No Criminal Record Certificate.
We translate all variations and ensure the translation clearly conveys the document's purpose.
PCCs from most countries need attestation before they can be used in the UAE. The typical chain includes: issuing police authority or ministry, home country Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UAE Embassy, and UAE MOFA.
We check attestation status during our pre-validation review.
Police clearance certificates typically have limited validity (often 3-6 months from issue date). UAE authorities may reject expired certificates even if the translation is valid.
We advise you if your certificate appears close to expiry so you can plan accordingly.
If you have lived in multiple countries, you may need police clearance certificates from each country where you resided for an extended period.
We can translate certificates from any country and language, and offer package rates for multiple documents.
This depends on your situation. GDRFA and employers have different requirements, and they are not always clear about them. Here is what we see most often:
If you have lived in multiple countries, you may need multiple PCCs. We translate all of them with package pricing.
Police clearance certificates have expiry dates. This is one of the most common reasons for visa delays:
We check the issue date during our review. If your PCC is close to expiry, we tell you before you pay so you can decide whether to proceed or get a fresh one.
Like other documents, PCCs need attestation for official UAE use. The chain depends on your country:
Your PCC needs an apostille from the issuing authority. For India (Hague member since July 2005), this comes from the MEA. For USA, the Secretary of State for the issuing state handles it. After apostille, bring it to UAE for translation.
Full attestation chain: MOFA in home country, UAE Embassy, and MOFA UAE. Pakistan PCCs from FIA or Police require this complete chain.
Important: Some PCCs from Pakistan are already in English. You still need Arabic translation for GDRFA. Do not assume English is sufficient.
Your country may call this document something else entirely:
All of these serve the same purpose: proving you have no criminal record or disclosing what record exists.
We translate what the document says. Accurately. We do not modify, omit, or add any information. If your PCC shows a minor offense, traffic violation, or even a serious conviction, the translation will reflect exactly what appears on the original.
Whether this affects your visa or employment depends on the type of offense and the specific entity reviewing it. Some employers have strict policies. Others evaluate on a case-by-case basis. We cannot advise on the outcome, but we ensure the translation is accurate.
Golden Visa applications have stricter PCC requirements than standard employment visas:
The ICP portal will reject incomplete documentation. Having all PCCs translated together ensures consistent formatting.
If you work in a regulated profession, you need PCC translation for licensing:
Doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals need PCC from home country. This is part of the dataflow verification process. DHA specifically requires the original attested PCC plus certified translation.
Teachers and school administrators need PCC as part of their licensing. Requirements vary by emirate and school type.
Some financial institutions require PCC for senior positions or roles involving access to client funds.
Our pre-validation review includes:
This free check prevents you from paying for a translation that will not be accepted.
Standard PCC translation takes 2-4 hours. Express service delivers in 60 minutes. The document itself is typically one page, so turnaround is fast.
What takes longer: getting the PCC in the first place. India PCC through Passport Seva takes 2-4 weeks. UK ACRO certificates take 2-3 weeks. FBI background checks from USA take 4-6 weeks. Plan accordingly.
Need a PCC from UAE itself? The Dubai Police CID issues Good Conduct Certificates. This is already in Arabic, so you may need English translation for embassy submissions or international employers.
Every police clearance certificate translation includes these deliverables:
Sent via WhatsApp and email within your chosen timeframe. Suitable for initial visa submissions.
Physical copy with the official Ministry of Justice stamp, QR verification code, and translator license details.
Additional stamped copies available. Useful if submitting to both employer and immigration authority.
Free delivery across Dubai. Next-day delivery to Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and other Emirates.
Choose the service level that matches your visa timeline:
24-hour delivery
6-hour delivery
1-hour draft
Visa applicants across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah need PCC translation for employment and Golden Visa applications. Healthcare professionals require PCC translation for DHA and DOH licensing.
For complete visa packages, we also translate degree certificates, bank statements, and marriage certificates. Our attestation services handle the complete legalization chain for foreign documents.
Yes. Our MOJ-certified police clearance certificate translations are accepted by GDRFA and ICP for all visa types including employment visas, residence visas, and Golden Visa applications. The translation includes the official stamp and translator license details required by immigration authorities.
Yes. We translate police clearance certificates from any language. For documents in less common languages, we use specialist legal translators to ensure accuracy. Let us know the original language when you submit.
For most official UAE uses, yes. Police clearance certificates typically need attestation through the issuing authority, your home country Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UAE Embassy, and UAE MOFA. We verify this during our free pre-validation review.
Standard service delivers within 24 hours. Express service completes in 6 hours with priority handling. VIP Concierge provides 1-hour drafts for urgent visa deadlines. All timelines begin after document review and payment confirmation.
We translate the document accurately regardless of its contents. If your PCC shows any records, the translation will reflect exactly what appears on the original. We do not modify, omit, or add any information.
Send your document via WhatsApp for a free assessment. We will confirm requirements and provide a quote within 15 minutes during working hours.
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