UAE adds Police Clearance requirement for Ghanaian workers

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that Ghanaians seeking employment in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will now be required to obtain a Good Conduct Certificate before being issued work visas.

The new directive follows a decision by the UAE Embassy in Accra, in line with instructions from the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship.

In a statement issued on August 4, 2026, the Ministry said the certificate, also referred to as a Police Clearance Certificate, has become a mandatory requirement for all categories of workers applying for UAE employment visas.

According to the Ministry, the policy is being implemented in two phases. The first phase, which applied to workers applying for UAE employment visas from Ghana, came into effect on March 30, 2026. The second phase, introduced on July 20, 2026, expanded the requirement to all workers entering the UAE.

The Ministry explained that applicants must have their Good Conduct Certificates authenticated by Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and subsequently endorsed by the UAE Embassy in Accra before the documents will be recognised by UAE authorities.

It further stated that Ghanaians currently in the UAE on visit visas who wish to change their immigration status to employment visas have been given a 45-day window from the date the directive took effect to regularise their stay.

“Ghanaians who are currently in the UAE on visit visas and intend to convert their status to work visas have been granted a forty-five (45)-day grace period from the effective date of the decision to regularize their immigration status,” the statement said.

The Ministry added that it is collaborating with the UAE Embassy to facilitate a smooth rollout of the new requirement and urged Ghanaians planning to pursue employment opportunities in the UAE to comply with the updated visa regulations.

Prince Antwi

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