Last updated: 12 October 2026
A police clearance certificate from Dubai Police costs AED 200 for UAE residents, AED 100 for UAE citizens and AED 300 (or USD 88) if you apply from outside the UAE. A further AED 20 in Knowledge and Innovation fees is added, and applying in person at a service centre adds AED 100. The certificate is issued in about five working days and is valid for three months.
That is the whole government cost. What people often miss is the next step: if the certificate is going to be used in another country, it usually needs attesting before that country will accept it.
Dubai Police clearance certificate fees in 2026
| Applicant | Fee |
|---|---|
| UAE citizen | AED 100 |
| UAE resident | AED 200 |
| Applying from outside the UAE | AED 300 (or USD 88) |
| Knowledge and Innovation fees | AED 20 |
| Extra fee if you apply in person at a service centre | AED 100 |
Fees are paid online by debit or credit card or Apple Pay, or by cash or card at service centres and Smart Police Stations. They are non-refundable.
Government fees can change. Confirm the current figure on the Dubai Police website before you apply.
Who issues the certificate
Dubai Police issues the certificate for anyone whose record sits with Dubai — residents of Dubai, and former Dubai residents applying from abroad. It confirms that you have no criminal record within the UAE.
If you live or lived in another emirate, the certificate is issued by that emirate’s police through the Ministry of Interior’s services instead. The process is similar; the fees and channels are set by that authority.
How to apply
You can apply through the Dubai Police app, the Dubai Police website, DubaiNow, a Smart Police Station or a police station.
- Sign in with UAE Pass, or continue as a guest.
- Enter your Emirates ID number — a valid or expired Emirates ID both work.
- Choose the purpose of the certificate, the entity requesting it, and the language.
- Pay the fee.
- Receive the certificate by email, or download it from your Dubai Police dashboard or the Application Status service using your reference number.
Digital channels are open 24/7.
Applying from outside the UAE
You can still apply after you have left, as long as you previously entered the UAE. You will need:
- a personal photo
- a copy of your passport
- a copy of your previous residence visa
If you do not have an Emirates ID, you will need a ten-print fingerprint. Inside the UAE that means visiting a service centre in person — Al Qusais, Ports, Al Rashidiya or Jebel Ali police stations. From outside the UAE, you send a ten-print fingerprint card certified by the UAE Embassy in your country.
How long it takes and how long it lasts
Dubai Police states a processing time of five working days. The certificate is valid for three months from the date it is issued — so time your application for when you actually need it, not weeks in advance.
When the certificate needs attestation
This is where most delays happen.
A Dubai police clearance certificate used inside the UAE — for example, by a UAE employer — is usually accepted as issued. A certificate used outside the UAE is different. A foreign employer, immigration department or university will normally want proof that the certificate is genuine, and that means attestation by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, often followed by legalisation at the destination country’s embassy in the UAE.
Common reasons you might need it attested:
- a job offer or work visa in another country
- permanent residency or immigration applications (Canada, Australia, the UK and others)
- a professional licence abroad
- adoption, marriage or long-stay visa applications
Because the certificate is only valid for three months, the attestation needs to happen promptly. If it runs past validity, you start again with a new certificate.
Common mistakes
- Applying too early. Three months passes quickly when an immigration process has several stages.
- Choosing the wrong purpose or language. Match what the requesting authority asks for; some want Arabic, some English.
- Not checking whether attestation is needed. Ask the receiving authority before you submit anything.
- Missing the fingerprint step. Without an Emirates ID, you need a certified ten-print card — this takes time to arrange from abroad.
AED 200 for residents, AED 100 for UAE citizens and AED 300 (or USD 88) from outside the UAE, plus AED 20 in Knowledge and Innovation fees. Applying in person at a service centre adds AED 100.
Dubai Police states five working days.
Three months from the date it is issued.
Yes, if you previously entered the UAE. You need a photo, a passport copy and a copy of your previous residence visa, and a ten-print fingerprint certified by the UAE Embassy if you have no Emirates ID.
Yes. Dubai Police accepts a valid or expired Emirates ID number.
Usually not for use inside the UAE. For use abroad it normally needs UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs attestation, and often embassy legalisation for the destination country.
The certificate is issued by that emirate’s police through the Ministry of Interior’s services rather than Dubai Police.
- Dubai Police — Police Clearance Certificate service (fees, documents, validity, channels)
