The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced a new requirement for Ghanaian nationals seeking employment opportunities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
According to the Ministry, the UAE Embassy in Accra has officially notified Ghana of the introduction of a Good Conduct Certificate, also known as a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC), as a mandatory requirement for all persons applying for employment visas to the UAE.
The new directive is in line with UAE Cabinet Decision No. 1/36 of 2026 and the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship Decision No. 1/36 of 2026.
The implementation of the requirement is being rolled out in two phases.
The first phase, which took effect on March 30, 2026, applies to all categories of workers applying for employment visas from Ghana.
The second phase, which commenced on July 20, 2026, extends the requirement to all worker categories arriving in the UAE.
The Ministry explained that the Police Clearance Certificate is an additional requirement for employment visa applications and must be authenticated by both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ghana and the UAE Embassy in Accra before it will be accepted by UAE authorities.
It further announced that Ghanaian nationals currently in the UAE on visit visas who wish to change their status to work visas have been given a 45-day grace period from the effective date of the directive to regularise their immigration status.
The Ministry has advised all Ghanaians intending to seek employment in the UAE to comply with the new requirement and obtain the necessary documentation before beginning the visa application process.
It added that it will continue to collaborate with the UAE Embassy to ensure a smooth implementation of the new measures, while urging prospective applicants to seek clarification from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ghana Police Service, or the UAE Embassy in Accra where necessary.
