The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that Ghanaians applying for employment opportunities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) must now obtain a Good Conduct Certificate before they can secure work visas.
The new requirement follows a directive from the UAE Embassy in Accra and instructions from the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship.
In a statement released on August 4, 2026, the Ministry said the certificate, also known as a Police Clearance Certificate, is now compulsory for all categories of workers applying for UAE employment visas.
The implementation has been introduced in two stages. The first phase, which covered workers applying for employment visas from Ghana, took effect on March 30, 2026. The second phase, which started on July 20, 2026, extended the requirement to all workers entering the UAE.
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The Ministry explained that applicants must have their certificates authenticated by Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the UAE Embassy in Accra before they can be accepted by UAE authorities.
It added that Ghanaians currently in the UAE on visit visas who intend to change their status to employment visas have been granted a 45-day grace period from the date the decision took effect to regularise their stay.
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“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 read.
The Ministry said it is working with the UAE Embassy to ensure a smooth implementation of the new requirement and advised Ghanaians planning to seek employment in the UAE to take note.
— Ghana MFA (@GhanaMFA) August 4, 2026
DR/SA
