No — a Good Conduct Certificate and a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) are not two different documents. In the UAE, both terms refer to the exact same certificate, issued through the exact same Dubai Police process, confirming whether a person has a criminal record in the country. Which name you hear usually just depends on who’s asking for it and where you’re applying.
If you’ve seen a visa checklist, job application, or government portal ask for a “Good Conduct Certificate” in one place and a “Police Clearance Certificate” in another, and you’re wondering whether you need to apply for both — you don’t. This guide explains why the UAE uses both names, what the certificate actually shows, how to get one from Dubai Police, and the step that decides whether it’ll actually be accepted once you have it.
Good Conduct Certificate vs. Police Clearance Certificate: Is There a Difference?
There is no difference in the document itself. Dubai Police issues one certificate — through one application, one fee, one verification process — that states whether the applicant has a criminal record on file in the UAE. “Good Conduct Certificate” and “Police Clearance Certificate” are simply two labels used for that same certificate:
- “Police Clearance Certificate” (PCC) is the term most commonly used internationally — by immigration departments in Canada, the USA, the UK, Australia, and most of Europe, and in most English-language guidance about background checks.
- “Good Conduct Certificate” is the term more commonly used within the UAE and the wider Gulf region, including on some UAE government portals and by some local employers and licensing bodies.
Neither name implies a different level of detail, a different check, or a different issuing authority. If a form or checklist lists both terms separately, it’s almost always describing the same single requirement twice, not two separate certificates to obtain.
Why Does the UAE Use Two Names for the Same Certificate?
The difference is one of convention, not substance. “Good Conduct Certificate” reflects how the requirement is traditionally described in Arabic-language administrative usage and across much of the Gulf, where the certificate is framed as confirmation of a person’s good conduct and behavior on record. “Police Clearance Certificate” is the more literal, internationally standardized term used by Western immigration systems, which typically ask applicants to “clear” a background check in every country they’ve lived in.
Because Dubai’s population is largely made up of residents applying to systems that use both naming conventions — UAE government processes on one side, foreign immigration and employment systems on the other — both terms stayed in everyday use side by side, rather than one replacing the other.
What Does a Good Conduct / Police Clearance Certificate Show?
Whichever name is used, the certificate itself contains the same information:
- The applicant’s full name and nationality, matched against Emirates ID and passport records.
- A statement of whether the applicant has any criminal record on file in the UAE.
- An official Dubai Police stamp, signature, and (on current certificates) a QR code confirming it was genuinely issued by Dubai Police.
It only reflects records within the UAE. It says nothing about any other country you’ve lived in, which is why most immigration and employment processes separately require a PCC or Good Conduct Certificate from every country you’ve resided in for six months or more, not just the UAE.
For a fuller breakdown of who typically needs this certificate and what it’s used for, see our guide What Is a Police Clearance Certificate? Definition, Uses & Who Needs One.
How to Get a Good Conduct Certificate From Dubai Police
Because it’s the same certificate, the application process is identical no matter which name you use to search for the service:
- Apply through the Dubai Police website or smart app (or in person at a Dubai Police service centre), selecting the “Police Clearance Certificate” or “Good Conduct Certificate” service — both options lead to the same application.
- Submit your Emirates ID and passport copy, along with the name of the organization or destination country requesting the certificate, if asked.
- Complete a fingerprint or biometric check, if your fingerprints aren’t already on file with Dubai Police from a previous application.
- Pay the applicable fee and submit the application.
- Receive your certificate, typically within a few working days, issued with an official stamp or QR code.
For the complete step-by-step walkthrough — including documents needed, timelines, costs, and applying from outside the UAE — see our full guide Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) Dubai: Complete Guide 2026.
Does It Need Attestation Either Way?
Yes. Whether your certificate is labeled “Good Conduct Certificate” or “Police Clearance Certificate,” it needs the same follow-up step before a foreign authority will accept it: attestation. A Dubai Police certificate — under either name — is only automatically recognized as valid within the UAE. To be accepted abroad, it generally needs:
- UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) attestation, confirming the certificate was genuinely issued by Dubai Police.
- Embassy or consulate legalization, where the destination country’s embassy in the UAE legalizes the MOFA-attested certificate.
This applies equally regardless of which name appears on your certificate or your application checklist — the document, and the attestation chain it needs, is exactly the same. For how this fits into the broader attestation process used for all UAE document types, see our guide What Is Certificate Attestation? Meaning, Process & Why You Need It.
Which Name Should You Use When Applying?
Use whichever name the requesting authority — the embassy, employer, university, or immigration department — has asked for on their checklist. Since both terms point to the same Dubai Police service, there’s no need to worry about applying for the “wrong” one or being asked to obtain a second certificate under the other name. If a form or portal lists both terms and you’re unsure whether that means one certificate or two, it’s worth confirming directly with the requesting authority — but in the vast majority of cases, one certificate satisfies both labels.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a Good Conduct Certificate the same as a Police Clearance Certificate?
Yes. Both terms refer to the same document issued by Dubai Police (or the relevant UAE police authority), confirming whether a person has a criminal record in the UAE. There is no separate or additional certificate behind either name.
What is a Good Conduct Certificate in the UAE?
It’s an official certificate issued by Dubai Police stating whether an applicant has a criminal record in the UAE. It’s requested by foreign immigration authorities, employers, and universities as government-verified proof of a clean record, and is functionally identical to what’s called a Police Clearance Certificate elsewhere.
How do I get a Good Conduct Certificate from Dubai Police?
Apply through the Dubai Police website or smart app (or in person at a service centre) using your Emirates ID and passport, complete a fingerprint check if required, pay the fee, and receive your certificate — usually within a few working days. The process is the same whether you search for “Good Conduct Certificate” or “Police Clearance Certificate.”
Why do some forms list both “Good Conduct Certificate” and “Police Clearance Certificate”?
Because the two terms are used in different regions and administrative traditions for the same document. A form listing both is almost always describing one requirement, not two separate certificates.
Does a Good Conduct Certificate need attestation to be used abroad?
Yes, in almost all cases — the same as a Police Clearance Certificate. It needs UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) attestation, and usually embassy legalization by the destination country, before a foreign authority will accept it.
Which name should I use when applying online?
Either — Dubai Police’s own application service accepts and processes both terms as the same request. Use whichever term appears on the checklist from the authority requesting your certificate.
For document-specific guidance, see our Police Clearance Certificate definition guide, our step-by-step PCC application guide, our Police Clearance Certificate service page, or our full Attestation Services overview.
Need Your Certificate Attested?
Whether your checklist calls it a Good Conduct Certificate or a Police Clearance Certificate, getting it issued is only half the process — getting it properly attested is what makes it valid for use abroad. We handle the entire chain for you, from UAE MOFA attestation to embassy legalization, so your certificate is accepted the first time.
