United Arab Emirates
If you now live in Canada and previously lived, worked, or studied in United Arab Emirates,
many immigration, employment, and licensing processes will ask you for a United Arab Emirates Police Clearance Certificate (PCC)
in addition to your Canadian one. Getting fingerprinted correctly is usually the first step. This guide walks through how that works
while you’re based in Canada, and how Surrey Fingerprint Company can help with the fingerprinting part.
Visit Surrey Fingerprint Company for professional, correctly-formatted fingerprints for your United Arab Emirates police clearance
application. Email info@surreyfingerprint.com
beforehand so we can confirm the exact form and format UAE Ministry of Interior — Police Department (via the appropriate Emirate), processed through the UAE Embassy in Canada currently requires.
Why Would Someone in Canada Need a United Arab Emirates PCC?
- Canadian immigration & citizenship (IRCC): if you lived in United Arab Emirates for 6 months or more before moving to Canada, IRCC may require a police certificate from United Arab Emirates as part of permanent residency, sponsorship, or citizenship applications.
- Immigration to a third country: if you are applying to move from Canada to another country (e.g. Australia, the UK, the US, or elsewhere), that country’s character/background check requirements often ask for a clearance from every country you’ve lived in for an extended period, including United Arab Emirates.
- Employment & licensing: some regulated professions and international employers request a background check covering your time in United Arab Emirates.
- Legal, banking, or property matters: some processes back in United Arab Emirates may themselves ask you to complete identity verification via fingerprints while abroad.
The General Process From Canada
Because you’re applying from outside United Arab Emirates, the typical path is: get fingerprinted locally in Canada in the exact
format UAE Ministry of Interior — Police Department (via the appropriate Emirate), processed through the UAE Embassy in Canada accepts, then send that fingerprint record to them along with the rest of your
application package.
Contact United Arab Emirates’s issuing authority first
Confirm the current application form, required fingerprint format, fee, and mailing/submission method directly with
UAE Ministry of Interior — Police Department (via the appropriate Emirate), processed through the UAE Embassy in Canada — requirements can change, so always check before your appointment.
Get fingerprinted at Surrey Fingerprint Company
Bring valid photo ID and any required form. The fingerprint format usually requested for a United Arab Emirates PCC is:
Ink-and-Roll Fingerprinting (Paper Card). We offer both ink-and-roll and digital fingerprinting on-site.
We complete your card correctly
We take your fingerprints on the correct form, complete any required identity/witness sections, and provide the card or
document ready to send.
Send your package to United Arab Emirates
Mail or submit your fingerprint card along with your application form, ID copies, photos, and fee (as required) to
UAE Ministry of Interior — Police Department (via the appropriate Emirate), processed through the UAE Embassy in Canada. Use a tracked courier for original documents.
IMPORTANT recent development: effective June 16, 2026, the UAE made the Good Conduct Certificate mandatory as part of the UAE visa process for applicants from 23 specific nationalities — this significantly increases demand for this exact document, worth highlighting in the post. If you have a UAE Emirates ID from your time there, Canadian fingerprints may not be needed — some applications can be completed with the UAE ID and passport copies alone. If you do not have a UAE ID, the process is: (1) get an original ink ten-print fingerprint card taken in Canada (an RCMP-accredited agency such as Surrey Fingerprint Company can do this), (2) have it stamped/notarized by a Canadian notary public, (3) authenticated by Global Affairs Canada, (4) legalized/attested at the UAE Embassy in Ottawa, (5) couriered to an agent/representative in the relevant Emirate, (6) submitted to the Police Department at the Ministry of Interior in that Emirate, then (7) couriered back once issued. The certificate itself must also be attested by the UAE Embassy before the receiving UAE authority will accept it.
Mailing address:
UAE Embassy, 125 Boteler Street, Ottawa, ON K1N 0A4
Receive your United Arab Emirates PCC
Processing time is Multi-step process (notarization, Global Affairs authentication, embassy legalization, courier to and from the UAE) — commonly several weeks; confirm current timelines with the UAE Embassy or a legalization service. Some authorities mail the certificate directly to your Canadian
address; others may require pickup via a consulate or representative.
Source: Official guidance for United Arab Emirates. Requirements can change; always confirm current details on the official page before applying.
the current requirement before your appointment so you don’t need to redo it.
clearance applications can change without notice. Always confirm current requirements directly with
UAE Ministry of Interior — Police Department (via the appropriate Emirate), processed through the UAE Embassy in Canada before your appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get fingerprinted in Surrey for a United Arab Emirates PCC?
Yes. Surrey Fingerprint Company offers both ink-and-roll and digital fingerprinting, and can prepare your fingerprint card or document in the format most commonly requested for United Arab Emirates applications. Contact us to confirm the exact form before your visit.
How long does it take to get a PCC from United Arab Emirates while living in Canada?
Timelines vary widely by country and by how the application is submitted. As a general estimate: Multi-step process (notarization, Global Affairs authentication, embassy legalization, courier to and from the UAE) — commonly several weeks; confirm current timelines with the UAE Embassy or a legalization service. Confirm current processing times with the issuing authority.
Do I need an original fingerprint card, or is a scan acceptable?
This depends on United Arab Emirates's current requirements — some authorities require original ink cards mailed physically, others accept digital submissions. We'll help you confirm which applies before you leave our office.
Can Surrey Fingerprint Company submit my application to United Arab Emirates for me?
We handle the fingerprinting step. Submission of the full application package is generally your responsibility (or your immigration consultant/lawyer's), unless otherwise noted for a specific country.
Get Fingerprinted for Your United Arab Emirates PCC — Surrey, BC
Email us before your visit so we can confirm the correct form and format for United Arab Emirates.
+1 (604) 825-8882 · info@surreyfingerprint.com