UAE requires police character certificate for Pakistani employment visas

The Pakistan Airport Authority (PAA) has started implementing the UAE's new requirement for a police character certificate for employment visas. The directive, communicated via a letter from the PAA, mandates that Pakistanis travelling to the UAE on work visas must include a police clearance certificate among their application documents.

The Bureau of Immigration and Overseas Employment has issued instructions to all relevant offices to enforce this rule immediately.

The Bureau's letter, sent to Protectorates of Emigrants across Pakistan, including offices in Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, Sialkot, and others, directs officials to ensure police certificates are obtained before registration. It also instructed all Overseas Employment Promoters to comply with the new condition without delay.

On November 11, the Chief Operating Officer of the PAA wrote to the Ministry of Aviation, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), and Bureau of Immigration, urging strict enforcement at airports. "Police character certificates must be verified for all workers travelling to the UAE on employment visas," the letter stated.

This step is aimed at preventing individuals with criminal backgrounds or activities from entering the UAE. The FIA and immigration officials have been instructed to ensure compliance at all departure points.

Adnan Paracha, Vice President of the Overseas Employment Promoters Association of Pakistan, confirmed the development to Nukta. "This condition applies specifically to employment visas. It does not affect those travelling on visit visas," he said.

He added that the move may have been prompted by complaints of Pakistanis resorting to begging in the UAE. However, Paracha clarified, "Such cases are rare among individuals with work visas, as they are employed by companies after thorough documentation."

A travel agent, speaking anonymously, noted that the UAE has tightened visit visa policies for certain Pakistani cities, including Quetta, Nawabshah, and Sukkur. "For the last five months, individual visit visas have been challenging to obtain, though family visas remain accessible," he said.

This measure reflects increasing scrutiny by UAE authorities regarding foreign workers. By implementing police certificate requirements, authorities aim to maintain order and address complaints of illegal activities by expatriates.

The PAA and Bureau of Immigration have assured the public of smooth processes for obtaining police clearance to meet this new requirement.