September 2026 | UAE Visa & Immigration Update
An important update has been announced regarding the Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) requirement for UAE visa applications.
Further to the previous communication dated 20 August 2026, applicants holding the nationality of India, Syria, or Iraq are now exempted from the mandatory PCC requirement for visa applications.
India, Syria and Iraq No Longer Require PCC
The following three nationalities have been removed from the mandatory PCC requirement:
- India
- Syria
- Iraq
This means visa applicants from these countries can proceed with their applications without submitting an attested Police Clearance Certificate, subject to the applicable visa requirements.
34 Nationalities Still Require PCC
The PCC requirement continues to apply to applicants from 34 nationalities. Applicants holding any of the nationalities below must submit an attested Police Clearance Certificate as part of their visa application:
- Afghanistan
- Albania
- Algeria
- Bangladesh
- Bhutan
- Bulgaria
- Cameroon
- Colombia
- Cuba
- Cyprus
- Egypt
- Ethiopia
- Fiji
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Kenya
- Lebanon
- Lithuania
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Nepal
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Philippines
- Senegal
- Somalia
- Sri Lanka
- Sudan
- Tonga
- Tunisia
- Uganda
- Zimbabwe
Previously Returned Applications Can Be Resubmitted
Channel Partners (CPs) and clients may now proceed with visa applications for Indian, Syrian and Iraqi nationals without the PCC requirement.
If an application was previously returned or held due to the PCC requirement for any of these three nationalities, applicants are advised to resubmit the application at the earliest.
PCC Requirement Remains for Other Nationalities
The exemption applies specifically to India, Syria and Iraq. The PCC requirement remains applicable to the other nationalities listed above unless a further official update is issued.
As immigration and visa requirements can change periodically, applicants and Channel Partners are advised to confirm the latest PCC requirements with the relevant free zone or immigration authority before submitting a visa application.
Source: Update issued by Shams Free Zone LLC regarding the PCC requirement for visa applications.
