What Filipino workers, employers, and UAE businesses need to know about the new Certificate of Good Conduct requirement
If you are a Filipino planning to apply for a new UAE employment visa, there is an important compliance requirement you should prepare for.
Starting 15 August 2026, Filipino nationals will be included in the second phase of the UAE’s new requirement for a Certificate of Good Conduct, commonly known as a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC).
For Filipino applicants, the document generally corresponds to the NBI Clearance issued by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in the Philippines.
This is not simply another document to add to a visa application. Because the certificate needs to go through the appropriate authentication and attestation process, applicants and employers should plan ahead to avoid delays in the work visa application.
The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP) has introduced a phased requirement requiring nationals of specified countries to provide a duly attested Certificate of Good Conduct for applicable employment visa applications.
The ICP’s visa service information specifically lists a Certificate of Good Conduct, duly attested as required, according to the announced categories among the documents that may be required for work-related visa processing.
The requirement is being implemented in three phases.
The first group covers 23 nationalities, including countries such as India, Pakistan, Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, Syria, Nepal, Iraq and others.
The second phase covers 11 nationalities, including:
The Philippines is therefore scheduled to enter the second phase on 15 August 2026.
The final group includes another 11 nationalities, including China, Iran, South Africa, Serbia, Belarus, Georgia and others.
In total, the phased rollout covers 45 nationalities.
For Filipino applicants, the important document is the NBI Clearance.
The Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi explains that the Certificate of Good Conduct, also referred to as a “No Criminal Record” certificate, may be obtained through the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
The Embassy further states that the NBI Clearance must undergo authentication by the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs and attestation by the UAE Embassy in Manila.
In simple terms:
NBI Clearance → Philippine authentication → UAE Embassy attestation → UAE employment visa application
Applicants should not treat the NBI Clearance as a standalone document. The authentication and attestation chain is an important part of making the document acceptable for the UAE visa process.
One of the biggest mistakes applicants can make is waiting until the employer is ready to submit the UAE employment visa application.
Obtaining a police or good conduct certificate may involve several steps, particularly when the applicant is already outside the Philippines.
The Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi provides procedures for Filipinos in the UAE who need an NBI Clearance, including the use of NBI Form No. 5, fingerprinting, consular notarisation and authorising a representative in the Philippines to process the clearance.
That means the process may involve coordination between:
The applicant → Philippine Embassy → NBI Philippines → Philippine DFA → UAE Embassy in Manila → UAE visa processing authority
Because of this, employers and applicants should consider the document requirement before starting the employment visa application rather than treating it as an afterthought.
Document authentication and attestation are not merely administrative formalities.
If a document requires translation, applicants should verify the required language and processing sequence with the relevant authorities before proceeding.
A document that has been improperly authenticated, attested or prepared may cause additional processing, rejection or delays.
For Filipino applicants, the Philippine Embassy’s published guidance confirms the authentication and UAE Embassy attestation requirements for the NBI Clearance.
Best practice: Before spending money on translation, authentication or attestation, confirm the current requirements with the relevant UAE and Philippine authorities.
This is where applicants need to understand the difference between:
an existing UAE residence/work visa
and
a new employment visa application.
The new requirement is primarily relevant to applicants falling within the announced categories when applying for the applicable new employment/work entry visa.
If you are already legally employed and residing in the UAE, do not automatically assume that you need to obtain a new NBI Clearance simply because you are Filipino.
Your situation can be different depending on whether you are:
Always verify the requirement applicable to your specific visa transaction before processing.
This change is not only an applicant’s responsibility.
UAE employers hiring Filipino workers should also update their internal recruitment and onboarding procedures.
Instead of waiting until the employment visa application is ready, employers should inform candidates early that a good conduct certificate may be required.
A practical compliance checklist would include:
1. Confirm the applicant’s nationality
Check whether the applicant belongs to one of the nationalities covered by the applicable phase.
2. Confirm the type of visa
Determine whether the application is for an applicable employment/work entry visa.
3. Inform the applicant about the NBI requirement
For Filipino applicants, advise them early about obtaining the appropriate NBI Clearance.
4. Verify authentication and attestation requirements
Make sure the document follows the required Philippine and UAE authentication/attestation process.
5. Keep sufficient processing time
Do not schedule the employee’s joining date based solely on the assumption that the visa can be completed immediately.
6. Recheck the latest requirements
Immigration requirements can be updated. Employers and applicants should verify the latest requirements with ICP and the relevant diplomatic authorities before submitting documents.
It is important to put the announcement into context.
The Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi has previously published guidance regarding the Certificate of Good Conduct requirement for new foreign workers and identified the NBI Clearance as the Philippine document used for this purpose.
What is changing in 2026 is the phased implementation covering specific nationalities, with the Philippines included in the group scheduled for 15 August 2026.
Therefore, Filipino applicants should view the August 15 implementation as an important UAE visa compliance update, rather than simply another document request from an individual employer.
If you are planning to apply for a new UAE employment visa after the implementation date, consider preparing the following:
The exact requirements can vary depending on the visa category, authority and individual circumstances.
ICP’s official visa service information lists passport, photograph, medical documentation, employment documentation and, for the announced categories, a duly attested Certificate of Good Conduct among the relevant requirements.
If you are planning to work in the UAE, don’t wait until your visa application is already being processed before asking about your police clearance.
Starting 15 August 2026, Filipino nationals are scheduled to fall under the second phase of the UAE’s Certificate of Good Conduct requirement.
Your NBI Clearance may need to go through additional authentication and attestation procedures before it can be used for the UAE employment visa process.
A little preparation can prevent unnecessary delays.
Check your nationality.
Check your visa category.
Prepare your NBI Clearance.
Complete the required authentication and attestation.
Then proceed with the UAE employment visa application.
For employers and employees, immigration compliance is not just about submitting forms.
It is about making sure that the right document is obtained, processed, authenticated and submitted at the right stage.
As the UAE continues to strengthen its immigration and security-screening procedures, applicants should expect documentation requirements to become increasingly important.
If you are a Filipino preparing to work in the UAE, or a UAE employer planning to hire Filipino workers, start checking the requirements before the visa application is submitted.
Requirements can change, and individual cases may have different documentary requirements. Always verify the latest instructions directly with the relevant UAE authority and the Philippine Embassy before processing.
Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP)
ICP’s official visa service information identifies a duly attested Certificate of Good Conduct as a requirement for the announced categories.
ICP – UAE Visa Services
Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi
The Embassy provides guidance identifying NBI Clearance as the Certificate of Good Conduct for Filipinos and outlines the authentication and UAE Embassy attestation process.
Philippine Embassy Abu Dhabi – NBI Clearance for Certificate of Good Conduct
The Global Filipino Magazine
Reported the phased implementation and identified the Philippines under the second phase effective 15 August 2026.
The Global Filipino Magazine – UAE Police Clearance Update
Additional reference:
A 2026 nationality-by-phase breakdown also lists the Philippines under Phase 2, effective 15 August 2026.
Important: This article is intended for general information and compliance awareness. Immigration requirements may be amended by UAE authorities. Applicants and employers should verify the current requirements with ICP and the relevant Philippine diplomatic authorities before submitting a visa application.
