Police Clearance Certificate (PCC): Meaning and Certified Translation in the UAE
Send the complete certificate and the recipient's requirement. We confirm the right translation type before you pay.
MOJ Licensed Legal Translator Khaled Mohamed Abdeltawab Aladl (MOJ License #701) · A digital draft in 60 minutes applies only to a standard document, when the scan is clear, all required stamps are visible, and translator availability is confirmed.
Send Your DocumentPCC full form is Police Clearance Certificate. It is a document issued by a police or government authority that reports the result of a criminal-record check.
Your country may use another name, such as Good Conduct Certificate, Police Character Certificate, criminal record certificate or background check. The name may change, but the first translation question stays the same:
What exactly did the receiving person or organisation ask you to submit?
A translation reproduces the PCC record; it does not interpret, soften or silently correct it. Follow MOFA only when the receiver confirms it is required.
Start with the recipient, not the label
They asked for MOJ or legal translation
MOJ legal-translator stamp
Send the PCC and the written requirement. We confirm the MOJ legal-translation scope before payment.
They accept a company-certified translation
Translation-company stamp
Choose this only when the recipient confirms that a company stamp is sufficient for the submission.
They wrote “certified” or “authenticated”
Ask before ordering
Those words can describe different stamps or a separate attestation process. Ask what must appear on the final file.
Send one clear WhatsApp message
Send these four things
- 1. Every page of the PCC
- 2. The original language
- 3. Where you will submit it
- 4. The instruction or deadline
A screenshot from the recipient or portal is more useful than guessing what “certified” means.
Send your PCC on WhatsAppWhat the translation should preserve
The translation should reproduce the information visible on the certificate, including:
- Your name as shown on the PCC.
- Certificate or reference numbers.
- The issuing authority and place of issue.
- Issue dates and any stated validity information.
- The issuing authority’s wording about the record-check result.
- Visible seals, endorsements and notes that form part of the document.
If the PCC spelling differs from your passport, show us both documents. We can reproduce the source accurately, but only the receiving party can decide whether the difference is acceptable.
Before you send the document
Send every page
Include reverse sides, continuation pages and attached stamps.
Use clear images
Keep corners, seals, handwritten notes and small print visible.
Name the recipient
Tell us whether this is for an authority, employer, adviser or private organisation.
Share the instruction
Send the checklist, email or portal wording whenever possible.
When MOJ legal translation is requested, the work is executed through Arkan Legal Translation, MOJ Licence #701. The current licence details are available on our credentials page.
More detail, only if you need it
Different names for a PCC
Documents described as a Good Conduct Certificate, Police Character Certificate, criminal record certificate, police verification, background check or no-criminal-record certificate may serve a similar purpose.
Do not rely on the name alone. Send the complete document so the heading, issuing authority and result can be translated as they appear.
English PCC: translate it or submit it as issued?
An English PCC does not automatically need Arabic translation for every UAE use. The answer depends on the receiving party’s instruction.
If they require Arabic or MOJ legal translation, send the final certificate for review. If they accept English as issued, do not buy an unnecessary translation.
Translation and attestation are different
Translation changes the language and certifies the translation. Attestation verifies the original document through a separate process.
If your recipient has confirmed that UAE MOFA attestation is required, complete that step first. Then translate the final document with every required stamp visible. Read the attestation-first explanation.
PCCs from more than one country
If the recipient asks for certificates from several countries, send each certificate separately and identify its issuing country and language.
Do not assume that one translated certificate satisfies a requirement for another country. The recipient should confirm the document list.
If the certificate shows a record or offence
The translation must reflect the certificate accurately. We do not change, soften, omit or interpret the issuing authority’s wording.
The receiving party decides how the information affects an application. Translation is not legal or immigration advice.
Related help
- See the PCC translation pricing page when you already know the requested stamp.
- Compare an MOJ legal-translator stamp with a company stamp.
- Review PCC translation for entry-permit files.
- Check the broader Golden Visa translation service if the certificate belongs to a larger document set.
- Read our attestation guidance only when attestation forms part of the recipient’s requirements.
If the wording you received is unclear, send the PCC and the instruction by WhatsApp. We will confirm the translation deliverable before payment.
How It Works
Send the complete PCC
Include every page and all visible stamps. Clear phone photos are fine for the first review.
Tell us where you will submit it
Send the authority, employer, portal or recipient name and any written requirement you received.
We confirm the requested deliverable
We confirm the translation stamp, quote and turnaround before payment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about our translation services.
What does PCC stand for?
PCC stands for Police Clearance Certificate. Different countries may use names such as Good Conduct Certificate, Police Character Certificate, criminal record certificate or background check.
How much does PCC translation cost?
A standard one-page PCC has a fixed price, shown in the document list on this page and on our pricing page; both read the same product record. A certificate with more pages, an attachment or an unusual format is quoted after we see it. The receiving authority makes the final acceptance decision.
Does every PCC need Arabic translation in the UAE?
No. A PCC issued in the UAE and submitted to a UAE authority most likely does not need translation. First ask the UAE Police or Ministry of Interior issuing authority whether it can reissue the certificate in English or Arabic. A UAE-issued PCC does need translation when a foreign authority requires another language—for example, a Spanish embassy requiring Spanish. Most PCCs we translate are issued outside the UAE and submitted inside the UAE; translate those into Arabic, or English where the receiving authority accepts it.
Do I need an MOJ legal translation or a company stamp?
Use an MOJ-licensed legal translator when the recipient explicitly requests MOJ or legal translation. Use a company-stamped translation only when the recipient confirms that it is sufficient.
Does the PCC need attestation before translation?
Only follow an attestation process when the receiving party has confirmed it is required. If UAE MOFA attestation is required, complete it first and translate the final stamped document afterwards.
What if my PCC contains a record or offence?
The translation must reflect what appears on the certificate. We do not change, omit or interpret the issuing authority's wording, and we cannot advise how the recipient will assess it.
What should I send for a quote?
Send every page of the PCC, the original language, the recipient or submission destination, any written requirement, and your deadline. We confirm the scope before payment.
Not Sure What Your Documents Need?
Send your document. We check the requirements, tell you what is needed, and confirm the right path before you spend anything.