DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Saturday introduced an amendmentto its work visa policy by adding a certificate proving the applicant’sgood conduct to therequirements.

The change — effective today (February 4, 2018, Sunday) — will be a majorone to the Emirates’ visa system for expatriate, migrant workers and isimplemented to verify that they do not have a criminal record either intheir home country or a previous country of residence.

According to Khaleej Timeslink>,”the ‘Coordination Committee to execute Cabinet Resolution No. (1/8#) for2017’ will require those coming to the UAE for the purpose of work toobtain the ‘Good Conduct and Behaviour Certificate’ as [the]main conditionto receive a work visa”.

The certificate is only applicable to the applicant (or the worker) and nottheir dependents. Any other type of travellers — including visitors,tourists or students — are not obligated to obtain it.

All expatriates who apply for a job in the UAE must now obtain acertificate of good conduct first in order to be issued a work permit. Thecertificate should then be attested by the UAE’s diplomatic missions orMinistry of Health and Prevention’s overseas Customer Happiness Centers.

As per UAE’s authorities, the new, stricter security checks are employed tohelp safeguard the country’s national security and create a safer community.

Earlier this year, a committee — in charge of implementing the cabinetresolution — had announced the certificate be issued by the person’scountry of origin or that where the applicant has resided in the past fiveyears.

It would then be ratified by the state’s mission as well as the UAEMinistry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MoFAIC).