I was convicted in a case and served a sentence. Can I get a police clearance certificate to join a job?

Dear Sir/Madam,

Thank you for reaching out regarding your rehabilitation process and new employment opportunity. We appreciate the sensitive nature of your inquiry and are pleased to provide the following professional guidance:

1. Rehabilitation Certificate: Your initiative to obtain a rehabilitation certificate from Dubai is a positive step. This process, known as Judicial Rehabilitation, can indeed help clear your criminal record.

2. Ministry of Interior (MOI) Records: Upon successful rehabilitation, your record should be cleared in the UAE's centralized system, including the MOI database.

3. Police Clearance Certificate: Following rehabilitation, you should be eligible to receive a clean police clearance certificate from the MOI.

4. Application Process: We recommend promptly submitting your rehabilitation request to the Dubai Public Prosecution Office.

5. Employer Communication: While awaiting the completion of this process, consider discussing the situation with your potential employer in Abu Dhabi, emphasizing your proactive approach to resolving this matter.

Please note that processing times may vary. We advise initiating this process as soon as possible to align with your new employment timeline.

Should you require any further assistance or clarification, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Thank you,

ABDUL WAHIED

Dear A,

Thank you for your inquiry.

In the UAE, the rehabilitation certificate that you are seeking from Dubai primarily serves to attest to the fact that you have completed your sentence and that you have rehabilitated yourself after your conviction.

It is usually issued after fulfilling the legal requirements for rehabilitation, and it indicates that you have successfully reintegrated into society.

However, obtaining a rehabilitation certificate from Dubai does not automatically clear your name from the MOI (Ministry of Interior) records.

The police clearance certificate issued by MOI is a separate document, and it is typically generated based on the criminal records available at the national level.

Process for clearing your name with the MOI:

Rehabilitation Certificate: Once you receive the rehabilitation certificate from Dubai, it will show that you have completed your sentence and met the rehabilitation requirements, which could support your application for a clean police clearance certificate.

Requesting Police Clearance from MOI:

After obtaining the rehabilitation certificate, you can apply for a police clearance certificate directly from the MOI.

If your rehabilitation process is complete and has been recognized by the authorities, this can potentially affect your criminal record status.

However, each emirate or federal authority may have its own procedures for handling criminal records and rehabilitation certifications.

Possibility of a Clean Police Record:

While the rehabilitation certificate will reflect that you have reformed, the MOI may still include details of your previous conviction when issuing a police clearance.

However, if your rehabilitation is successful, and depending on the policy of the MOI, you may be able to request a clean police clearance, especially if the offense was minor and you've completed all the rehabilitation requirements.

Recommended Steps:

Ensure you have completed all rehabilitation requirements: Make sure that you have followed all necessary procedures and documentation for rehabilitation.

Request the police clearance from MOI after receiving the rehabilitation certificate: Present your rehabilitation certificate to the MOI when you apply for the police clearance.

Follow up with the HR department: Discuss your situation with the HR department of your new job to ensure that they are aware of your situation and to clarify their requirements for police clearance.

It is possible that with a successful rehabilitation process, you may receive a police clearance without criminal records listed, but this will depend on the policies of the MOI at the time of your application.

Please let me know if you need further assistance.

Best regards,

Mohammed Salah

Legal Consultant