Criminal Record Legalization for Use in the UAE

If you are relocating to the United Arab Emirates for employment, residency, immigration, security clearance, or professional licensing, you may be required to present a Criminal Record issued in the United States. To be accepted in the UAE, this document must undergo a full legalization process to verify its authenticity and legal validity.

The U.S. Arab Chamber of Commerce provides complete support in legalizing U.S. Criminal Records for use in the UAE through state-level authentication, U.S. Department of State certification, and UAE Embassy attestation.

Types of Criminal Records Eligible for Legalization

The following U.S.-issued documents can be legalized for use in the UAE:

• State-issued Criminal Background Checks
  
  

• Local Police Clearance Reports
  
  

• County Sheriff’s Criminal Records
  
  

• Court-Issued Criminal Case Summaries
  
  

• FBI Criminal Background Check Reports
  
  

Note: If your document is an FBI Background Check, it must first be obtained directly from the FBI or an approved channeler and printed on official FBI security paper.

Required Documents

To begin processing, provide:

• An original or certified Criminal Record issued by a police department, sheriff’s office, or government authority
  (Photocopies, scans, and digital-only versions are not accepted unless specifically certified.)
  
  

If you do not yet have a certified copy, we can assist in obtaining the correct version.

Legalization Process

1. Verification of Issuance
   The document must be confirmed as an original or properly certified criminal record from an authorized U.S. agency.
   
   

2. State-Level Authentication
   The certified document is authenticated by the Secretary of State in the state where it was issued.
   
   

3. U.S. Department of State Authentication
   The document is then authenticated at the federal level by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C.
   
   

4. UAE Embassy Legalization
   Finally, the document is legalized by the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates, confirming its authenticity for official use.
   
   

Once legalized, the criminal record is considered valid for submission to UAE government offices, employers, consular authorities, and legal agencies.

Why Legalization Is Required

The UAE requires all foreign-issued documents to be legalized to:

• Confirm that the document is genuine
  
  

• Prevent fraud or altered records
  
  

• Ensure compatibility with UAE legal and administrative systems
  
  

Without legalization, your criminal record will be rejected, resulting in application delays and compliance issues.

Processing Time

Processing times vary depending on document origin and federal authentication timelines. Expedited processing options are available.

Why Work With the U.S. Arab Chamber of Commerce

• Direct coordination with state and federal authentication offices
  
  

• Full handling of embassy submission and return delivery
  
  

• Professional support to avoid delays, errors, or rejections
  
  

• Secure tracking of documents throughout the process
  
  

FAQs

1. Can I submit a printed PDF criminal record?
No. The document must be an original or certified copy issued by the appropriate authority.

2. Do I need to translate the document for UAE use?
Translation is only required after legalization if requested by the UAE receiving authority.

3. Can you legalize FBI Background Checks?
Yes. Both FBI-issued and state-issued criminal records can be processed.

4. What if my criminal record shows an incident?
Legalization does not change the content. It only confirms authenticity.

5. How long is the legalized document valid in the UAE?
Most institutions accept it for up to 90 days. Check with the authority requesting the document.