Guides / Government apps & documents / Certificates & embassy services
Police clearance certificate (good conduct) in Qatar
How to get a Qatar police clearance certificate (good conduct certificate) from the Ministry of Interior, whether you still live in Qatar or have already left, plus attestation, translation and common problems.
Last reviewed: 13 October 2026
- Issued by
- Ministry of Interior, Criminal Evidence and Information Department (CEID)
- Apply in Qatar
- Metrash app, MOI website or the CEID office (valid QID needed)
- Apply from abroad
- Through a Qatari embassy, by post to the CEID, or a representative with power of attorney
- Time
- Usually days to 2 weeks in Qatar; often 3 months or more through an embassy
A police clearance certificate, called a good conduct certificate in Qatar, is an official statement from the Ministry of Interior about whether you have a criminal record in Qatar. Employers, immigration authorities in countries such as Canada, Australia and the UK, universities and some visa offices ask for it, usually from every country where you have lived for a set period. It is issued by the Ministry's Criminal Evidence and Information Department (CEID), and it is far easier to get while you still hold a valid Qatar ID. This guide covers applying as a resident through Metrash, the MOI website or in person, and applying after you have left through a Qatari embassy. It also explains fingerprints, attestation, translation and the problems that most often slow people down. If you are planning to leave Qatar and might emigrate later, get one before you go.
Before you start
- Your valid Qatar ID (QID) and a Metrash account if you live in Qatar
- Your current passport, plus any old passport you used while living in Qatar
- A short letter or statement of purpose: who needs the certificate and why (job, immigration, study)
- Your dates in Qatar: first arrival and final departure, especially if you have left
- Recent passport-size photos (embassies usually ask for 3 or 4)
- A copy of your old residence permit or QID if you have already left Qatar
- A fingerprint card taken by your local police, and legalised if the embassy asks for it (former residents)
- A Visa or Mastercard for online payment, or the payment method your embassy accepts
- The receiving authority's instructions: whether it needs MOFA attestation, translation, or direct delivery
Step by step
Confirm exactly what the requester needs
Before you apply, ask whoever wants the certificate what they need: a Qatar certificate, one from your home country, or both, and for which years. Immigration authorities such as Canada's IRCC say which countries you need certificates from and how recent they must be, and some want the certificate sent to them directly. Ask whether they need it attested by Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) or translated. Also ask how recent it must be, because the receiving authority sets the age limit, not Qatar. Getting this answer first saves you applying twice.
Check your details and fingerprints are on file
The certificate is issued by the Ministry of Interior's Criminal Evidence and Information Department (CEID), which checks your record against your Qatar ID number and the fingerprints taken when you got residency. If you are a resident, your fingerprints are almost always already on file. Compare the name in your passport with the name on your QID: if you have changed passport, name spelling or nationality, have both old and new passports ready. Time spent in Qatar only as a visitor is not covered, because certificates are issued only to people with a residence ID number.
Read guide: Get your Qatar ID (residence permit) →Apply in the Metrash app (residents)
If you live in Qatar and have a valid QID, the easiest route is Metrash, the Ministry of Interior's app. The Ministry added police clearance certificates to the redesigned Metrash app in March 2025. Log in, open the certificates or police clearance service, fill in the purpose of the request, upload anything it asks for, and pay by card. The app lets you apply for yourself or for a family member you sponsor. Note your request number so you can track it.
Read guide: Metrash: registering and using Qatar's Ministry of Interior app →Or apply on the MOI website or in person
You can also apply through the Ministry of Interior portal (portal.moi.gov.qa) with the same QID-based login, or go to the CEID office on Salwa Road. The office has reported working hours of about 6am to 12pm, Sunday to Thursday, closed Friday and Saturday, so go early. In person, bring your original passport and QID, copies, passport photos and a letter stating why you need the certificate. If your fingerprints are not on file, they are taken at the office.
Choose where the certificate goes
Pay attention to the purpose and delivery options when you apply. Canada's IRCC says that if you request the certificate through Metrash for Canadian immigration, the Ministry of Interior emails it directly to IRCC, which means you may not receive a copy to upload yourself. For a job, a visa abroad or a university, you normally need the certificate in your own hands. If you are unsure, ask the CEID before submitting rather than after.
Track the request and collect the certificate
Track the status in Metrash or on the MOI portal using your request number. Inside Qatar the process usually takes days rather than weeks: the UK government lists up to 2 weeks, and recent guides report around 5 to 7 working days when nothing is missing. When it is ready, follow the instructions in the app or message; some people are asked to collect the paper certificate at the CEID office. If it is taking longer, call or email the CEID with your request number.
Get it attested by MOFA if it will be used abroad
Many countries and employers want proof that a Qatari document is genuine. In Qatar this is done by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA): since October 2024 MOFA has offered electronic attestation of police clearance certificates issued by the Ministry of Interior through its website. Qatar is not part of the Apostille Convention, so an apostille is not available; the destination country may also want its own embassy in Doha to legalise the document after MOFA. Check the current MOFA fee when you apply, and do this before you leave Qatar if you can.
Read guide: Attesting your degree for Qatar: the full chain →Arrange a translation if needed
Check which language your certificate is issued in. If the receiving authority needs English or French and any part is in Arabic, get a certified translation. Canada, for example, asks for a certified translation of any document not in English or French, along with the original. Use a translator whose certification the receiving country accepts, and keep the original and the translation together.
Already left Qatar? Apply through a Qatari embassy
Former residents who have permanently left Qatar apply through a Qatari embassy or consulate in the country where they now live. The embassy sends the request to MOFA in Doha, which passes it to the CEID, and the reply comes back through the same embassy. Each embassy sets its own document list and fee. As an example, the Qatar Embassy in London asks for a police fingerprint record certified by the foreign office, four photos, copies of old and new passports and your old residence permit, and a cover letter giving your dates in Qatar. It charges GBP 80 and warns of at least three months' processing.
Read guide: Leaving Qatar for good: a step-by-step exit checklist →Get your fingerprints taken and legalised
If the embassy asks for fingerprints, get a full set taken by your local police or an approved fingerprinting service on the form it accepts. Many embassies want that fingerprint form certified or legalised by the local foreign ministry before you send it, which adds time. Fingerprints for a police certificate are separate from any biometrics you give for a visa application. Ask the embassy which form it accepts before you book, because a rejected form can cost you weeks.
Use other routes from abroad if the embassy is slow
There are other options if you cannot easily reach an embassy. The UK government lists applying by post directly to the CEID, Ministry of Interior, P.O. Box 23004, Doha, with a request letter, full passport copies, fingerprints, three photos and a return envelope. IRCC says a friend, relative or colleague in Qatar can apply for you at the CEID with a power of attorney, which must usually be attested in your country, at the Qatar embassy and by MOFA. If your QID is still valid, you may still be able to apply online.
Getting a home-country certificate for a Qatar job
Some employers, licensing bodies or visa cases in Qatar ask for a police certificate from your own country, usually attested for use in Qatar. Indian citizens in India apply on the Passport Seva portal (passportindia.gov.in) and attend a Passport Seva Kendra, and local police may verify the address. Indian citizens already abroad apply through their Indian embassy or consulate. Qatar does not accept apostilles, so the certificate usually needs the home-country attestation chain, then the Qatar embassy, then MOFA in Doha.
Read guide: Attesting your degree for Qatar: the full chain →
What it costs
| CEID certificate fee (listed by GOV.UK; confirm in Metrash before paying) | QAR 10 |
| Application through the Qatar Embassy in London (other embassies set their own fees) | GBP 80 |
Official fees at the time of review. Fees change, so confirm before paying.
Common mistakes
- Waiting until after you leave Qatar: applying from abroad can take months and needs legalised fingerprints
- Name in your passport not matching your QID or the application, for example a missing middle name or changed spelling
- Leaving out an old passport you used in Qatar, so your record cannot be matched to all your years here
- Letting the certificate go out of date before you submit it: the receiving authority decides how recent it must be
- Sending a fingerprint form the embassy does not accept, or one that has not been legalised
- Choosing direct delivery to an immigration authority when you actually needed a copy yourself, or the other way round
- Forgetting MOFA attestation or a certified translation when the receiving country requires them
Questions people ask
Is a police clearance certificate the same as a good conduct certificate?
Yes. In Qatar the Ministry of Interior issues one document, often called a good conduct certificate, which other countries and employers call a police clearance certificate or PCC. It is issued by the Criminal Evidence and Information Department. When a form asks for a police certificate from Qatar, this is the one.
Can I get a Qatar PCC after I have cancelled my residence permit and left?
Yes. Former residents can apply through a Qatari embassy or consulate in the country where they now live, by post to the CEID, or through a representative in Qatar with a power of attorney. It takes much longer than applying from inside Qatar, and you will usually need a fingerprint card from your local police.
How long does it take?
Inside Qatar, it usually takes days to about two weeks, depending on whether anything needs checking. Through an embassy it is much slower: the Qatar Embassy in London warns of at least three months. Plan ahead if an immigration deadline is involved.
I was in Qatar only on visit visas. Can I get a certificate?
Generally no. Canada's IRCC notes that Qatar issues clearances only to residents with an ID number, because visitors do not get one. If an immigration authority asks about your visits, it suggests giving a written explanation of your visit dates and passport copies showing your entry stamps.
Will Canada accept the certificate if MOI sends it directly?
IRCC says that if you request the certificate through Metrash, the Ministry of Interior emails it directly to IRCC. Follow the instructions in your IRCC application on how to show that you requested it. If you also need a copy for yourself, ask the CEID.
Can someone in Qatar apply for me?
Yes. A friend, relative or colleague can apply at the CEID on your behalf with a power of attorney. The power of attorney usually has to be attested in your country, at the Qatar embassy there and by MOFA in Doha, so allow time for that chain. Ask the CEID what else the representative must bring.
Does my Qatar PCC need attestation?
Only if the receiving authority asks for it. Many immigration authorities accept the certificate as issued, while employers and foreign ministries often want MOFA attestation. MOFA offers electronic attestation of MOI police clearance certificates; an apostille is not available because Qatar is not part of the Apostille Convention.
Do I need a police certificate from my home country to work in Qatar?
It depends on your employer, job and visa type, so ask your employer's PRO. If one is required, it usually has to be attested in your home country and by the Qatar embassy there, then by MOFA in Qatar. Indian citizens in India apply through the Passport Seva portal.
Official sources
- Hukoomi: Apply for Good Conduct Certificate at Ministry of Interior ↗
- Hukoomi: Good Conduct Certificate through MOFA (former residents) ↗
- Government of Canada (IRCC): How to get a police certificate – Qatar ↗
- GOV.UK: Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Qatar) ↗
- Qatar Embassy London: Police clearance from Qatar ↗
- MOFA Qatar: electronic attestation of police clearance certificates ↗
Always check the official source before acting. QatarSteps is independent and not a government website.