If you have lived, worked or studied in China, you may eventually be asked to provide a Chinese Certificate of No Criminal Record when applying for immigration, a visa, overseas employment, further study, professional registration or permanent residence in another country.
The certificate is issued by the relevant Chinese public security authority. Depending on the requirements of the receiving institution, it may also need to be translated, notarized and authenticated before it can be used overseas.
The good news is that you can arrange the process even after leaving China. We assist foreign nationals with the entire procedure, from obtaining the police certificate to Chinese notarization, Apostille or consular legalization, and international delivery.
What Is a Chinese Certificate of No Criminal Record?
The official English name commonly used for this document is Certificate of No Criminal Record (无犯罪记录证明). You may also encounter other terms, including:
- China Police Clearance Certificate;
- Chinese Police Certificate;
- China PCC;
- China Criminal Record Check;
- China No Criminal Record Certificate.
These expressions are commonly used in overseas applications to refer to a document showing whether an individual has a criminal record in China during a specified period.
The certificate is issued following a criminal record inquiry by the relevant Chinese public security authority.
Foreigners may need this document for:
- Immigration and permanent residence applications;
- Overseas employment and background checks;
- Visa and residence permit applications;
- University admission and further study;
- Professional licensing and registration;
- Teacher or healthcare professional registration;
- Citizenship applications;
- Other legal and administrative procedures overseas.
Whether you need the certificate, and the period it must cover, depends on the requirements of the organisation receiving it.
Who Is Eligible to Apply?
Under China’s national rules on criminal record inquiries, foreigners who have resided in China for 180 days or more may apply for their criminal record information.
For foreign applicants, the application is handled by the exit-entry administration department of a public security authority at or above county level in their place of residence.
An individual may apply personally or authorise another adult to make the application on their behalf. The relevant national rules are set out in the Ministry of Public Security’s Provisions on the Handling of Criminal Record Inquiries by Public Security Organs.
If you stayed in China for less than 180 days, you should check your eligibility before starting the application, as the general national eligibility threshold may not be met.
What Period Can the Certificate Cover?
Before applying, check the period required by the receiving authority. You only need to tell us the overall period you want the certificate to cover, such as a specific date range or your entire period of residence in China.
We arrange one Certificate of No Criminal Record covering the requested period. You do not need to divide your residence history into separate periods for each city or apply for separate certificates based on different cities where you lived.
It is important to confirm the required coverage period before applying. If the receiving authority specifies particular dates or asks for your entire period of residence in China, make sure your application follows those requirements.
What Documents Do Foreigners Need?
For an initial review, we generally need clear scans of the following:
- Current passport information page;
- Previous passport information page, if you used another passport while living in China;
- Proof linking your old and new passports, if you have renewed your passport;
- Chinese visa and residence permit records;
- The exact period for which you need the Certificate of No Criminal Record.
Additional supporting documents may be requested depending on your circumstances and the application requirements.
What if you have renewed your passport?
This is common among foreigners who have lived in China for several years. Your previous Chinese visa and residence permit records may be linked to an old passport number, while your current passport shows a different number.
If your new passport lists your previous passport number, establishing the connection is generally more straightforward. If it does not, additional evidence linking the two passport numbers may be needed.
We recommend keeping scans of expired passports and previous Chinese residence permits. These documents can be particularly useful when applying for a police clearance certificate years after leaving China.
Can You Apply After Leaving China?
Yes. You do not normally need to return to China solely to obtain a Certificate of No Criminal Record.
Chinese regulations allow individuals to authorise another person to apply on their behalf. This makes remote assistance possible for former foreign residents who are now living overseas.
We can assist with the application in China while you remain abroad. In most cases, the authorisation procedure does not require a separate notarization or authentication of the authorisation letter.
In a small number of cases, additional identity confirmation may be requested. For example, you may be asked to provide a photograph of yourself holding the signed authorisation letter.
The exact requirements will be checked before submission, so you can prepare the necessary documents without making an unnecessary trip to China.
Translation of the Certificate of No Criminal Record
The police-issued Certificate of No Criminal Record is generally issued in Chinese. If you need to submit it to an overseas authority, a translation into the required language may be necessary.
We provide Chinese-to-foreign-language translation services, with common languages including:
- English;
- Spanish;
- Russian;
- Portuguese;
- Korean;
- Other languages upon request.
The translation needs to accurately reflect the applicant’s name, passport information, certificate details and the period covered.
Depending on the receiving authority’s requirements, the translation may be prepared as a separate document or incorporated into the Chinese notarial certificate.
What Is the Difference Between Police Clearance and Notarization?
This is an important distinction that many applicants overlook.
The police-issued Certificate of No Criminal Record and the Chinese Notarial Certificate of No Criminal Record are two different documents.
The first is issued by the public security authority after a criminal record inquiry. The second is prepared by a Chinese notary office for overseas use.
Option 1: Notarization of the Fact of No Criminal Record
In this case, the notary office notarizes the fact that the applicant has no criminal record in China during the specified period.
The notarial certificate confirms the relevant fact itself.
Option 2: Notarization of the Police-Issued Certificate
In this case, the notarization concerns the Certificate of No Criminal Record issued by the public security authority.
The notarial certificate is prepared based on the police-issued document, with the relevant document copy and translation included as required.
These two forms of notarization have different subjects of proof and should not be treated as interchangeable. Before proceeding, check whether the receiving authority requires proof of the fact of no criminal record or notarization of the police-issued certificate itself.
We can arrange either form according to the intended use and the receiving authority’s requirements.
Apostille or Consular Legalization: Which One Do You Need?
After Chinese notarization, further authentication may be necessary before the document can be used overseas.
The correct procedure depends on the destination country and the requirements of the receiving authority.
Apostille
If your document will be used in a country where the Apostille Convention applies between that country and China, and further authentication is required, you can generally apply for a China Apostille.
China implemented the Apostille Convention on 7 November 2023. The Apostille replaces the traditional consular legalization procedure for documents covered by the Convention.
For a Chinese police clearance application, the common document route is:
Police-issued Certificate of No Criminal Record → Chinese Notarial Certificate → China Apostille
Consular Legalization
If the destination country does not apply the Apostille Convention with China, the traditional consular legalization procedure may be required.
The usual process is:
- Chinese notarization;
- Authentication by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs or an authorized local Foreign Affairs Office;
- Legalization by the destination country’s embassy or consulate in China.
One important point: not every country or receiving institution requires further authentication. Some accept a Chinese notarial certificate directly, without an additional Apostille or embassy legalization.
Therefore, confirm the exact document requirements before choosing the authentication route.
Processing Time, Validity and Document Delivery
The following are our typical processing estimates for a complete application:
| Procedure | Estimated time |
| Police clearance application | 3–5 working days |
| Chinese notarization | 5–7 working days |
| China Apostille | Approximately 5 working days |
| Consular legalization | Approximately 2–5 weeks |
These are reference timeframes rather than guaranteed completion dates. Additional verification, document requirements or embassy processing may extend the overall period.
How long is a Chinese Certificate of No Criminal Record valid?
There is no single universal validity period applicable to every overseas application. The issuing authority’s document format and the receiving institution’s requirements both matter.
For example, some immigration or employment procedures require the certificate to have been issued within the previous three or six months. It is therefore important to check the required issue date before applying, so that the certificate does not become too old before submission.
How are the completed documents delivered?
Once notarization and any required authentication have been completed, we first send you scanned copies for reference. The original paper documents are then dispatched by courier to your designated address in China or overseas.
How We Help Foreigners Obtain a Chinese Certificate of No Criminal Record
True Words Translation provides assistance with the complete process for foreign nationals who need a Chinese Certificate of No Criminal Record for overseas use.
Our services include:
- Reviewing passport and Chinese residence information;
- Assisting with the police clearance application in China;
- Translating the certificate into English, Spanish, Russian, Portuguese, Korean or other required languages;
- Arranging notarization in the appropriate form;
- Applying for a China Apostille or consular legalization, where required;
- Providing scanned copies and arranging international courier delivery.
How to get started:
- Send us your current and previous passport information, if applicable.
- Tell us the period you need the certificate to cover.
- Let us know the country where the document will be used and the receiving authority’s requirements.
- We review your case and confirm the documents, procedure, estimated time and quotation.
- We arrange the application and subsequent document processing in China.
You can start the process remotely, even if you have already left China. In most cases, there is no need to return simply to apply for or collect the certificate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply for a Chinese Certificate of No Criminal Record if I have already left China?
Yes. Chinese regulations allow an individual to authorise another adult to apply on their behalf. We can assist with the application and subsequent procedures in China while you are overseas.
Do I need my previous passport?
If you changed passports while living in China, your previous passport information is important because historical visa and residence permit records may be linked to that passport number.
Can I obtain a Chinese police clearance certificate for several years of residence?
Yes, the requested period should be based on your actual residence history and the receiving authority’s requirements. Provide the relevant dates and cities so that the application can be arranged appropriately.
Do I need notarization before obtaining an Apostille?
For this type of overseas document package, Chinese notarization is commonly required before the Apostille. The appropriate notarial form should be confirmed with the receiving authority.
Can I receive the completed documents overseas?
Yes. We can provide scanned copies after completion and arrange international courier delivery of the original paper documents.
We can assist with the entire process, from obtaining the police certificate to translation, notarization, Apostille or consular legalization, and delivery to your overseas address.
