When a U.K citizen engages in commercial activities, works in a company, or applies for long-term residence in China, the domestic government departments will require the applicant to provide a U.K police certificate certified by the Chinese Embassy or Consulate in the U.K.
The validity period of the report is not clearly stated on the U.K police certificate, but the Chinese government generally requires the police certificate to be issued within 6 months, and the U.K police certificate beyond 6 months will not be accepted and needs to be reapplied.
U.K Police Certificate issued by the Association of Criminal Records Office (ACRO)
Types of U.K Police Certificate
1.The U.K Police Certificate issued by the Association of Criminal Records Office (ACRO)
The ACRO searches through the applicant’s basic information (name, date of birth, home address) and gives the final search result. If the applicant has no criminal record, the report result is No Trace.
2.Disclosure and Barring Service, abbreviated as DBS checks, issued by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO)
When the applicant is engaged in special work, voluntary service, or applying for the adoption of a child, it is necessary to apply for a DBS check.
Documents required for U.K Police Certificate
1. Application form for U.K Police Certificate.
2. Scanned copy of the photo page of the applicant’s passport.
3. A document that reflects your name and current address, which must be within the validity period, which can be a driver’s license, ID card, medical insurance card, etc., or a letter of proof of current address within one year, such as bank, utility bills, and credit card bills.
4. Passport size color photo 45mm*35mm.
5. A guarantor is required. The guarantor must be a friend who has known each other for more than two years. The guarantor must be at least 18 years old and not a family member of the applicant.
Processing time for U.K Police Certificate
1.Police Certificate issued by the ACRO
Processing time: 10 working days for normal processing, 2 working days for urgent processing.
2.DBS checks issued by the ACPO
Processing time: The basic version of the DBS checks takes 14 working days; the standard or enhanced version of the DBS checks usually takes 8 weeks.
Consular legalization of U.K Police Certificate
The United Kingdom is a member of the Hague Treaty countries, but China is not a member of the Hague Treaty countries. Consular authentication is required when British documents are used to apply for work visas in China. The documents required for consular certification of the U.K Police Certificate are as follows:
1.Application form for notarization and certification.
2.Copy of the applicant’s passport page.
3.Original script of U.K police certificate.
Process and time of consular legalization
Process:
1.The U.K police certificate certified by the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
2.The U.K police certificate shall be authenticated by the Chinese Embassy or Consulate in the U.K after being authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Time:
In general, it takes 15 working days to apply for consular certification of U.K police certificate, excluding mailing time.
The expedited processing time is 7-10 working days, not including the mailing time.