Candidates in different immigration schemes, including people answering an invitation to apply (ITA) for permanent residence (PR), must present private documents, including a police certificate, to accompany their request.
Police certificates are declarations that a candidate does not have a criminal history; if they do, it is a duplicate of their criminal history. These documents can vary from nation to nation and may as well be described as
- Police clearance certificates
- Judicial record extracts
- Good conduct certificates
Candidates may need a police clearance certificate from the country where they currently reside and from countries they have lived in before submitting their application for permanent residency or temporary residence (if they have declared a criminal history in their application). It’s important to note that candidates do not need a certificate from every country they have ever lived in. Instead, police certificates are required for each country a candidate has resided in after the age of 18, for a continuous period of six months or more, within the previous decade.
These certificates are utilized to fulfill criminal admissibility clearance conditions for immigration, which are the requirements to confirm that a new immigrant is not likely to get involved in criminal endeavors when they land in Canada. The procedure for acquiring these documents may differ, but they are essential for several individuals on their Canadian immigration journey.
Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has compiled comprehensive information to assist individuals in applying for and obtaining a police certificate. This guide is designed to provide you with the necessary guidance and support throughout the process. Continue reading for a nation-by-nation summary.
Note: IRCC recommends presenting fingerprints for a police certificate. However, this is not the same as presenting your biometrics directly to IRCC for immigration requirements.
This article protects processes to get a police certificate from:
- Nepal
- Canada
- United Kingdom
- India
- Philippines
- United States of America
- United Arab Emirates
- Nigeria
- Bangladesh
- Pakistan
Table of Contents
Nepal
Candidates in Nepal or who have lived in Nepal will need a police clearance certificate to satisfy the security clearances, which are necessary to ensure the safety and security of the country, required for immigration. The police clearance certificate can be used online via the Nepal Police Clearance Registration System.
Canada
In Canada, immigration candidates need documents described as criminal record checks to accompany their requests. Immigration candidates who apply for permanent residency from within Canada do not need to present a police certificate when presenting their request. If a criminal record check is required, the division will notify the candidate while their application is processed.
People needing a criminal record check should review the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) webpage for directions. Special deliberations are also attached for the presentation of fingerprints.
United Kingdom
Candidates in the UK or have lived in the UK, such as England, Wales, Channel Islands, Scotland, Gibraltar, and Northern Ireland, will need a police certificate to satisfy the security clearance, which is necessary to ensure the safety and security of the country, required for immigration. To make an application, new immigrants will require:
- A current digital passport-pattern picture in JPG, PNG, or GIF setup with the highest file size of 3MB.
- Color digital copies of their passport or travel papers are required. Each must be in a JPG, PNG, or GIF format with a maximum file size of 3MB.
- An authentic email address
- Their address record for the previous decade
- An authentic debit or credit card is required to make a reimbursement.
If applying on behalf of another adult, candidates will also be asked to offer some extra details. Explicit directions can be discovered on the National Police Chief’s Council (NPCC) Criminal Records Office webpage.
Suppose a candidate gets a Police certificate that declares “No Live Trace.” In that case, they will be needed to offer additional details or documentary proof on their records (if obtainable); mainly, candidates are motivated to attach a comprehensive statement of their crime, which explains:
- The crime
- The penalty
- Applicable dates within the case
- Any other details applicable to the case
India
Immigration candidates living in or who have lived in India before will need a Police clearance certificate to accompany their immigration request. Candidates can make an application for a Police Clearance Certificate at:
- Their local division police station
- Passport office
- BLS International Center
- Indian consulate
Candidates are required to have in mind the following:
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- IRCC doesn’t approve character certificates, a different type of document that may be required in some cases, distinct from police certificates.
- Most police clearance certificates restrict the jurisdiction or duration of the police clearance and are also not approved.
- Formats for police clearance certificates may differ based on the providing administration.
Philippines
Candidates living in or who have lived in the Philippines will need a National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Multi-purpose Clearance Certificate to accompany their immigration request. Suppose the National Bureau Investigation certificates have to do with any of the following declarations: (NO CRIMINAL RECORD, NO PENDING CASE, or RECORD AS STATED). In that case, candidates are requested to present extra documentation, which consists of the following:
- A written justification from the NBI concerning the statements
- All court papers for any criminal convictions, composed of complete copies of the judgments and resolution of the case
- The candidate’s justification of the event resulting in the charges
Candidates can make an application for their National Bureau of Investigation Multi-purpose Clearance Certificate either:
- In-person or online at any NBI office
- In person at the closest Philippine consulate
- By mail at the National Bureau of Investigation headquarters.
Keep in mind that certificates must have a thumbprint and a dry seal. Candidates outside the country must pick up NBI certificates in person or by mail.
United States Of America
Candidates from the US or who have resided in the US before require an Identity History Summary from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to satisfy criminal admissibility conditions. Suppose people apply for criminal rehabilitation, a Temporary resident permit (TRP), or an authority to return to Canada for approval. In that case, they are required to present state certificates in addition to an identity History Summary. Candidates can apply for an Identity History Summary from the FBI online.
United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Candidates living or have lived in the UAE before need either a Police Clearance Certificate provided by personal emirates, a Criminal Clearance Certificate provided by the federal administration, or a Good Conduct Certificate to back up their immigration application.
Candidates in the United Arab Emirates can make an application:
- In-person or via approving a delegate, which could be a friend, colleague, or family member with the power of lawyer at the police division in their separate emirate
- Online at the Dubai Police webpage
- In person at the closest UAE consulate
Remember that candidates presenting a police clearance certificate must only apply for one document from any emirate.
Nigeria
Candidates in Nigeria or who have lived in Nigeria before require a Police Character Certificate to back up their immigration request. There are two methods that people can use an application for this certificate.
Making An Application In Person At The Central Criminal Registry
When making an application in person, candidates are required to come along with the following:
- Their authentic passport
- Two passport-sized images
- Relevant fees
Making An Application By Mail To The Commissioner Of Police
When making an application by mail, candidates are required to come along with the following:
- A pre-paid return courier envelope
- A duplicate of their passport photo page
- A group of fingerprints obtained by an identified police authority, Nigerian consulate, or embassy
- A foreign money order reimbursable to the Nigerian Police Force CID (Criminal Investigation Department)
Candidates must remember that a police certificate can be verified for a charge at the closest Nigerian consulate.
Bangladesh
Candidates presently in or who have resided in Bangladesh will need a Police Clearance Certificate to satisfy security conditions for immigration. If candidates are Bangladeshi nationals who are in the nation, they may make an application at their local police station. If these people are outside Bangladesh, they may also approve a third party to apply at the local police station or reach out to the Bangladesh embassy or high commission.
If candidates are not Bangladeshi nationals, the same laws are used. To make an application for a police clearance certificate, people will require:
- Their authentic passport
- Relevant payments.
Pakistan
Candidates presently in or who have resided in Pakistan before require either a Police Character Certificate or a Police Clearance Certificate to back up their request. Applying for either of these documents in Pakistan can have various processes based on whether one applies from a bigger city, town, rural region, or a Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA).
The required documents to apply can also be modified based on whether a candidate is outside Pakistan and not a national of Pakistan. However, many variations still need an application form. IRCC states that the High Commission in Islamabad cannot assist candidates in getting a police certificate
