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Police Clearance and Criminal Record Translation into English
Certified translations of police clearance certificates and criminal record documents for immigration and official procedures
If your police clearance certificate or criminal record document is issued in another language, authorities may require a certified English translation before it can be reviewed or accepted.
Certling provides certified translations of police clearance certificates, criminal record extracts, and background check documents into English for use in immigration applications, employment verification, and other official procedures.
Our translations include a certification statement confirming that the translation is complete and accurate, allowing the document to be submitted to institutions that require certified translations.
Upload your document and receive an instant quote based on the exact word count.
When Do You Need a Police Clearance Translation?
A certified translation may be required when presenting a police certificate or criminal record issued abroad to an English-speaking authority.
Common situations include:
Immigration or visa applications
Residency or citizenship procedures
Employment background checks
International relocation
Professional licensing applications
University or research visa applications
Authorities require a translation so that the contents of the criminal record or clearance certificate can be clearly verified.
| Visa and immigration applications | Police certificates are commonly required for UKVI, USCIS, IRCC (Canada), and other immigration routes, especially where you have lived in more than one country. |
| Work visas and residency permits | Criminal record checks are often mandatory for work permits, residence permits, and permanent residence applications. |
| Employment screening and background checks | Employers may request translated criminal record certificates for pre-employment screening, particularly for regulated or sensitive roles. |
| Healthcare, education, childcare, and social care | Jobs involving vulnerable people frequently require a translated police certificate or certificate of good conduct from previous countries of residence. |
| Citizenship or naturalisation | Applicants may need police certificates covering prior countries of residence as part of good character requirements. |
| Legal matters and court proceedings | Police certificates may be used as supporting evidence in cross-border legal matters, family proceedings, or civil cases. |
Tip: If you are unsure what you have, upload it anyway. Many documents labelled “criminal record extract”, “police certificate”, or “certificate of good conduct” are all used for the same purpose depending on the country.
Typical Requirements by Country
United Kingdom (UK)
Police certificates submitted to UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) must be translated if they are not written in English or Welsh.
A certified English translation must accompany the original document.
United States (USA)
Police certificates submitted during immigration processes with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) or the Department of State must include a certified English translation if the document is not in English.
The certification must confirm that the translation is complete and accurate.
Canada
Criminal record documents submitted to Canadian authorities must generally be translated if they are not written in English or French.
Certified translations are commonly required for immigration procedures.
Australia
Police clearance certificates submitted to immigration authorities may require a certified English translation if the document is issued in another language.
New Zealand
Police certificates submitted to government institutions may require a certified English translation if the document is not written in English.
Ireland
Police clearance documents submitted to Irish authorities must be translated into English if they are issued in another language.
Certified translations are commonly required for immigration or employment verification procedures.
Requirements may vary depending on the authority reviewing the document. Always check the instructions provided by the institution requesting the translation.
What Is Included in a Criminal Record Translation?
A certified translation reproduces all visible information from the original document.
This typically includes:
Full name of the individual
Date and place of birth
Certificate or record number
Issuing authority
Criminal record information or confirmation of no record
Dates of issuance
Official stamps, seals, and signatures
Our translators ensure the translation clearly reflects the original document so officials can easily verify the information.
Honest Pricing
Per-word pricing
No page limits or inflated fees
Remove extra text and save
Dates & numbers are free
Instant, transparent quotes
Strong Security
Files never leave our care
Docs purged on completion
Strict access controls
ICO-registered
Vetted translators
Certified
Accepted for official use
Tailored to each institution
Free updates if required
Acceptance guaranteed
ATC & ATA member
Step 1
Upload your document
Securely upload images or PDFs directly from your device.
Step 2
Smart scanning
Our system reads your documents and instantly calculates the word count.
Step 3
Remove content
Optional: Remove unnecessary text and only pay for what you need.
Step 4
Translation Certified
Officially accepted in the UK, USA, Ireland, Canada, New Zealand and more.
Other Documents We Translate
Whatever your needs, we provide certified translations for a wide range of documents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Police certificate translation, PCC translation, certificates of good conduct, and official acceptance.
Is a police certificate the same as a PCC or a certificate of good conduct?
Often, yes. Different countries use different names such as police certificate, PCC (police clearance certificate), criminal record certificate, criminal record check, or certificate of good conduct. The purpose is usually the same: to provide official confirmation of your criminal record status for immigration, residency, or employment screening.
Is a police certificate the same as a DBS check in the UK?
Not usually. A UK DBS check is a UK disclosure check, while a police certificate (often issued by an overseas authority, or by ACRO for the UK) is typically used for visas and immigration. If you are unsure what your organisation requires, tell us where you are submitting the document.
Do UKVI, USCIS, or IRCC require a certified translation of a police certificate?
If your police certificate is not in English, you will usually need a certified English translation for visa and immigration processes. Requirements can vary by route and authority, so we recommend telling us the destination country and organisation (UKVI, USCIS, IRCC, employer, solicitor, court, etc.).
Do you translate stamps, seals, signatures, and handwritten notes?
Yes, where there is readable text. If something is unclear or partially illegible, we can include a translator note reflecting that the original is unclear, abbreviated, or not fully readable.
Can you translate screenshots or photos of police certificates?
Yes, as long as the text is legible. For best results, upload a PDF or a clear scan. Avoid glare, shadows, skewed angles, and cropping off headers, reference numbers, stamps, or dates.
Do I need notarisation or an apostille for my police certificate translation?
Usually, no. Many authorities accept a certified translation without notarisation. Notarisation or legalisation (apostille) is more commonly requested for certain legal uses or when an authority explicitly asks for it. If you are unsure, tell us where you are submitting the certificate and we will advise.
How long does a police certificate translation take?
Most one to two page police certificates (PCCs) are translated within 2 working days, depending on language and workload. If you need it urgently, contact us via chat to discuss express options where available.
How much does a certified translation of a police certificate cost?
Costs depend on the word count and language. Certling charges per word, so you only pay for content that actually needs translating. Upload your document for an instant quote based on the detected text.
Will the translation include a signed certification statement?
Yes. Your certified translation includes a certification statement confirming the translator’s competence and that the translation is accurate. We deliver certified PDFs by default, with hard copies available on request.
