Certified Translation of Police Clearance Certificates
If your police clearance certificate is not in English, you will often need a certified translation for immigration, visas, residency, employment screening, or court and legal use.
A certified translation is a complete translation of an official document accompanied by a signed statement confirming the translator’s competence and that the translation is accurate. Certified translations are commonly required for official processes in the UK, the USA, Canada, Ireland, and many other countries.
Who Needs a Police Certificate Translation?
Police certificates and criminal record certificates are frequently requested when you have lived abroad and need to prove your criminal record status (or absence of a record) in a different country.
| Situation requiring a police clearance translation | Description |
|---|---|
| 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. |
How Long Does It Take?
Most police clearance certificates (PCCs) and criminal record extracts of one to two pages are translated within 2 working days.
Certificates with multiple stamps, annotations, handwritten notes, or dense tables may require additional time. If you are working to a tight deadline, use the chat in the bottom right corner and our team will advise on express options where available.
Get Started
- Upload a clear scan or photo of your police certificate / PCC.
- Receive an instant per-word quote.
- Choose standard or express delivery.
How Much Does a Police Certificate Translation Cost?
Police certificates vary hugely in word count, from under 100 words to over 300. That is why per-page pricing is almost always inflated. You overpay when there is very little text, and you get hit with extra charges when a provider applies a hidden 250-word-per-page limit. With Certling, you pay for the exact amount of content in your document.
If your document contains non-essential repeated elements, we can keep the translation clear and compliant while avoiding unnecessary cost where the receiving authority allows it.
Transparent & Fair
- Instant per-word quote
- Digital delivery (PDF)
- Certified for official use
- Stamps, seals, and annotations handled properly
- Only pay for translatable content
- Hard copy optional
What Is a Certified Translation for Police Certificates (PCC)?
Police certificates, criminal record certificates, and certificates of good conduct must be submitted in the language required by the receiving authority. In the UK, Ireland, and the United States, a certified translation typically includes:
- Date of translation
- Translator’s full name and signature
- Translator or translation company contact details
- A statement confirming the translation is accurate and the translator is competent
If the original document contains stamps, seals, signatures, handwritten notes, marginal notes, or annotations, these should be translated or clearly described where appropriate.
Official Requirements for Police Clearance Translations
United States (USCIS / U.S. visa processes)
- Complete and accurate translation of the document
- Certification confirming the translator’s competence and accuracy
- Stamps and annotations should be translated or described where relevant
United Kingdom (UKVI)
- Accurate translation of the original document
- Confirmation that it is a true translation
- Translator or translation company details
Steps to Get Your Police Clearance Certificate Translated
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Obtain the official document
Request your police certificate / PCC / certificate of good conduct from the issuing authority.
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Upload a clear copy
PDF is best. If using photos, keep them straight, well-lit, and uncropped.
- Tell us where it will be used
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Receive your certified translation
Delivered digitally as a certified PDF. Hard copy optional on request.
Upload Tips
- Include all pages, front and back if there is text.
- Do not crop stamps, reference numbers, or issuing authority headers.
- If any part is unclear, add a note with the correct spelling (names, places).
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.
Is it safe to upload a police certificate to Certling?
Yes. Communications are encrypted and documents are handled by authorised staff only. Files are retained only as long as needed to complete the work, then securely purged from our servers.
