Almost every work visa, long-term residence, skilled migration or family reunification application asks for a “certificate of no criminal record” (无犯罪记录证明), which shows that a Chinese court has never convicted you. The police issue it, but getting the certificate is only the first step. Most countries also want it notarised, translated and then apostilled or legalised, and many set a strict limit on how old it can be. An expired certificate means a returned application.
This guide is based on the Ministry of Public Security’s Rules on Criminal Record Inquiries and on guidance from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ China Consular Service website. It explains where to apply, what to bring, how long it takes, how to notarise and authenticate it, what major destinations require, and what to do if you are already abroad. Information is current as of October 2026; your local police station and notary office have the final word.
What the certificate is
The Ministry of Public Security runs a national criminal records platform. Since 31 December 2021, inquiries have been handled under the Rules on Criminal Record Inquiries by Public Security Organs (Gongtongzi [2021] No. 19). If no record is found, an individual receives a Certificate of No Criminal Record; if a record exists, the police issue a notice refusing the certificate.
Two points matter. First, only a conviction by a people’s court counts as a criminal record; administrative detention or fines are not covered. Second, the certificate reflects only what is on the platform at the time of the search. Records of offences committed under 18 that led to a sentence of five years or less are sealed, and a personal inquiry still produces a no-record certificate.
Where to apply and what to bring
| Situation | Where | Documents |
|---|---|---|
| Applying where your hukou is registered | Hukou police station | Valid ID and the inquiry application form |
| Applying where you live | Local police station where you reside | Valid ID, residence permit (居住证) and the application form |
| Through a representative | As above | The above, plus a power of attorney and the representative’s original ID |
The form is available at the police station and you state the purpose on it. A representative must have full civil capacity. Anyone applying more than three times in a calendar year must show that the certificates are for a reasonable purpose.
The national rules let local police accept applications online where conditions allow. Beijing’s implementing rules, for example, allow residents with a Beijing hukou to apply online, and Canada’s IRCC guide for China notes that you may be able to apply through your local government service website or app. Whether you can apply and download online depends on your local public security bureau.
Think about the end use when you apply. Most countries want a notarial certificate, and notary offices usually need the original, so ask for a paper certificate and check that your name and ID number match your passport. If your passport is changing before you leave, see Chinese Passport: Application, Renewal and Expedited Service.
Process and timing
- Check the destination’s rulesAsk the immigration office, employer or school whether you need notarisation, an apostille or legalisation, and how recent the document must be.
- Get the police certificateApply at your hukou or residence police station (or online where available). If it cannot be issued on the spot, you get an acceptance receipt and the case is closed within 3 working days; time spent on investigation is not counted.
- Notarise itTake the original and your ID to a notary office and apply for a no-criminal-record notarial certificate, usually with an English or other translation attached.
- Apostille or legalisationFor Apostille Convention countries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or an authorised provincial foreign affairs office issues the apostille; for other countries, the document must also be legalised by that country’s embassy or consulate in China.
- Submit on timeHand in the original before it expires, and get a fresh translation by a locally recognised translator if required.
For the difference between apostilles and consular legalisation, and which procedure applies to each of our 31 destinations, see Notarisation and Apostille in China. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ counter is on the 11th floor of Block B, Fenglian Plaza, 18 Chaoyangmenwai Avenue, Beijing; individuals book through the “领事服务中心” mini-program in Alipay, then apply in person or by post.
How long is it valid? Requirements in major destinations
The validity of the certificate itself is set by the issuing police. Beijing’s template states that it is “valid for three months from the date of issue”. The China Consular Service website adds that notarial certificates for marital status, criminal record and health are generally valid for six months, with consular legalisation following the same period, and that some embassies in China apply stricter rules. In the end, the receiving country decides:
| Destination | Official requirement |
|---|---|
| New Zealand | Usually required if you plan to stay 24 months or longer; must be less than 6 months old when you submit the visa application |
| Chile | For paid-work temporary residence, applicants over 18 must provide a certificate from their country of origin or any country of residence in the past 5 years, issued no more than 60 days earlier and apostilled or legalised |
| Canada | Chinese citizens apply to the police where their hukou is or where they live and submit a notarised or certified translation; a certificate with a QR code is recommended; the page sets no single validity rule, so follow your application instructions |
| United States | The “police certificate” for immigrant visas is issued in China by a notary office, based on the police no-record certificate |
For each country’s full visa requirements, see New Zealand visa and Chile visa. Where the time limit is short, get the certificate after your other documents are ready.
Never buy a certificate from online “agents”. Police certificates and notarial certificates can be verified, and false documents lead to refusal and may be treated as fraud by the destination country. The State Council Provisions on Exit and Entry Administration, in force since 15 September 2026, also allow the authorities to bar anyone who obtains travel documents with false materials from leaving China for 6 months to 3 years.
Applying from abroad
Chinese embassies and consulates cannot issue a domestic no-criminal-record certificate or notarise it. The China Consular Service website says the holder should, in person or through a representative, apply to a notary office in mainland China, then obtain legalisation or an apostille in China as needed before sending it to the country of residence. In practice:
- Use a relative or friend in China: sign a power of attorney; your representative takes it, plus both IDs, to the police station for your hukou or residence. Some localities require the power of attorney to be notarised if the representative is not an immediate family member, and a power of attorney signed abroad may need notarisation at a Chinese consulate or an apostille in your country of residence.
- Ask your hukou police first: IRCC advises Chinese citizens abroad to check with the police where their hukou was registered; you may need scans of your passport or visa and proof of overseas residence.
- Notarisation and delivery: the U.S. State Department notes that some notary offices accept representatives while others require you in person, and most mail only to mainland China addresses, so confirm how you will collect it.
For the full order of pre-departure paperwork, see our Leaving China checklist.
FAQ
Is there a fee?
The national rules contain no fee provision, and the police generally issue the certificate free of charge. Notarisation, translation and authentication fees are charged separately under local notary fee schedules and the rates published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and foreign embassies.
Can I get a certificate if I was once detained by the police?
Yes. The certificate reflects only court convictions; administrative penalties are not criminal records. Some immigration forms ask separately about arrests or penalties, however, and you must answer them truthfully.
How soon must I use it?
Check the validity printed on the certificate and the destination’s rule, and work to whichever is shorter. Three to six months from issue is common; Chile allows only 60 days.
Sources
- Ministry of Public Security: Rules on Criminal Record Inquiries by Public Security Organs (Gongtongzi [2021] No. 19, reposted by Beijing Municipal Government) (accessed October 2026)
- Beijing Public Security Bureau: Implementing Rules for Criminal Record Inquiries (Jinggongfazi [2022] No. 337) (accessed October 2026)
- The Paper, reposting Yunnan Provincial Government: How to obtain a certificate of no criminal record (Dec 2023) (accessed October 2026)
- China Consular Service: Can Chinese embassies notarise a domestic no-criminal-record certificate? (accessed October 2026)
- China Consular Service: Do documents legalised for use abroad have a validity period? (accessed October 2026)
- China Consular Service: Ministry of Foreign Affairs apostille service information (accessed October 2026)
- IRCC (Canada): How to get a police certificate – China (accessed October 2026)
- U.S. Department of State: Visa reciprocity and civil documents – China (accessed October 2026)
- Immigration New Zealand: When you need a police certificate (accessed October 2026)
- Chile National Migration Service (SERMIG): Temporary residence – paid activities (accessed October 2026)
- gov.cn: State Council Provisions on Exit and Entry Administration (Decree No. 841, effective 15 Sep 2026) (accessed October 2026)