The Shanghai Police Certificate (also called Certificate of Non-criminal Record) is an important document, especially for foreigners living in Shanghai. Foreigners normally need it for various reasons including visas, immigration, employment, and other official purposes.
Issuing Authority for Shanghai Police Certificate
If individuals want to obtain a Shanghai police certificate, the applications need to be filed with the Exit and Entry Administration Bureau of the Shanghai Public Security Bureau.
Applications must be submitted in person either by yourself or through a third party.There is no online portal for foreign nationals’s request of Police Record Certificate.
Upon the receiver of the Police Certificate from PSB, individuals should apply for a notarized certifcate at Shanghai Notary Office.
Applicable Applicants for Shanghai Police Clearance Certificate
If you have lived in Shanghai for at least 6 months and hold a valid residence permit (work, study, or other long-term residence permit) in Shanghai, you may apply for a Shanghai Police Certificate. You can obtain the Police Certificate after providing complete, valid, legal and compliant documents.
Application Procedures of Shanghai Police Clearance Certificate
STEP 1. Submit required documents to Exit-Entry Administration Office of Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau for review. You can submit the documents to the Shanghai Exit-Entry Administration Bureau in person or appoint others to request on your behalf.
After the review is approved, the Exit and Entry Administration of the Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau will issue a police certificate.
STEP 2. Submit Police Clearance Certificate issued by Shanghai Exit-Entry Administration Bureau to Shanghai Notary Public Office.
Documents Required for Shanghai Police Clearance Certificate
1.Scanned copies of previous and current passport pages including photo pages、all Chinese visa pages、residence permit pages and all exit-entry stamps.
2. Scanned copy of the Registration Form(s)of Temporary Residence.
The Registration Form of Temporary Residence is the form that you filled upon your arrival in China within 24 hours. You need to bring the copies of the Registration Forms of Temporary Residence to the Public Security Bureau.
3. Scanned copy of work permit or degree/diploma.
Work permits and degrees are optional documents for police certificate application.
4. If you need to authorize third party to apply for the police certificate on your behalf, you need to provide apostilled or legalized authorization letter.
Apostille and Legalization are two different certification types. It depends on whether the country applicant currently resides is a Hague Convention country.
• An apostille is for authorization letter issued in Hague Convention member countries.
• A consular authentication certificate is for authorization letter issued in Non-Hague Convention countries
Note: If the applicant currently resides in China, the power of attorney does not require apostille or legalization.
Information which will appear on the Shanghai Police Certificate to be issued
Shanghai Police Certificate is issued exclusively as an official hard copy document and is never provided in digital format to applicants. There is a two- dimensional code on the left bottom of the certificate issued by Public Security Bureau for which you may check the authenticity of the police certificate by scanning the two- dimensional code.
Information included on the Police Certificate issued by Public Security Bureau (See Sample)
- Your full name
- Nationality
- Passport Numbers used in China
- The period of your stay in Shanghai
- Statement indicates that if you have criminal record.
- Two- dimensional code for verification of authenticity.
To ensure you successfully obtain the Shanghai Police Notarization Certificate, you need to complete the notarization within three months. Because the no criminal record check issued by the Shanghai Entry-Exit Office is valid for three months.
Information included on the Police Certificate issued by Notary Public (See Sample)
If you need to use a Shanghai Police Certificate abroad, you must apply to Notary Public Office in China to obtain a notarial certificate of good conduct. The notarial certificate of clearance will include following information:
- Your full name
- Gender
- Date of Birth
- Nationality
- Current Passport Number
- The period of your stay in Shanghai
- Statement indicates that if you have criminal record.
When a Shanghai Police Certificate will be used abroad, the notarized certificate will usually include both the original Chinese version and a foreign language translation. The choice of language often depends on the requirements of the corresponding agency, such as English, Spanish, French, Italian, etc.
Processing Time for Shanghai Police Certificate
Processing time for Shanghai Police Certificate is 2-3 weeks excluding mailing time.
Reasons for failure to Get Shanghai Police Certificate
• Individuals lived in Shanghai for less than the continuous period of 6 months.
• Individuals are in Shanghai on short-term visas.
• Individuals never did residence registration while living in Shanghai.
• Individuals have criminal background record filed in Shanghai police database.
Apostille and Legalization for Shanghai Police Certificate
For using abroad, a notarial certificate issued by the Shanghai Notary Office needs legalization or apostille before being recognized by the corresponding country.
•Notarial Certificate used in Hague Convention countries requires apostille.
•Notarial Certificate used in non-Hague Convention countries requires legalization.
Apostille Procedures of Shanghai Police Certificate
STEP 1. Submit Shanghai Police Certificate to notary offices in Shanghai for notarization.
STEP 2. Submit Notarial Police Certificate to the Department of Consular Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China or authorized Foreign Affairs Office of the Shanghai governments for apostille.
Legalization Procedures of Shanghai Police Certificate
STEP 1. Submit Shanghai Police Certificate to notary offices in Shanghai for notarization.
STEP 2. Submit Notarial Police Certificate to Chinese Foreign Ministry for authentication.
STEP 3. Submit authenticated Police Certificated to corresponding Embassy/Consulate in China for legalization.
Does Shanghai Police Certificate cover the whole China?
There is no national authority that issues the non-criminal record check covering whole China. A Shanghai police certificate typically only verifies that the applicant has no criminal record during the time in Shanghai. In some special circumstances, applicants can obtain a police certificate in Shanghai covering the whole of China.
FAQ on Shanghai Police Clearance Certificate
Q1: I lost one of the required documents for the application of Shanghai Police Certificate, the residence registration form. Is it possible for me to get a new residence registration form?
A1: Shanghai Notary Public accepts copy of residence registration form. If you cannot provide scan copy, please note that the residence registration record can be retrieved in police system.
Q2: The first period I lived in Shanghai is from February 10, 2020, to June 10, 2020, and the second period I lived there is from October 4, 2020 to February 4, 2021. The accumulated period I lived there is over 6 months, am I eligible to apply for Shanghai Non-criminal Record Certificate?
A2: Applicants who stayed in Shanghai for 6 months or more in a row are eligible to apply for Shanghai Police Clearance Certificate. If you lived in Shanghai less than 6 continuous months, your application of Shanghai Non-criminal Record Certificate may be rejected.
Q3: Would Shanghai of China Police Clearance Certificate cover the whole period of my residence in China?
A3: Yes, Shanghai Non-Criminal Record Certificate will state that you had no criminal record during your residence in China.
Q4: Is it possible for me to apply for Shanghai of China Police Clearance Certificate outside China?
A4: Yes. If you are living abroad currently, your relatives or friends may request issuance of the police certificate on behalf of you. Relatives and friends should have specific written authorization. The authorization needs to be apostilled by Ministry of foreign affairs or legalized by Chinese Embassy/Consulate.
Hi. I have all the documents needed for the criminal check however I do not have the tax forms. Is this a problem? I am currently in the UK.
Many thanks
Stephanie
Hi Stephanie,
For Shanghai Police Certificate, tax forms are not required document. If you can provide all required documents listed in the article, you may obtain Shanghai Police Certificate.
Hi,
We can help you apply for Shanghai Police Certificate. Please check email for more details.
Required Documents
1. Scanned copy of current and previous passport photo pages, visa pages, residence permit pages and exit-entry stamp pages.
2. Scanned copy of residence registration form.
3.Scanned copy of work permit or scan copy of original degree/diploma
I worked in Shanghai from April 1994to April 1997. I do not have (2) above and copy of work permit.
Can I still get Shanghai Police Clearance?
Hi Sin Hin, residence registration form and work permit are not mandatory.
Hi,
I will need a police clearance for my wife, then to be notarized, translated into Portuguese and legalized by the Portuguese embassy.
Can you provide a quote and a timeframe for completion.
Hi Douglas,
We can help your wife apply for Shanghai Police Certificate, and have it notarized and legalized by the Portuguese Embassy.
Please check email for more details.
Hello,
I need a notarised police clearance certificate from Shanghai in English. Please could you give me a quote for this?
Hi Thomas, we would love to help you out with your request. We just need a few more details before we can give you an accurate quotation. Please send us your passport photo page, China visa page, residence permit page, the page with China entry and exit stamps, and Temporary Residence Registration Form (TRRF or 临时住宿登记表) to check your eligibility for police certificate request. Let us know the country the notarial clearance certificate is to be used for.