For individuals who have lived, worked, or studied in Beijing, obtaining a Beijing Police Certificate (also known as Certificate of Non-criminal Record) is a critical step. This document is often required for visa applications, immigration, employment, or other official purposes. Foreigners who have lived in Beijing for at least six months can apply for a Beijing Non-Criminal Record Certificate.
Issuing Authority for Beijing Police Certificate
The Beijing Municipal Government implemented a policy to standardize the application process for the China Police Clearance Certificate at the end of 2019. Effective December 1, 2019, applicantsare required to obtain a Certificate of Clearance from Beijing’s Exit-Entry Administration Bureau (PSB) , followed by submitting this document to the Notary Public Office for formal notarization..
In person service is available for foreigners without an appointment. Public Security Bureau does not accept application by email, fax, or mail. Online system for requesting Beijing Certificate of Clearance is not available to foreign citizens. Third Party application will need to provide written consent from the applicant.
Applicable Applicants for Beijing Police Certificate
Not all applicants are eligible to apply for Beijing of China Police Certificate. The application applies to the following applicants.
- Foreign nationals who have lived in Shanghai over continuous period of 6 months.
- Foreign nationals who held valid Chinese residence permits for work, study, family reunion or personal matters.
- Foreign nationals who can submit complete, valid, and legally recognized supporting documents.
Application Procedures of Beijing Police Certificate
STEP 1. Submit required documents to Exit-Entry Administration Office of Beijing Exit-Entry Administration Bureau for review.
Applicants can submit their materials in person or authorize a friend or family member to apply for the police certificate on their behalf at the Beijing Exit and Entry Administration Bureau.
STEP 2. Exit-Entry Administration Office of Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau conducts criminal background check. If applicant has a criminal record, the Non-criminal Record Certificate is unobtainable.
STEP 3. Submit Beijing of China Police Clearance Certificate to Notary Public Office in Beijing.
STEP 4. Notary Public Office issues Beijing Notarial Certificate of Non-criminal Record.
Documents Required for Beijing Police Certificate
1. Original current and previous passports.
Your previous original passport and current original are required to request a police certificate from the Public Security Bureau. You may authorize a third party to present in person with your original passports to make applications where written consent applies.
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. This document is mandatory if you currently live in Beijing. Whereas it is optional supporting document if live abroad currently.
3. Scanned copy of work permit or scan copy of original degree/diploma.
Work permits, and degree are optional documents for police certificate application.
4. Signed letter of authority for third party application.
You must provide written consent if you need someone to handle your application on your behalf. Both the Beijing Exit and Entry Administration Bureau and the notary Office require the power of attorney for authorization.
Information which will appear on the Beijing Police Certificate to be issued
Beijing Police Certificate is issued exclusively as an official hard copy document and cannot be obtained 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
- Your full name
- Nationality
- Passport Numbers used in China
- The period of your stay in Beijing
- Statement indicates that if you have criminal record.
- Two- dimensional code for verification of authenticity.
Please note that no criminal record check issued by Beijing Entry-Exit is only valid for 3 months from the date of issue. You must complete the notarization procedures of your no-criminal record certificate within this 3-month validity period.
Information included on the Police Certificate issued by Notary Public
If you need to use a Beijing Police Certificate abroad, you shall make an application 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 Beijing
- Statement indicates that if you have criminal record.
When the applicant’s Beijing Police notarial certificate is intended for use outside China, the notarial certificate will include both the Chinese version and foreign language translations. The applicant can select the appropriate language based on their needs, such as English, Thai, Korean, French, etc. This depends on the requirements of the corresponding agency that needs the police certificate.
Processing Time for Beijing Police Certificate
Processing time for Beijing Police Certificate is 2-3 weeks excluding mailing time.
Reasons for failure to Get Beijing Police Certificate
Individuals lived in Beijing for less than continuous period of 6 months.
Individuals are in Beijing on short-term visas, like tourist (L) or business (M) visas.
Individuals never did residence registration during living in Beijing.
Individuals have criminal background record filed in Beijing police database
Apostille and Legalization for Beijing Police Certificate
For some countries, simply obtaining a notarial certificate from the Beijing police is not enough, and Legalization or Apostille may also be required.
Apostille Procedures of Beijing Police Certificate
China has joined the Hague Apostille Convention (effective November 7, 2023) . For Beijing Police Certificate to be used in other Apostille Convention countries, individuals may need to get the apostilled Beijing Police Certificate.The apostille procedures are as follows:
STEP 1. Submit Beijing Police Certificate issued by Exit-Entry Administration Bureau to notary public offices for notarization.
STEP 2. Submit Notarial Police Certificate to Department of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China for apostille.
Legalization Procedures of Beijing Police Certificate
For Beijing Police Certificate to be used in Thailand, Malaysia etc., individuals may be requested to get Beijing Police Certificate legalized by corresponding Embassy/Consulate in China. The legalization procedures are as follows:
STEP 1. Submit Beijing Police Certificate issued by Exit-Entry Administration Bureau to notary public office for notarization.
STEP 2. Submit Notarial Police Certificate to Chinese Foreign Ministry for authentication.
STEP 3. Submit authenticated Police Certificate to corresponding Embassy/Consulate in China for legalization.
Does Beijing Police Certificate cover the whole China?
China does not have a national government issuing authority for Police Certificates that covers the entire country. Applicants must request China Police Certificate fromthe Exit-entry Administration of Public Security Bureau in the specific city or region where they resided in China..
Beijing Police Certificate only verifies that applicant has no criminal record during living in Beijing not the whole China.
FAQ on Beijing Police Certificate
Q1: I was asked to submit Beijing Police Certificate by USA government for work visa. Now I am living outside China, can I apply for Beijing Non-criminal Record Certificate by using online tool?
A1: No. Online application service is unavailable for Beijing Police Certificate. 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.
Q2: I am living in Pakistan, and I authorize my Chinese friend to apply for Beijing Police Certificate for visa application. According to the regulation in Pakistan, “sending one’s passport from one’s country to another by mail or any other means is also a criminal offense punishable by law.” Will my application be accepted if I cannot provide my original passport?
A2: According to current policy on applying for Beijing police certificate, applicants living abroad must provide his/her original passport for the application. If you cannot provide the original passport, your application will be rejected.
Q3: I need to apply for Beijing of China Police Clearance Certificate for Australian permanent residence. Can I get a Beijing Non-criminal Record Certificate if my residence registration form is lost?
A3: It depends. The residence registration record can be retrieved in police system if you ever did residence registration during living in Beijing. If the residence registration form filed in police system is over 6 months, you are eligible to apply for Beijing of China Police Clearance Certificate.
Q4: I lived in Beijing as a temporary student from 2012 to 2013. I currently apply to Canadian citizenship and need to provide Beijing Police Certificate to Canadian government. How can I get Beijing Police Certificate accompanied with English copy?
A4: You should apply for Beijing Police Certificate at Exit-Entry Administration Office of Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau. Once the police certificate has been obtained, you should then make an application to the Notary Public Office for a certificate based on the PSB document. Beijing Police Certificate notarized is issued in two languages, Chinese and English.
Hello, I am writing on behalf of my clients. They received requests from IRCC Canada to obtain a Police Certificate/ Beijing Non-Criminal Record Certificate for permanent residence in Canada. Currently they are living in Canada. Husband worked with Russian Embassy in China (Beijing) and had a diplomatic passports which was withdrawal automatically as soon as the contract was expired. No any copies of passport were allowed. Both (husband and wife) were in Beijing from November 2009 till November 2012. Both are able to present the original current passports only.
Would you please provide me with the processing time in terms of their case (original passports in Canada; consent form to be issued, etc.), the list of necessary documents and the price. Thank you!
The documents required including both previous original passport and current passport, and a Power of Attorney to nominate a representative to request police clearance certificate on your behalf.
How much is your company charging to obtain a police clearance on behalf of a foreigner currently in South Korea? I have read all the steps and required documents and I would like to find out the price please.
To apply Beijing Police Clearance Certificate, the original passports are required. Which country will your Beijing Police Clearance Certificate to be used for? and for what purpose? The price is based on the service type you need.(Translation and Notarization，Apostille，or Legalization by foreign Consulate in China)