Issuing Authority for Xiamen Police Certificate
Foreign nationals who have lived in Xiamen for over 6 months are eligible to apply for Xiamen Police Certificate at Exit-entry Administration Bureau of Public Security Bureau.
In December 2021, Public Security Department released the provisions “The Investigation of Criminal Records by Public Security Organs” regarding the application for China Police Certificate. Application of China Police Certificate must be submitted to Exit-Entry Administration Office of Municipal Public Security Bureau in the place of residence.
In person service is available for foreigners without an appointment. Public Security Bureau does not accept applications by email, fax, or mail. Online system for requesting Xiamen Certificate of Clearance is not accessible to foreign citizens. Third Party application will need to provide written consent from the applicant.
Applicable Applicants for Xiamen Police Certificate
Not all applicants are eligible to apply for Xiamen of China Police Clearance Certificate. The application is open exclusively to foreign nationals who meet all of the following criteria:
- Foreign nationals who have lived in Xiamen over continuous period of 6 months.
- Foreign nationals who have held valid Chinese residence permits for work, study, family reunion or personal matters.
- Foreign nationals who can provide authentic, legal, and sufficient application documents.
Application Procedures of Xiamen Non-Criminal Record
STEP 1. Submit required documents to Exit-Entry Administration Office of Xiamen Municipal Public Security Bureau for review.
STEP 2. Exit-Entry Administration Office of Xiamen Municipal Public Security Bureau conducts criminal background check. If applicant has criminal record, the Non-criminal Record Certificate is unobtainable.
STEP 3. Submit Xiamen of China Police Clearance Certificate to Notary Public Office.
STEP 4. Notary Public Office issues Notarial Certificate of Non-criminal Record.
Application Documents for Xiamen Non-Criminal Record
1. Original current and previous passports.
You will be required to bring the original passports to the Public Security Bureau. Or 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. 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 scan copy of original degree/diploma.
Work permits and degree 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 authorization apostilled by Ministry of foreign affairs or legalized by Chinese Embassy/Consulate.
Note: China has successfully joined the Hague Convention and become a member state. The Apostille Convention came into effect in China on November 7, 2023.
Apostille and Legalization are two certification types. The country in which the authorization is issued determines the type of certificate needed.
• An apostille is for documents issued in member countries of the Hague.
• Consular authentication certificate is for documents issued in Non-Hague Convention countries.
Information which will appear on the Xiamen Police Certificate to be issued
The Xiamen Police Certificate is only available in hard copy, not electronically. On the bottom left corner of the certificate, there is a two-dimensional code(QR code) provided by the Public Security Bureau. 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 Xiamen
- Statement indicates that if you have criminal record.
- Two- dimensional code for verification of authenticity.
Information included on the Police Certificate issued by Notary Public
If you need to use a Xiamen 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 Xiamen
- Statement indicates that if you have criminal record.
Processing Time for Xiamen Police Certificate
It may take up to 2-3 weeks to process excluding mailing time.
Apostille and Legalization for Xiamen Police Certificate
For some countries, simply obtaining a notarial certificate from the Xiamen police is not enough, and Legalization or Apostille may also be required.
Apostille Procedures of Xiamen Police Certificate
For Xiamen Police Certificate to be used in other Apostille Convention countries, individuals may be requested to get Xiamen Police Certificate apostilled.The apostille procedures are as follows:
STEP 1. Take Xiamen Police Certificate to notary public offices in Xiamen for notarization.
STEP 2. Take Notarial Police Certificate to the Department of Consular Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China or authorized Foreign Affairs Offices of the Fujian Province governments for apostille.
Legalization Procedures of Xiamen Police Certificate
For Xiamen Police Certificate to be used in Thailand, Malaysia etc., individuals may be requested to get Xiamen Police Certificate legalized by corresponding Embassy/Consulate in China. The legalization procedures are as follows:
STEP 1. Take Xiamen Police Certificate to notary public offices in Xiamen for notarization.
STEP 2. Take Notarial Police Certificate to Chinese Foreign Ministry for authentication.
STEP 3. Take authenticated Police Certificate to corresponding Embassy/Consulate in China for legalization.