Whether applying for Canadian investment-based or skilled worker immigration, a police certificate is a crucial document in the overall application process. While Canada is a highly inclusive society, it takes criminal activity very seriously; if an applicant has a criminal record and cannot obtain this certificate, their application will be negatively impacted! So, how do you obtain a police certificate when applying for Canadian immigration?
How to obtain a police certificate for immigration?
This section focuses on obtaining a police certificate in China. Domestic police certificates are issued by the local police station where the applicant's household registration (hukou) is located. Once the police station verifies that the applicant has no criminal record, they will issue the certificate. However, some police stations may require the applicant to provide a coordination letter (stating the purpose of the request) before issuing it. In such cases, we can:
1. First, obtain a relevant coordination letter from a notary office, then take it to the local public security authority to request a "Certificate of No Criminal Conviction." Bring this certificate back to the notary office for filing, and finally, obtain a "Notarial Certificate of No Criminal Record" in both Chinese and English.
2. If the notary office is unwilling to issue a coordination letter, you can ask an agency to provide a letter explaining the necessity and purpose of the certificate. The applicant can then take this letter to the local public security authority to apply for the document, and subsequently take the certificate issued by the public security authority to the notary office for notarization.
What documents are required to apply for a domestic police certificate?
Mainland citizens: ID card, household registration book (hukou).
Foreigners: Passport and residence permit or Z/X visa issued by China, temporary accommodation registration form, and permanent residence permit for foreigners if applicable.
Residents of Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan: Relevant travel permits and ID cards.
When applying for a police certificate, please note whether you have any history of living abroad. If you have lived in another country for 6 months or more, you must also obtain a police certificate from that country. For more immigration information, you can check the "Lao Yimin Daodaodao" official account! Neglecting this will lead to requests for additional documents, which will prolong the entire immigration cycle.
What is the validity period of a police certificate?
The validity period of a police certificate is one year from the date of issuance. If your immigration application has not been approved by the time the certificate expires, you will likely need to provide a new one. This is one of the reasons why many applicants are asked to submit additional documents. Since the validity is only one year and the processing time for Federal Skilled Worker programs takes 6 months—with Provincial Nominee Programs taking even longer—you should not rush to apply for the police certificate too early, otherwise, you may be required to submit additional documents, thereby extending your immigration cycle.