Issuing Authority for Suzhou Police Certificate
The official issuing authority for Suzhou Police Clearance Certificate has been changed from Suzhou Police Station to Exit-Entry Administration Office of Suzhou Municipal Public Security Bureau after the policy on “The Investigation of Criminal Records by Public Security Organs” was released in December 2021.
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 of Suzhou Certificate of Clearance is not accessible to foreign citizens. Third Party application will need to provide written consent from the applicant.
Applicable Applicants for Suzhou Police Certificate
Not all applicants are eligible to apply for Suzhou of China Police Clearance Certificate. The application applies to the following applicants.
1. Foreign nationals who lived in Suzhou over continuous period of 6 months.
2. Foreign nationals who held valid Chinese residence permits for work, study, family reunion or personal matters.
3. Foreign nationals who can provide authentic, legal, and sufficient application documents.
Application Procedures of Suzhou Police Certificate
STEP 1. Submit required documents to Exit-Entry Administration Office of Suzhou Municipal Public Security Bureau for review.
STEP 2. Exit-Entry Administration Office of Suzhou Municipal Public Security Bureau conducts criminal record check. If applicant has criminal record, the Non-criminal Record Certificate is unobtainable.
STEP 3. Submit Suzhou of China Police Clearance Certificate to Notary Public Office in Suzhou.
STEP 4. Notary Public Office issues Suzhou Notarial Certificate of Non-criminal Record.
Documents Required for Suzhou Criminal Record Check
1. Original current and previous passports.
You will be required to bring the original passports at the Public Security Bureau. Or you may ask a third party to present in person with your original passports to make application where written consent applies.
2. Scanned copy o fthe Registration Form(s) of Temporary Residence.
The Registration Form(s) of Temporary Residence is the form that you filled upon your arrival in China within 24 hours. If you currently reside in Suzhou, it is required documents for request of Suzhou Police Certificate. 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 a written consent if you need someone other than you to deal with your application on your behalf.
Information which will appear on the Suzhou Criminal Record Check to be issued
Suzhou Police Certificate is issued in hard copy and never sent electronically. 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 Suzhou
- 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 (See Sample)
If you need to use a Suzhou 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 Suzhou
Statement indicates that if you have criminal record.
Processing Time for Suzhou Police Certificate
Processing time of application for Suzhou Police Certificate is between 2-3 weeks excluding mailing time.
Apostille and Legalization for Suzhou Police Certificate
For some countries, simply obtaining a notarial certificate from the Suzhou police is not enough, and Legalization or Apostille may also be required.
Apostille Procedures of Suzhou Police Certificate
China has joined the Apostille Convention. For Suzhou Police Certificate to be used in other Apostille Convention countries, individuals may be requested to get Suzhou Police Certificate apostilled. The legalization procedures are as follows:
STEP 1. Submit Suzhou Police Certificate to notary public offices in Suzhou 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 Offices of the Jiangsu Province government for apostille.
Legalization Procedures of Suzhou Police Certificate
For Suzhou Police Certificate to be used in Thailand, Malaysia etc., individuals may be requested to get Suzhou Police Certificate legalized by corresponding Embassy/Consulate in China. The legalization procedures are as follows:
STEP 1. Submit Suzhou Police Certificate to notary public offices in Suzhou 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.