Issuing Authority for Shanghai Police Certificate
The official issuing authority for Shanghai Police Clearance Certificate has been changed from Shanghai Notary Public Office to Exit-Entry Administration Office of Shanghai 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 Shanghai Certificate of Clearance is not accessible to foreign citizens. Third Party application will need to provide written consent from the applicant.
Applicable Applicants for Shanghai Police Clearance Certificate
Not all applicants are eligible to apply for Shanghai of China Police Clearance Certificate. The application applies to the following applicants.
- Foreign nationals who 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 provide authentic, legal and sufficient application 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.
STEP 2. Exit-Entry Administration Office of Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau conducts criminal record check. If applicant has criminal record, the Non-criminal Record Certificate is unobtainable.
STEP 3. Submit Shanghai of China Police Clearance Certificate to Notary Public Office in Shanghai.
STEP 4. Notary Public Office issues Shanghai Notarial Certificate of Non-criminal Record.
Documents Required for Shanghai Police Clearance Certificate
1. Scanned copy of current and previous passport photo pages, visa pages, residence permit pages and exit-entry stamp pages.
You will be required to bring the copy of passports at the Public Security Bureau. Or you may ask a third party to present in person with your copies of passports to make application 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 at 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 Covention came into effect in China on November 7,2023.
Apostille and Legaliation are two certification tytpes. The country in which the authorization is issued determines the types 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 Shanghai Police Certificate to be issued
Shanghai 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 Shanghai
- 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 Shanghai 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 Shanghai
- Statement indicates that if you have criminal record.
Processing Time for Shanghai Police Certificate
Processing time for Shanghai Police Certificate is 2-3 weeks excluding mailing time.
Apostille and Legalization for Shanghai Police Certificate
For some countries, simply obtaining a notarial certificate from the Shanghai police is not enough, and Legalization or Apostille may also be required.
Apostille Procedures of Shanghai Police Certificate
For Shanghai Police Certificate to be used in other Apostille Convention countries, individuals may be requested to get Shanghai Police Certificate apostilled. The apostille procedures are as follows:
For some countries, simply obtaining a notarial certificate from the Shanghai police is not enough, and Legalization or Apostille may also be required.
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 Foerign Affairs of China or authorized Foreign Affairs Office of the Shanghai governments for apostille.
Legalization Procedures of Shanghai Police Certificate
For Shanghai Police Certificate to be used in Thailand, Malaysia etc, individuals may be requested to get Shanghai Police Certificate legalized by corresponding Embassy/Consulate in China. The legalization procedures are as follows:
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.
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.