Certified Translation of the Chinese Police Certificate (无犯罪记录证明)
The 无犯罪记录证明 is the certificate of no criminal record issued by the Chinese police. For this document IRCC requires either a notarized or a certified translation — unlike some other countries, it is not issued in English. Asiatis produces its certified translation.
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Get my quote onlineAlso known as
无犯罪记录证明 — wú fànzuì jìlù zhèngmíng · wu fanzui jilu zhengming · 无犯罪记录证明书 · 不予出具无犯罪记录证明告知书 · Certificate of No Criminal Record · casier judiciaire chinois · certificat de non-condamnation Chine · police certificate China IRCC
What is the wú fànzuì jìlù zhèngmíng?
The 无犯罪记录证明 is issued by the police station of the place where your hukou is registered, or by the Public Security Bureau. IRCC in fact names two documents: the certificate of no criminal record where there is nothing to report, and a notification of non-issuance where a record exists. The second is not an administrative refusal to be contested: it is the form the answer takes when a record exists, and it is that document you then file. For a Chinese citizen, the certificate must cover the period from birth to the date of issue. Recent versions carry a verification QR code, recommended by the central authorities without being required by IRCC.
Variants of the document
| Name | Type | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| 无犯罪记录证明wú fànzuì jìlù zhèngmíng | Certificate of no criminal record | The common form, issued where nothing is on record. For a Chinese citizen it must cover the period from birth to the present. |
| 不予出具无犯罪记录证明告知书bùyǔ chūjù wú fànzuì jìlù zhèngmíng gàozhīshū | Notification of non-issuance | Issued where a record exists. IRCC names it explicitly as the document to provide in that case: it is an answer, not a rejection of your request. |
| 无犯罪记录公证书wú fànzuì jìlù gōngzhèngshū | Notarized version | Drawn up by a 公证处 from the police certificate, often with an English translation built in. Some cities open the process to foreigners only by this route. |
How to obtain the document in China
- 1
Chinese citizen: through the police station of your hukou
The request is made at the police station of the place where your hukou is registered, in person or through a proxy depending on the city; several municipalities now accept online requests. Check that the period covered does run from your birth to the date of issue.
- 2
Foreign national: only with a residence permit
China issues the certificate only to current or former holders of a Foreigner Residence Permit. Present it with your request. Depending on the city, you may first have to go through a 公证处 for a notarized version.
- 3
If a record exists
You will receive a notification of non-issuance rather than a certificate. That is the document IRCC expects in this case: it is filed and translated like the certificate.
- 4
If you cannot obtain it
IRCC provides for this: upload a letter stating that you cannot provide a police certificate for the full time you spent in China, giving the reason. The reason is reviewed, but a missing document can lengthen processing.
What an acceptable translation requires
IRCC is explicit for China: you must provide either a notarized or a certified translation. The translation must be complete — headings, number, period covered, issuing service seal and QR code included — and may not be produced by the applicant, by a family member, or by a representative on the application. Asiatis assigns your certificate to a certified translator who is a member of a Canadian professional order: the translation carries that translator's signed and sealed declaration, and you have no notarial certificate to arrange in China. For a Quebec immigration application, the MIFI admits French and English alike, provided the translator belongs to OTTIAQ, ATIO, STIBC or CTINB.
The pitfalls specific to this document
Too short a period gets the document sent back
For a Chinese citizen, IRCC asks that the certificate cover the period from birth to the present. Many police stations issue by default a certificate limited to the time registered in that municipality. You have to say so at the counter, and check it on the document.
The notification of non-issuance is the right document, not a failure
Where a record exists, the police issue a notification of non-issuance. Many people set it aside believing they must obtain "the real" certificate, which will never exist. IRCC names this notification explicitly as the document to provide in that case.
The QR code is not mandatory
The central authorities recommend a certificate bearing a verification QR code, but IRCC also accepts those without one. There is no need to start over for that reason alone.
The document has an implicit shelf life
The certificate speaks as of the date it is issued. One obtained too early in an application that then drags on may be asked for again: better to order it once the rest of the file is ready, and have it translated straight away.
What you receive
- Complete certified translation, period covered and seal rendered explicitly
- Translation of the notification of non-issuance on the same footing as the certificate
- Name romanized identically to your passport and your other documents
- Translator's signed and sealed declaration, meeting IRCC requirements
- PDF delivery — the digital format is enough for IRCC; paper copy on request
Pricing depends on the number of pages in your document. Get your quote online in a few minutes.
Get my quote onlineFrequently asked questions
Does my Chinese police certificate need translating?
Yes. IRCC states on its page for China that you must provide either a notarized or a certified translation. The document is not issued in English, unlike the police certificate of certain other countries.
How much does it cost to translate my 无犯罪记录证明?
The price depends on the number of pages — the certificate usually runs to one, the notarized version sometimes two. The simplest route is our online quote form: you upload the document and get your price in a few minutes, with no commitment.
Get my quote onlineI received a notification of non-issuance instead of the certificate. Is that a problem?
It is the expected document where a record exists, and IRCC names it explicitly. It is filed and translated exactly like the certificate. Do not try to obtain a certificate of no criminal record: it will not be issued.
My certificate covers only the last five years. Is that enough?
For a Chinese citizen, IRCC asks that the period covered run from birth to the date of issue. A certificate limited to a few years risks being asked for again: say so at the police station and check the wording on the document before you leave.
Does a 公证书 replace a certified translation?
IRCC accepts both routes. The notarial certificate requires a process in China and Chinese timelines; a translation certified by a translator accredited in Canada is done from here, on a scanned document.