This Guide is about how foreign nationals obtain a Certificate of No Criminal Record in Chongqing, China. The certificate is also known as a police certificate/check/clearance in other countries.
Foreign nationals may need to obtain a Certificate of No Criminal Record in China for a variety of reasons including immigration, employment, etc. Typically, a Certificate of No Criminal Record is not acceptable for these purposes until it is notarized by a local notary office in China. For use in some countries, it also needs to be apostilled by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs or authenticated by the embassy representing the country where the certificate is to be used. This Guide covers the two primary steps, namely “STEP 1: Application for Certificate of No Criminal Record” and “STEP 2: Notarization of Certificate of No Criminal Record”.
STEP 1: Application for Certificate of No Criminal Record
Where to apply?
A foreign national who has lived in Chongqing may apply to the local exit and entry administration of Chongqing PSB that has jurisdiction over the applicant’s residence in Chongqing. If you have lived in multiple districts, go to the exit and entry administration in the district of your last residence. China’s National Immigration Administration (NIC) publishes the contact information of exit and entry administration offices in every city of China. Click the link to visit NIC’s official website and select “Chongqing” to find the office in your district.
Who are eligible?
No written rules are available to the public regarding the requirements for getting a Certificate of No Criminal Record in Chongqing. Our on-the-ground experience shows that typically a foreign national should meet the following requirements to be eligible for the application.
- Have had residence permits issued from Chongqing.
- Have lived in Chongqing for 6 months or longer.
Processing Time?
On the spot.
Required documents?
- Passports
- Power of attorney, if a third-party is appointed to handle the application.
- Application Statement regarding your personal information, the purpose of the application and the period of residence in Chongqing sought to be covered by the certificate.
Sample Certificate of No Criminal Record
The Provisions on the Handling of Criminal Record Check by Public Security Organs provides a basic model Certificate of No Criminal Record. The model contains a QR code which is used for verification and a statement regarding no criminal record. Local police in different cities issue the certificates with slight variations in the layout. Click here to view a sample Certificate of No Criminal Record.
STEP 2: Notarization of Certificate of No Criminal Record
Most foreign nationals need a Certificate of No Criminal Record for purposes of immigration and employment in other countries. A Certificate of No Criminal Record issued by local Chinese police is typically not acceptable for these purposes. To be used outside of China, the certificate needs to be notarized by a local Chinese notary office. (In some cases, it also needs to be authenticated/legalized by the embassy or consulate of the receiving country in China. For more information about that process, please check our authentication guide.) Please note that most notary offices will keep the original Certificate of No Criminal Record on file, meaning applicants will no longer possess the original certificate once the notary application is filed. When the notarization is done, you will be issued a new document called Notarial Certificate of No Criminal Record with English translation or other language translation as ordered by you.
Where to apply?
There are multiple notary offices in Chongqing that are licensed to issue Notarial Certificate of No Criminal Record. Chongqing Notary Public Office is the major notary office in Chongqing.
Processing Time?
3 to 5 working days.
Sample Notarial Certificate of No Criminal Record
All notary offices across China issue Notarial Certificates of No Criminal Record in the same format. Please take a look at our article, What a Certificate of No Criminal Record Should Look Like.
Conclusion
At ZhaoZhao, we are committed to providing foreign nationals with high-quality services for obtaining Certificates of No Criminal Record or preparing statements explaining why a certificate is unobtainable. If you are interested in using our service, please fill in a quote request form. Click the below button to get started.