Police Clearance & Criminal Record Translation
Police clearance certificate translation into English for UK official use. Certificates from ACRO, overseas police forces and embassies are translated in full, including reference numbers, offences, dates, stamps and seals, and issued with a signed certification page. Prepared for UKVI and employers. From £40.
Client Rating
Based on 314 verified Google Business Profile reviews.
Certified Translations
For UK Home Office, courts, UK ENIC and global enterprises.
Quote Response
Same-day certified PDF delivery available for most documents ordered before 4pm.
Request a Free Official Quote
Upload your document or provide details below for a prompt human-reviewed quotation.
Compliant With Standards Set By Leading UK Authorities & Professional Bodies
*Authority names are referenced as industry benchmarks of compliance. All official translation orders are processed directly through DHCTranslations.
Police Clearance & Criminal Record Translation
A police clearance certificate, also issued as a police certificate, criminal record certificate or character certificate, is requested for visas, settlement, some jobs and certain council services. The translation must show the issuing authority, the reference numbers, the record or absence of convictions, and the dates the certificate covers, because caseworkers check that it is the right certificate for the right period. Checks reach us from police forces and embassies worldwide, in whatever language the issuing country uses.
What the Translation Covers
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Full Record: Issuing authority, reference numbers, offences or confirmation of no convictions, and dates.
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Validity Dates: Issue date and the period the certificate covers, so the receiving body can check it is current.
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Seals and Stamps: Official stamps, seals, signatures and handwritten notes translated where they carry wording.
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Certification Page: the translator's name, credentials, date and a signed statement of accuracy for police clearance certificates.
Before You Order
The issuing country and authority decide how the certificate should be presented.
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ACRO or Overseas: ACRO certificates and local police checks from other countries are both translated in full.
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Country of Issue: Some authorities add an Apostille or embassy stamp, which we note in the translation.
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Validity Period: Check how recent the certificate must be before ordering, as some bodies reject older records.
Send every page, including any annex listing spent or unspent convictions.
Certified for
Prices are per document and start at £40 — see what a translation costs.
How It Works: 3 Steps to a Certified Translation
A simple route from a phone photo to a certified PDF prepared for the receiving authority.
Send Your Document
Upload a clear scan or photo of every page, including seals and reverse sides.
- The complete document
- Language pair and deadline
- Who will receive it
Approve the Quote & Pay Securely
Review a fixed, itemised quote and pay through the encrypted gateway.
- Major credit/debit cards accepted worldwide
- Secure global payment gateway integration
- Instant invoice and receipt generation
Receive Your Certified Translation
Certified PDF, often the same day when ordered before 4pm, with printed copies available on request.
- Certification page and translator credentials
- Layout, stamps and seals mirrored
- Statement of Truth when requested
Documents Often Translated With a Police Clearance Certificate
Birth Certificate
Birth certificates for UK visas, citizenship and councils, translated alongside your police clearance certificates.
Marriage Certificate
Marriage and civil partnership certificates for UKVI and councils, including the police clearance certificates record.
Passport & ID Documents
Passports and identity documents, translated alongside your police clearance.
All Document Services
Everything we translate, not just police clearance certificates.
Can't find your specific document type?
We translate document types that are not listed here. Send us the document and we will confirm the price before you order: [email protected].
Using this document outside the UK?
We arrange FCDO apostilles with our Express Service or Urgent Service , including notarisation where the receiving authority requires it.
Most frequently requested languages we translate
These are the languages our clients ask for most often, but they are only a fraction of what we cover. We translate 200+ language pairs, so if yours is not listed, just ask.
What our clients say
Rated 4.9/5 from 314 verified reviews for Home Office applications, court-ready Statements of Truth and UK ENIC submissions.
“My police clearance certificate was translated for a work visa and accepted without any issues.”
Dmitri K.
“The certified translation included the record number and stamps, and UKVI accepted it first time.”
Maria B.
“Fast turnaround on a criminal record certificate for an employer check.”
Tunde O.
Frequently asked questions
DHCTranslations translates police clearance and criminal record certificates into English for UK visas, settlement and employment checks. Every page is translated, including annexes and stamps, and returned as a certified PDF with the translator's credentials attached, often the same day when the order and payment arrive before 4pm on a working day.
Police clearance translation starts at £40 per document, with longer certificates priced from £0.09 per word after 400 words. Notarisation is priced as a separate item, since it depends on the document and on notary availability.
They are usually the same document under different names. Countries and authorities label it a police certificate, police clearance, criminal record certificate, character certificate or certificate of good conduct, and the translation covers whichever title appears on the paper. Tell us the country of issue and we will check the wording against the original.
Yes. The translation includes the translator credentials, date of translation and a signed statement of accuracy, which is the format UK Visas and Immigration expects for police certificates.
ACRO issues UK police certificates in English for people applying to live or work abroad, so a UK application normally needs no translation. What we translate is the overseas equivalent - police checks from foreign forces and embassies - in full, including reference numbers and any record of convictions.
No. Self-translations and translations by family members are not accepted. The translation must come from an independent translator or agency, with the translator credentials shown.
Yes. A character certificate from India, a police character certificate from Nigeria or Ghana, and a certificate of good conduct from a European authority are the same kind of police-issued record, and all are translated in full. Send the title page and any annex listing convictions or confirming that none are recorded.
Yes. Offences, dates, reference numbers and any statement that no convictions are recorded are translated exactly, as caseworkers cross-check them against the certificate.
No. The translation itself does not expire, but many authorities require the police certificate to be recent. The translation records the issue date; the validity window is set by UKVI or your employer, so check it before ordering.
Usually not, for UK use. An FCDO apostille or notarisation comes into play when the certificate is used abroad or another authority asks for legalisation, and the FCDO can apostille only a UK-issued document or our translation once a UK notary has certified it. Quoted as an extra.
Still have a question?
We aim to answer every enquiry within 30 minutes, or e-mail us at [email protected]
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