Police Clearance & ACRO Police Certificate Translation UK
Translate an overseas Police Clearance Certificate or Certificate of Good Conduct into English for a UK submission, or a UK-issued ACRO Police Certificate into another language for use abroad. Upload the document for a certified translation quote.
Police Clearance Certificate Translation for UK and Overseas Use
A certified police clearance translation renders the issuing authority, personal details, recorded findings and relevant official markings in the required language. The translation may also need a signed accuracy statement and translator or provider details depending on the recipient’s requirements.
Different issuing authorities use different titles for documents serving a similar purpose. Tell the team exactly what appears on your certificate and where the translation will be submitted.
- Police Clearance Certificate (PCC)
- ACRO Police Certificate
- Certificate of Good Conduct
- Criminal Record Certificate
- Criminal Background Record
- Certificate of No Criminal Record
Foreign police clearance, criminal-record and good-conduct certificates may need a full English translation for certain UK visa, immigration, employment or legal submissions. Check the specific receiving authority’s rules.
UK-issued ACRO Police Certificates are normally in English. An overseas embassy, employer or visa authority may require translation into another language. The recipient determines the accepted format and certification.
When Your Police Certificate Is Not in English or Welsh
UK requirements vary by route. Current GOV.UK supporting-document guidance states that documents not in English or Welsh must be accompanied by a full translation that can be independently verified by the Home Office.
Send the written instructions for your particular visa, immigration or official application with the document. This helps the correct certification route to be identified before work begins. For related requirements, see our UKVI certified translation and Home Office translation guidance.
For UK visa use, the translation should normally show:
- Confirmation that it is an accurate translation of the original document
- The date on which the translation was completed
- The translator's or authorised company representative's full name and signature
- Contact details for the translator or translation company
- Any additional credentials or certification details required by the particular application
Police and Criminal-Record Documents We Can Review
Police-clearance terminology is not standardised internationally. These are common document types customers may need translated.
Police Clearance Certificates
PCCs issued by police forces, ministries and other authorised bodies confirming criminal-record status.
Certificates of Good Conduct
Official good-conduct or character certificates issued for immigration, employment or administrative purposes.
Criminal Record Certificates
Criminal-record extracts, no-record statements and similar official records that need to be understood in another language.
ACRO Police Certificates
UK-issued ACRO Police Certificates requested by overseas visa authorities, embassies and other institutions. These are normally in English and may need translation into the destination language.
Employment Background Records
Relevant authority-issued criminal-record or police documents requested during professional and employment checks.
Other Police and Official Records
If your certificate has a different official title, send a readable copy so the document and required translation route can be reviewed.
What Your Police Certificate Translation Can Include
A police certificate contains more than its main criminal-record statement. Names, dates, numbers and issuing details can all matter when the translated version is compared with the original.
Relevant visible information is handled carefully so the receiving organisation can compare the translated document with its source.
- Personal names and name variants
- Date and place of birth
- Identity or passport references
- Certificate and case numbers
- Issuing police force or authority
- Issue and validity dates shown
- Criminal-record statements
- Relevant offences or record entries
- Visible stamps and seals
- Legible handwritten entries
- Certification statement
- Translator or company details
What to Send Us
Providing the submission details with the certificate helps ensure the order is prepared around the correct language pair, recipient and certification route.
- A clear copy of every relevant page Use a readable scan, PDF or photograph with document edges, stamps and text visible.
- The source and required target languages Tell us the language currently used and the language required by the recipient.
- The receiving organisation or destination For example, identify the authority, employer, embassy, court or destination country.
- Your deadline Include the actual deadline so the available turnaround can be checked against the document and language pair.
- Any written certification instructions Send the recipient's wording if it specifies certified, notarised, sworn or legalised translation.
How to Order a Certified Police Certificate Translation
Upload the police certificate, choose the language pair and provide the receiving organisation and deadline so the order can be prepared around the correct certification route.
Upload the Certificate
Send a clear scan, PDF or readable photograph online.
Confirm Its Destination
State the receiving organisation, country and language required.
Review Order Details
Check the price, language pair and order details before completing the order.
Translation & Checks
Visible content and important names, dates and numbers are translated and reviewed.
Receive the Translation
The completed work is supplied in the digital or agreed delivery format.
Know the Price Before Work Begins
The final price depends on the certificate, amount of text, source and target languages, certification route and required turnaround.
Turnaround depends on the document, language pair and current translator availability. If you have a fixed deadline, include it with the order details.
Certified, Sworn, Notarised or Apostilled?
A certified translation does not automatically require notarisation or an apostille. Additional authentication should be ordered only when the receiving organisation or destination requires it.
| Service | What It Adds | When It May Be Needed |
|---|---|---|
| Certified translation | A signed statement confirming the translation's accuracy and completeness. | Common official, visa, academic, employment and administrative submissions. |
| Notarised translation | An additional authentication step involving a notary public. | When the recipient specifically asks for notarisation. |
| Sworn translation | A translation completed within the sworn-translator system used by a particular jurisdiction. | When the destination country or organisation requires a sworn translator. |
| Apostille / legalisation | Additional authentication for international use where applicable. | When required by the destination country, embassy, consulate or receiving body. |
When a Police Clearance Translation May Be Needed
Visa & Immigration
Supporting evidence for applications where a foreign-language police certificate must be reviewed in the required submission language.
Employment
Authority-issued police or criminal-record documents requested by employers or professional organisations.
Professional & Academic Use
Police or good-conduct evidence requested for registration, enrolment, placements or other formal checks.
International Administration
Police certificates being presented to an embassy, authority, institution or other organisation in another country.
Police Certificate Translation Guidance & Next Steps
Review the police certificate translation requirements, upload your document or ask about ACRO and overseas certification. Each option goes to its own destination.
Police Clearance & ACRO Translation Questions
Requirements depend on where the document will be submitted. Send the receiving organisation's instructions when they are available.
What is a certified police clearance certificate translation?
It is a complete translation of the police clearance document accompanied by certification confirming the accuracy and completeness of the translation. Certification details should be prepared around the requirements of the organisation receiving the document.
Do I need a certified translation for a UK visa or Home Office application?
Where a relevant supporting document is not in English or Welsh, UK immigration guidance commonly requires a full translation that can be independently verified. The exact requirement depends on the immigration route and current instructions, so check your application guidance before submission.
What details should the certified translation include?
UK application guidance commonly asks for confirmation that the translation is accurate, the translation date, the full name and signature of the translator or authorised company representative, and contact details. Some applications may ask for additional credentials or certification details.
Can you translate an ACRO Police Certificate, Certificate of Good Conduct or criminal record certificate?
Yes. ACRO lists Police Certificate as one of its disclosure services, alongside other police-record products. We can review an ACRO Police Certificate, Certificate of Good Conduct or other criminal-record certificate for translation. Send the document, source and target languages, and the receiving organisation's instructions so the correct certification route can be confirmed.
Can I send a scan, PDF or phone photograph?
A clear scan, PDF or readable photograph can be used to prepare the order. Make sure every relevant page, document edge, stamp, seal, name and reference number is visible.
Do stamps and seals need to be included in the translation?
Relevant visible stamps, seals and other official markings should be accounted for where they form part of the source document. Their treatment depends on what is visible and legible.
Do I need the translation notarised or apostilled?
Not automatically. Certified, notarised, sworn and apostille or legalisation routes are different. Additional authentication should be based on the receiving organisation's written requirements.
How much does a certified police clearance translation cost?
Standard certified translations currently start from £40 per document. The final price depends on document length, language pair, certification type and required turnaround.
How quickly can the translation be completed?
Turnaround depends on the certificate length, language pair and translator availability. Include your actual deadline with the order so the appropriate option can be checked.
Is a certified translation guaranteed to be accepted by every authority?
No translation provider can make the receiving organisation's decision on its behalf. Certification and acceptance requirements vary by authority, application and destination, so provide the recipient's written instructions whenever possible.
Order Your Police Certificate Translation
Upload the document, choose the language pair, add the receiving organisation and deadline, then complete the order online. Contact the team first only if you need clarification about the certification route.