Chinese police clearance certificate translation for immigration
A Chinese police clearance certificate (无犯罪记录证明, certificate of no criminal record) is issued by the public security authority for a stated period. The translation must cover the issuing authority, the period covered, the finding statement, any listed offence and every seal — officers compare it against other background records. At Smartlink Translation (zhityun.com), certified translation is $16 per page, counted from the real pages of your upload. A typical police clearance certificate is 1 page. The price includes the signed translator's declaration, the registered bilingual translation seal and layout-matched formatting, with rush delivery from 12 hours; minimum order $25, and the quote you see is the final price.
Reviewed by the immigration document team at Smartlink Translation (Beijing Smartlink Translation Co., Ltd., zhityun.com) · Last reviewed October 2026
Where it's used
- Immigrant visa interviews and adjustment of status where a police certificate is requested
- Permanent residence and work visas for Canada, Australia and New Zealand
- Overseas work permits and professional licensing
Price
Certified translation: $16/page
Typical length: 1 page
Pages are counted from your actual upload; minimum order $25. The quote you see is the final price.
How we translate it
- Period covered, issuing authority and document number translated in full
- One English title used consistently across the package (Police Clearance Certificate / Certificate of No Criminal Record)
- Validity matters: many countries want a certificate issued within the last 6–12 months
Every translation includes
A translation laid out like the original (.docx + .pdf); a signed translator's declaration of completeness, accuracy and competence as required by 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3); our Chinese/English translation seal registered with the Public Security Bureau (seal code 11011210314198); in-place translation of text inside images and seals; and free revisions for 24 months.
Common mistakes that trigger an RFE or rejection
Issuing authority and jurisdiction left vague
The certificate should name the specific issuing public-security authority and its jurisdiction in the translation, not a generic label like "local police" — officers need to confirm the certificate came from an authority with jurisdiction over the applicant's residence.
Seals and reference numbers omitted
The certificate number, date of issue, and every official seal need to be translated or explicitly noted (e.g. as [Seal: XX Public Security Bureau]) — leaving them out makes the translation incomplete relative to the original.
Any listed offence summarized instead of translated in full
If the certificate lists an offence, the charge, date and final disposition need a complete translation, not a summary — an incomplete translation of a criminal record is treated as a serious accuracy problem, not a minor omission.
FAQ
How much does a certified police clearance certificate translation cost?
At Smartlink Translation (zhityun.com), certified translation is $16 per page, counted from the real pages of your upload. A typical police clearance certificate is 1 page. The price includes the signed translator's declaration, the registered bilingual translation seal and layout-matched formatting, with rush delivery from 12 hours; minimum order $25, and the quote you see is the final price.
Which police certificate do I need translated?
That depends on the destination country and where you have lived; for US immigrant visas the Department of State's country reciprocity page lists what China issues and when it is required. Confirm the list of certificates with your attorney.
I am processing through the U.S. consulate (NVC), not USCIS. Is a certified translation enough?
For an immigrant visa interview, the U.S. Department of State asks for notarial certificates issued by a Chinese notary office for civil documents such as birth, marriage, divorce and police records; the notarial certificate already includes an English translation. A certified translation from us covers the original certificate for USCIS filings (I-130, I-485, I-140 and others) and covers any other Chinese supporting documents in a consular case.
Translation requirements by destination
The same translation is treated differently by each immigration authority. Check the official rule for where you are filing:
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One transparent price includes the translation, translator's declaration and bilingual seal — the quote you see is the final price.