How to Get a Non-Criminal Record Certificate

Required for all foreign teachers applying for a Z-visa in China.

What is it?

A Non-Criminal Record certificate (also called a Police Clearance Certificate or Background Check) is an official government document confirming that you have no criminal convictions on record. It is issued by the relevant national or regional authority in your home country.

China requires this document for all foreign teachers applying for a Z-visa. The certificate must be:

Issued by an official government authority
Dated within the last 6 months
Apostilled (authenticated for international use)

How to get it — by country

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

Apply for a Basic DBS Check(Disclosure and Barring Service) through the official DBS website or through an umbrella body. Cost: ~£23. Takes 2–4 weeks. The apostille is applied by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).

Apply on gov.uk →

🇺🇸 United States

Request an Identity History Summaryfrom the FBI. You can apply online via the FBI's channeler service or by mail. Takes 3–10 business days (online) or several weeks by mail. Cost: $18. The apostille is obtained from the US Department of State.

Apply via FBI website →

🇨🇦 Canada

Apply for a RCMP Criminal Record Check (Level 2 — Certified Criminal Record Check) through the RCMP or an accredited channeler. Takes 2–4 weeks. The apostille is issued by Global Affairs Canada.

🇦🇺 Australia

Apply for a National Police Check through the Australian Federal Police (AFP). Takes 15 business days. Cost: $42 AUD. The apostille is issued by DFAT (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade).

Apply via AFP →

🇿🇦 South Africa

Apply for a Police Clearance Certificate through the South African Police Service (SAPS) at your nearest police station, or online. Takes 4–8 weeks. The apostille is issued by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO).

🇮🇪 Ireland

Apply for a Garda Síochána Vetting or Police Certificate through An Garda Síochána. The apostille is issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs.

🇳🇿 New Zealand

Apply for a Criminal Record Check through the Ministry of Justice online portal. Takes 5 business days. The apostille is issued by the Department of Internal Affairs.

Getting it apostilled

Once you have your Non-Criminal Record certificate, you need to get it apostilled before it will be accepted in China. An apostille is an official government stamp that authenticates your document for international use.

Read our full apostille guide →

Important: 6-month rule

Your Non-Criminal Record certificate must be dated within the last 6 monthsat the time it is submitted to Chinese authorities. Plan accordingly — if you're job hunting, don't apply for it too early or you may need to reapply.

Tips

Order the apostille at the same time as the document where possible — some authorities offer this as a combined service.
Keep at least 2 certified copies once you have the document and apostille.
If you have lived in multiple countries as an adult, some employers or visa offices may ask for certificates from each country.
Processing times vary significantly — budget at least 4–6 weeks from start to having the finished apostilled document in hand.