Difficulty obtaining Chinese police certificates for PR
Canadian immigration applicants who have lived in China are encountering challenges securing police certificates required for permanent residence submissions, particularly under Express Entry. The process is complicated by local variations and in-person application requirements across Chinese jurisdictions.
The issue is affecting both Chinese citizens and foreign nationals who previously resided in China, as Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) mandates police clearance documents from every country lived in for six months or longer within the past decade.
Applicants must often rely on representatives in China to complete the process, a requirement that can delay permanent residence applications and impact submission timelines.
- Police certificates in China are formally known as “No Criminal Record Certificates.”
- Applications are generally required to be submitted in person, with few online options.
- Procedures differ by city and by applicant status, such as citizenship and residency.
- Multiple certificates are needed for those who lived in more than one city within 10 years.
- Applicants unable to obtain certificates must provide IRCC with a detailed explanation and proof of effort.
Local procedures and requirements
In China, police certificates are issued through local authorities rather than a central system. Applicants must either apply personally or authorize a representative, typically an immediate family member, to act on their behalf. The process and documentation required vary significantly between cities.
Those who have relocated among multiple Chinese cities must secure a separate certificate from each jurisdiction. This localized approach often extends processing times and complicates document verification for Canadian immigration authorities.
Applications by Chinese citizens abroad
Chinese nationals residing outside China can authorize a close relative to request the certificate. The representative typically needs to present their national identification, the applicant’s authorization letter, the family household registration document (hukou), and the applicant’s relevant paperwork. Requirements may differ depending on the issuing city.
Applications by Chinese citizens within China
Those living in China must apply through the local police station or a designated notary office. The process usually begins with obtaining an official request document from a foreign-related notary public office, followed by the application for a No Criminal Record Certificate from the police. Once issued, the certificate is taken back to the notary office to obtain a notarized document and translation, which are required for submission to IRCC.
Applications by non-Chinese citizens
Foreign nationals who lived in China for more than 180 days can apply through the Exit-Entry Administration Department of the Public Security Bureau (PBS) in the city of residence. The process involves providing identification and an application form. The PBS may allow a representative to apply with a valid power of attorney and identification.
Administrative and logistical challenges
Applicants or their representatives whose hukou has been cancelled must first obtain a Certificate of Residence Cancellation before applying. Some rely on document agencies based in China to complete in-person steps on their behalf. These agencies act under a notarized power of attorney and charge between CAD 615 and CAD 1,000, depending on the city and complexity of the case.
Delays can occur if documentation is incomplete, or if local offices impose additional verification steps. The lack of standardization across cities has been cited as a major cause of delays affecting immigration timelines, including those applying through the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program and other federal or provincial pathways.
Submission to IRCC
When applying for permanent residence, IRCC requires the notarized version of the certificate along with the translated copy issued by a notary public office. Submitting only the basic No Criminal Record Certificate without its notarized counterpart and translation is considered incomplete under IRCC requirements.
Applicants invited through Express Entry have 60 days to submit a full application, including police certificates from all applicable countries. Failure to provide these documents or adequate proof of attempted collection may result in a rejected application.
When a certificate cannot be obtained
IRCC recognizes that in some jurisdictions, obtaining a police certificate may be difficult or impossible. In such situations, applicants must include a written explanation describing attempts to secure the document, along with evidence such as submission receipts, tracking numbers, or correspondence from issuing authorities.
Officers reviewing applications evaluate whether reasonable effort was made to obtain the required certificate. If they determine that attempts were insufficient, the file may be refused for being incomplete.
Ongoing relevance
As global mobility resumes and immigration activity increases, the procedural complexity of obtaining police certificates from China continues to affect a segment of Express Entry and provincial nominee applicants. The issue highlights the administrative differences among international jurisdictions and their impact on Canadian immigration processing timelines.
For continued updates on IRCC policy developments and documentation requirements, readers can explore related coverage on Canadian immigration programs and processes.