To apply for the Canadian Working Holiday Visa, the immigration authorities also require a United Kingdom police certificate. After some research, I found that applying for the United Kingdom police certificate is not particularly difficult. However, the information available online is not very comprehensive. Therefore, I have written this article to provide a reference for those who will need to apply in the future.
Required Documents
Before starting the application for the UK Police Certificate, it is recommended to first prepare the following documents in electronic format before proceeding with the application:
- Proof of Residence
- Digital Photo: Provide a recent high-quality passport-style photo that meets the passport standard (approximately 45mm x 35mm).
- Passport: Scan the page with your personal photo and information. Black and white scans are not accepted.
- Any Other Documents Relevant to Your Application: This includes documents like power of attorney, authorization documents, signed authorization forms, etc. If not applicable, you can skip this.
- Valid Email Address: This email address should be capable of receiving emails from ACRO.
- Address History: You must provide your address history for the last 10 years, including the dates you lived at each address. If you lived outside the UK for more than 10 years, you will also be asked to provide your last address in the UK.
- Endorser Details: The application must be endorsed by an appropriate individual. You will need to provide the endorser’s full name, occupation, relationship to the applicant (e.g., friend, employer, etc. but not a family member), phone number, and email address.
- National Insurance (NI) Number or Driver’s License Number: If you have worked in the UK, you will have an NI number. If you have a UK driver’s license, you will have a driver’s license number. If you have neither, you do not need to provide this information.
How to Apply
Once all the documents are prepared and scanned into electronic files, you can begin the application process! First, please visit the ACRO – Criminal Records Office website.
Click Apply.
This page will provide information about the required documents and fees. Please have your credit card ready, check the box in the red frame, and then click Start Application to begin the process!
Step 1: Personal Info
Please fill in your personal information accurately. Fields marked with * are required.
Step 2: Contact Details
Fill in your email address and phone number. If you don’t have a Third Party Nomination, you can skip that section.
Step 3: Address History
Enter your current residential address as shown on the English version of your household registration transcript. The move-in date can be found on the transcript, so just input it accordingly. Once you’ve filled in the details, click Confirm address.
Additionally, if you’ve lived in the UK, you’ll need to enter your UK address. Click add Previous Address to add it.
Step 4: Additional Information
- Are you a serving, ex-serving, dependent or ex-dependent, partner or ex-partner of a serving or ex-serving member of the UK armed forces? Are you a civilian who has been subject to UK armed forces acts?
- Do you possess a passport? select Yes and enter the passport information exactly as it appears on the document. Make sure to click Add Passport to add your passport details.
- Are you the subject of any impending prosecutions or are you under investigation for a criminal offence?
- Have you ever been arrested, cautioned, warned or reprimanded or been convicted of a criminal offence in England, Wales, Northern Ireland or Scotland including Mintary offences?
- Have you been appointed a Case Officer / Immigration Officer as part of your visa / immigration process?
Step 5: Endorser
- Must have known you for a minimum of two years
- Must not be a partner or family member (no matter how distantly related)
- Must be aged 18 years or over
- Must be in one of the occupations or a similar occupation to those listed here
The reference I provided is my supervisor at the company I worked for in the UK. He happens to be an expert in the IT field, so after obtaining his consent, I entered his details.
Step 6: Document Uploads
When uploading files, make sure the file names are in English to avoid errors or display issues.
The file size must not exceed 2MB and should be in JPG, GIF, TIF, or PDF format. The photo must be in JPG, GIF, or TIF format. It is important to note that if the image quality is too low to be readable, the application process may be delayed.
Step 7: Service & Delivery
Select the number of copies you need, along with your preferred mailing option (standard or premium service). The price includes the first copy, but if you need 2 or more copies, each additional copy will cost £6. After confirming all the services, make sure to click Calculate Cost. Once the amount is correct, you can proceed to the next page.
Step 8: Summary
Double-check your information to ensure there are no errors, as once you’ve made the payment, there will be no turning back!
Once you’re in the shopping cart, make sure to check the box in the lower-left corner, then click on the Go to Payment Screen button in the lower-right corner to proceed with the payment.
If the payment is successful, the screen above will appear.
Then, you will also receive an email notifying you that your application and payment were successful.
Received United Kingdom Police Certificate
After about a week, I received the physical copy of the United Kingdom police certificate.
I submitted my application on February 4th and received the documents on February 14th. I chose the standard service, and the process was faster than I expected—only 9 working days. The timeline was relatively reasonable.
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