Police Certificate Translation for UK Visa

Price

Police Certificate translation pricing

Per page, shown before you pay. Upload your document to see the exact total.

Standard delivery

24-hour delivery · UKVI certified · Home Office approved · Official certification included

£17.99per page

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Rush delivery

8-hour delivery · UKVI certified · Home Office approved · Priority processing

£29.99per page

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What you receive

What's included with your Police Certificate translation

UKVI certification: Official UKVI certification. Home Office accepts it for all UK visa and immigration applications.
Complete document package: One PDF: the certification page, a copy of your original, and the English translation.
Quality guarantee: Accurate work, guaranteed, with 2 free revisions included.
All languages supported: We translate police certificates from over 90 languages to English.

In detail

About Police Certificate translation

Police certificates — also known as criminal record checks, certificates of good conduct, or judicial record extracts — are among the most sensitive documents in any visa application. They must be translated with absolute fidelity because even an ambiguous rendering of an offence category, a disposition, or a case status could lead a caseworker to conclude that the applicant has a disqualifying criminal history.

Key translation challenges

Legal offence terminology: Criminal offence categories are deeply rooted in each country's legal system. Translating a French "délit" or a German "Vergehen" requires understanding whether the term denotes a misdemeanour, a felony, or something without a direct UK equivalent. Mistranslation can dramatically overstate or understate the severity of an offence.
Negative certification language: Many police certificates confirm the absence of a criminal record using double-negative or bureaucratic constructions that can be confusing when translated literally. The translator must ensure the English version unambiguously states whether the individual has or does not have a criminal record.

UKVI visa requirements

UKVI requires police certificates from every country where the applicant has lived for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. They are mandatory for settlement (ILR) and naturalisation applications, and are frequently requested for Skilled Worker, Spouse, and Student visa extensions. The UKVI good character requirement means even minor translation ambiguities can trigger further enquiries or refusals.

Apostilles, legalisation & handwritten entries

Police and criminal-record certificates for UK use are frequently apostilled (for countries party to the Hague Apostille Convention) or legalised by the issuing authorities; where such certification is attached, we translate it too. Any handwritten annotations, reference stamps, and "no record" / "nil" markings are rendered into unambiguous English, with unclear entries noted.

How to get your Police Certificate translated

1
Upload your police certificate, criminal record check, or certificate of good conduct
2
Our system identifies the issuing country and language, flagging it as a sensitive legal document
3
A legal translator with criminal justice expertise renders all offence categories, dispositions, and case statuses with precision
4
Negative certification language (confirming no criminal record) is translated into unambiguous English
5
Any stamps, reference numbers, and issuing authority details are translated in full to support UKVI verification

Country-specific Police Certificate formats

Turkey: Turkish police certificates (adli sicil kaydı) are obtained from the e-Government system and are in Turkish. A "no record" certificate uses the phrase "adli sicil kaydı bulunmamaktadır" which must be translated to clearly state the absence of a criminal record.
France: The French casier judiciaire (bulletin no. 3) is the standard certificate for immigration purposes. It uses formal legal French and the phrasing "néant" (nil) to indicate a clean record, which must not be translated ambiguously.
South Africa: South African police clearance certificates from SAPS use English and Afrikaans. Processing times are long, so applicants should apply early. The certificate confirms "no criminal record" or lists specific offences with SAP Act references.
Philippines: The NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) clearance from the Philippines is in English but may contain abbreviations and case references in Filipino. A "no derogatory record" or "hit" status requires careful translation of the follow-up documentation.
Morocco: Moroccan police certificates (casier judiciaire) are issued in Arabic or French. Arabic versions require careful translation of offence terminology from the Moroccan Penal Code, which uses different classifications than UK criminal law.

Common Police Certificate translation rejection reasons

Ambiguous translation makes it unclear whether the applicant has a criminal record or not: The translator must render negative certification language into clear, affirmative English — e.g., "The applicant has no criminal record" rather than a confusing literal translation of a double-negative construction.
Offence category translated in a way that overstates its severity (e.g., a minor infraction rendered as a felony): Use a translator with criminal law expertise who understands the distinction between offence categories in the source legal system and can provide an accurate equivalent or explanatory note.
Police certificate is from the wrong jurisdiction or does not cover the required period: Before translating, verify that the certificate covers the correct time period and jurisdiction as specified in the UKVI guidance for your visa category.

Common uses for Police Certificate translation

UK visa applications
Settlement applications
Work permits
Citizenship applications

Languages

Police Certificate translation by language

Select your language to get started with your police certificate translation. Don't see it? We support 90+ languages.

View all languages

All supported languages for Police Certificate translation

Eastern Europe

Baltic

Middle East

South Asia

East Asia

Southeast Asia

Africa

Caucasus

Central Asia

The certificate

What our certification statement says

Every translation is delivered with a signed certification page, in the wording UK Visas and Immigration, the Home Office and UK courts expect to see.

“I, [translator’s full name], certify that I am competent to translate from the source language into English, and that this is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, a true and accurate translation of the original document.”
The statement is followed by the translator’s signature, the date, and our company name and contact details, and the PDF is sealed with a PAdES-LTV digital signature. The certificate confirms the accuracy of the translation only.

FAQ

Police Certificate translation FAQs

Can I translate my own police certificate for a UK visa application?

No. Home Office does not accept self-translated documents, even if you are fluent in both languages. The translation must be produced independently and certified with the translator's declaration, name, signature, and contact details. We provide that certification as standard.

Do I need to submit the original police certificate with the translation?

Yes. You submit the certified English translation together with a copy of the original police certificate. Never submit the translation on its own — Home Office matches the translation against the source document.

Is your police certificate translation UKVI certified?

Yes. Every police certificate translation is UKVI-certified and meets Home Office rules. You can use it for all UK visa and immigration applications, including spouse visas, work visas, and settlement applications.

How much does police certificate translation cost?

A police certificate translation costs £17.99 per page with 24-hour delivery. Rush 8-hour delivery is £29.99 per page. Upload your document to see your exact price right away.

How long does police certificate translation take?

Standard delivery takes 24 hours. Rush delivery takes 8 hours. We send your certified translation by email as soon as it is ready.

Do I need a certified translation for my police certificate?

Yes. Home Office requires a certified translation of every police certificate in a UK visa application. Translations you make yourself, or ones with no certification, are not accepted. We provide the official certification you need.

What information is included in the certification?

The certification confirms the translation is accurate and complete. It shows the translator's credentials, signature, contact details, and the date. It also states that the work meets UKVI rules. It sits on its own page in your PDF.

What types of police certificates can you translate?

We can translate all types of police certificates, including: Police certificates, Criminal record checks, Good conduct certificates, Background checks.

Sources

Official guidance & sources

Certified translation requirements for police certificates are set by Home Office. We keep our process aligned with the official guidance below.

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From £17.99/page · UKVI certified