As a Chinese lawyer, I recently received an inquiry involving a Colombian national who had previously worked and lived in China for more than two years and is now applying for immigration to Canada.

As part of his Canadian immigration application, he was required to provide police clearance certificates from the countries and regions where he had previously lived, including a certificate covering his period of residence in China.
This is not an uncommon situation. Foreign nationals who have previously worked, studied, or lived in China for an extended period may later be asked to provide a Chinese Police Clearance Certificate when applying for immigration, permanent residence, a work visa, or other immigration-related matters in another country.
So, how can a foreign national obtain a Police Clearance Certificate for the time they lived in China?

1. Can a Foreign National Apply for a Police Clearance Certificate in China?

Yes.
Foreign nationals who previously resided in China may, subject to the relevant requirements, apply to the exit-entry administration authorities of the Chinese public security organs for a certificate confirming whether they had a criminal record during their period of residence in China.
In practice, applicants are generally required to have resided continuously in China for a certain period, for example, more than 180 days.
Whether a certificate can be issued, and the period that the certificate can cover, will depend on the applicant's actual residence history in China and the specific requirements of the local public security authority.

2. Which Authority Should the Applicant Contact?

As a general rule, the application should be submitted to the exit-entry administration department of a public security authority at or above the county level in the place where the foreign national previously resided.
For example, if a foreign national worked and lived in Beijing for two years and his or her residence permits and principal residence were registered there, the application would normally be made to the relevant public security authority in Beijing.
If the applicant previously lived in several Chinese cities—for example, first working in Shanghai and later moving to Shenzhen—whether one authority can issue a certificate covering all periods of residence will depend on the applicant's residence records and the practices of the relevant local authorities.

3. What Documents Are Generally Required?

Requirements may vary from one city or province to another. Depending on the circumstances, an applicant may be asked to provide documents such as: a current passport or other identification document; previous passports used during the applicant's stay in China; Chinese visas and residence permits; Documents showing the applicant's employment, study, or residence in China; Information explaining the purpose for which the Police Clearance Certificate is required; and any other supporting documents requested by the public security authority. 
If the applicant has already left China, some local authorities may allow the application to be handled through an authorized representative. In such cases, a power of attorney and relevant identification documents will normally be required.
Therefore, a foreign national who has returned to his or her home country or moved to a third country may not necessarily need to travel back to China solely for this purpose.

4. Can the Certificate Be Used Overseas Immediately After It Is Issued?

Not necessarily.
It is important to distinguish between a Police Clearance Certificate issued by a Chinese public security authority and other documents that may be required for overseas use, such as a notarized document or an Apostille.
Depending on the requirements of the receiving country or authority—for example, in connection with Canadian immigration, a foreign work visa, permanent residence, or another overseas procedure—the following additional steps may be required:
Police Clearance Certificate→ Notarization→ Apostille or other authentication procedures, where required→ A compliant translation, if necessary
The exact procedure depends on the requirements of the foreign government agency, immigration authority, or other institution that will ultimately receive the document.
Applicants should therefore confirm those requirements in advance rather than assuming that the certificate issued by the Chinese public security authority alone will be sufficient.

5. Why Can Obtaining a Chinese Police Clearance Certificate Sometimes Be Difficult?

--In practice, difficulties often arise where: 
--The applicant left China many years ago;
--The passport used while living in China has since been replaced;
--The applicant used more than one passport number during his or her stay;
--The applicant lived in several different Chinese cities;
--Earlier residence records are incomplete; or
--The period for which records can be verified by the Chinese authorities does not fully match the period required by the foreign immigration authority.
For this reason, foreign nationals preparing an immigration, permanent residence, or work visa application abroad should first determine the exact period for which a Chinese Police Clearance Certificate is required.
They should also gather, as early as possible, their old passports, Chinese visas, residence permits, and other records relating to their stay in China.

Conclusion

Returning to the Colombian client's case, although he no longer lives in China, he previously worked and resided in China for more than two years. As a result, his period of residence in China became relevant when he applied for immigration to Canada, and he was required to provide evidence of his criminal record status during that period.
In cases like this, the key issue is not simply whether a Police Clearance Certificate can be obtained.
Other important questions include: Which Chinese public security authority should issue the certificate? What period of residence can the certificate cover? Is the applicant required to appear in person? Can an authorized representative handle the application? Is notarization required after the certificate is issued? Is an Apostille or other form of authentication required for overseas use?  
For foreign nationals who previously lived in China and now need to use a Chinese Police Clearance Certificate abroad, it is advisable to plan the application process based on their former places of residence, length of stay in China, and the requirements of the country where the document will be used.
Doing so can help avoid a situation in which a certificate is successfully obtained in China but is later rejected because its format, period of coverage, or authentication does not meet the requirements of the receiving authority.

Disclaimer: This article is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Application procedures may vary among local public security authorities in China, and requirements for the overseas use of documents may differ depending on the receiving country or institution. Applicants should confirm the latest requirements with the relevant authorities before proceeding.
 

About the Author

David Gao, Attorney-at-Law | Cross-Border Legal Expert
· Over 20 years of legal practice experience
· Certified translator (CATTI)
· Selected into the Ministry of Justice’s National Talent Pool of Foreign-Related Lawyers (2018)

Contact:
Email: gaohexin@jingsh.com | gaohexin@163.com
Tel: +86 136 1115 8067