Criminal record checks for moving abroad

Criminal record checks may be needed when moving abroad for work, study, family, residency or citizenship. Learn which UK documents may be requested.

3 min read

If you are moving abroad, a foreign authority may ask for a criminal record check from the UK. This is common for visa, residency, work permit, citizenship, study, family and professional registration applications.

The exact document can vary. Some countries ask for a police certificate, while others may ask for a DBS certificate, certificate of good conduct or police clearance certificate.

Why criminal record checks are requested

Foreign authorities may use criminal record checks to assess immigration, employment, safeguarding or professional suitability.

They may be requested for:

  • visa applications
  • residency permits
  • citizenship applications
  • work permits
  • overseas employment
  • teaching or childcare roles
  • healthcare jobs
  • professional registration
  • adoption or fostering procedures
  • volunteering abroad
  • long-term family relocation
  • regulated sector work

The requirement depends on the country and the type of application.

Which UK criminal record document might you need?

The most common UK documents include:

  • ACRO police certificate
  • basic DBS certificate
  • standard DBS certificate
  • enhanced DBS certificate
  • police clearance certificate
  • certificate of good conduct
  • supporting identity documents

For many immigration applications, an ACRO police certificate is often requested. For employment or safeguarding roles, a DBS certificate may be more relevant.

ACRO police certificate

An ACRO police certificate is commonly used for visa, residency and immigration applications outside the UK. It may show whether a person has criminal record information recorded in the UK.

If a foreign immigration authority asks for a “police certificate” from the UK, check whether it specifically expects an ACRO police certificate.

DBS certificate

A DBS certificate is often used for employment and safeguarding checks. It may be requested for teaching, healthcare, childcare, care work, volunteering or regulated roles abroad.

There are different levels of DBS check, so it is important to confirm whether the authority wants a basic, standard or enhanced certificate.

Certificates from other countries

If you have lived outside the UK, you may also need criminal record checks from other countries. Some authorities ask for police certificates from every country where you have lived for a certain period.

This can affect people who have studied, worked or lived abroad before applying.

Check the issue date

Criminal record checks are often expected to be recent. Some authorities may only accept certificates issued within the last three months, six months or another defined period.

Ordering too early can cause problems if the certificate becomes too old before your application is submitted.

Name changes and identity details

The name on your criminal record check should match your passport and application documents. If your name has changed, you may need evidence such as:

  • marriage certificate
  • deed poll
  • divorce document
  • statutory declaration
  • previous passport
  • official name change record

Previous names may also need to be included on the application or explained with supporting documents.

Legalisation and embassy attestation

For overseas use, criminal record checks may need to be legalised or attested before they are accepted. This is common for visa, residency, work permit and professional registration applications.

Some countries may require embassy attestation after UK legalisation, depending on their rules.

Certified translation

If the receiving authority does not accept English documents, a certified translation may be required. This can apply to the criminal record check and supporting documents such as passport copies, birth certificates or name change evidence.

The translation should accurately reflect names, dates, certificate wording and any results shown.

Common reasons for rejection

Criminal record checks may be rejected if:

  • the wrong UK document is provided
  • the certificate is too old
  • legalisation is required but missing
  • embassy attestation is needed but not completed
  • certified translation is required but not included
  • names do not match across documents
  • previous names are not explained
  • certificates from other countries are missing
  • the original document is required but only a scan is submitted

What to check before submitting criminal record checks abroad

Before sending a UK criminal record check overseas, check:

  • which type of certificate is required
  • whether ACRO or DBS is specifically requested
  • how recent the certificate must be
  • whether previous names must be included
  • whether certificates from other countries are needed
  • whether the original document is required
  • whether legalisation is needed
  • whether embassy attestation is required
  • whether certified translation is needed

Final thoughts

Criminal record checks can be an important part of moving abroad, especially for visas, residency, work permits and professional registration. The safest approach is to confirm the exact document required before applying.

Orcap can help prepare UK criminal record checks and supporting documents for overseas use, including certified copies, legalisation, embassy attestation and certified translation where required.

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