Police Certificate

Application form
Version 36

These notes apply if you are looking to emigrate to, or obtain a visa for Australia, Belgium, Canada, Cayman
Islands, New Zealand, South Africa or the United States of America.

For all other countries, please check with the relevant embassy, high commission or requesting organisation
that a police certificate will be acceptable, as the validity of this document is at their discretion.

This certificate will disclose details of any convictions, impending prosecutions, cautions, reprimands,
absolute/conditional discharges, warnings and current investigations you may have in accordance with the
ACRO step-down model (see terms and conditions). This information will be obtained by checks carried out
on UK police databases.

Note: only use the latest version of the application form which can be accessed via the ACRO website at
www.acro.police.uk. Your application may be delayed if you use an older version of the form

Service
Standard service - £55.00

The cost of the service covers the processing of the certificate and standard return postage, either first class
Royal Mail or standard airmail for international post. Please allow extra time if the application is made near
or during public holidays.

Please be advised that your application may be subject to significant delays if searches of other police/law
enforcement databases are required, or if you are subject to an impending prosecution. Failure to disclose
previous arrests, cautions etc. could also lead to significant delays. If this is the case we are unable to provide
timescales for the release of your certificate.

We advise that you DO NOT arrange travel or accommodation until you have received your certificate. ACRO
cannot be held liable for any costs associated with any failure to meet such plans or losses incurred should
there be a delay with your certificate.

Please also allow reasonable time for delivery of certificate.

UK – 8 postal days
Europe – 10 postal days
Rest of the world – 20 postal days

Postal days are Monday – Saturday and the Royal Mail postal strike days are not included.

Additional services available:

Secure international delivery - £9.00
International courier Delivery - £48.00

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Additional copy of certificate - £6.00 each (if ordered at the time or within six months of
submitting application).

Payment
You will be sent a payment link for ‘Gov.uk Pay’ from the ACRO Payments mailbox within seven days to the
email address listed on your application form for you to pay for your Police Certificate by debit or credit card.
Please ensure you check your spam folder if you haven’t received a link before contacting ACRO.

Please note your application will not be processed until payment has been made in full. If we do not receive
payment within four (4) weeks of your submission, your application will be closed.

If you are unable to pay using this method, alternative payment methods are UK sterling cheque, UK postal
order or international bankers draft. Payment must be made out to ‘PCC for Hampshire’. Do not send cash. If
a receipt is required for the payment this must be requested with the application.

Supporting documents

The following documents are required to process your application. Do not send original documents as these
will not be returned.

1. Fully completed application form. Please ensure all sections are completed.

2. Copies of your passport(s) / travel document / other official photographic identity document.
You must provide colour copies of your passport(s) / travel document which clearly show your
photograph, personal information, expiry date, nationality, machine readable zone, extension pages and
signature (if applicable). Copies of other official photographic identity documents should show as many
of these features as possible. We will not accept black and white copies.

3. ONE recent colour passport style photo

(PLEASE NOTE THIS PHOTO WILL APPEAR ON YOUR CERTIFICATE)
Guidance for acceptable photographs:
Your photo must:
 be a close-up of your full head and upper shoulders
 contain no other objects or people
 be in clear contrast to the background
 be in either JPEG, Gif or Tif format.
 Please ensure that the Live Photo feature is off if taken on an IPhone

In your photo, you must:

 be facing forward and looking straight at the camera
 have your eyes open, visible and free from reflection or glare from glasses
 not have hair in front of your eyes
 not have a head covering (unless for religious or medical reasons)
 not have anything covering your face
 not have any red eye
 not have any shadows on your face or behind you

You cannot wear sunglasses or tinted glasses. You can wear reading glasses but your eyes must show
fully through clear lenses without glare or reflections.

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4. Any additional documents relevant to your application. Examples include: Power of Attorney,
authorisation documents, signed letter of authority, etc.

5. SIGNED terms and conditions. Please note that for postal applications we will require a wet signature.
For online or emailed applications you can type in your name as an electronic signature, by doing this
you are agreeing to the terms and conditions of the service.

6. Payment.

Submission and FAQs

How do I submit my application?

You can email your application and supporting documents to the relevant email address below:

Police Certificate policecertificateapp@acro.police.uk

Or you can post your application form to the below address; if you email in your application you do not need
to post it in addition.

ACRO
PO BOX 481
Fareham
PO14 9FS

How long will my Certificate take to process?

Currently Police Certificate applications can take up 30 days to process. Excluding the delivery of the
certificate.

Can I apply for an expedited service?

We are currently unable to provide any expedited service for any of our products. Your application will be
dealt with in time and date order of it being received.

Can I have an emailed certificate?

All certificates are posted; we are unable to email you a copy of your certificate.

Do ACRO offer an Apostille service?

ACRO is unable to offer a certification or apostille service. The Legalisation Office of the Foreign,
Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) is the only competent authority to issue apostilles in the UK.

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Police Certificate application form
* = mandatory field

1 Service options
1.1 *Service required: Standard (£55.00)
1.2 *Total certificates required
(including any additional copies):

2 Country you are travelling to

Country Choose an item.

Other: (specify)

3 Personal information
3.1 *Title: Choose an item. Other: (specify)
3.2 *ALL forename(s)/given name(s):
(please include all middle names)
3.3 Surname/family name:

3.4 *Have you ever used or been known by any other names? Choose an item.

If you have answered ‘Yes’ to the question above, please provide a list of all your previous names below,
including maiden/married names, names prior to and after change by deed poll, and name at birth if
different from the above. Your application will be delayed if you fail to fully answer this question. If you
run out of space, please use the Additional Information page of this application form.
Forenames in Title Case and surname in UPPER CASE.
3.5 Previous/former name(s):

3.6 *Gender: Choose an item.

3.7 *Date of birth: (dd/mm/yyyy)

3.8 *Place of birth: Village/town:
Country:
3.9 UK National Insurance Number:
3.10 UK Driving Licence Number:

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 4 Passport/travel document details

4.1 *Do you have a current passport or travel document?

Choose an item.

If you have ticked ‘Passport’ or ‘Travel document’ in the question above, please complete the section
below. You must enter your details exactly as shown on your passport(s)/travel document. If you have
more than two passports, please provide the details in the Additional Information section of this
application. If you do not have a current passport or travel document, please complete question 4.16
below. Please note that these details will appear on your certificate.
Passport/travel document 1:
4.2 *Passport/travel document number:
4.3 Surname/family name:
4.4 *Forename(s)/given name(s):
4.5 *Date of birth:
4.6 Nationality:
4.7 Place of birth:
4.8 Expiry date: (dd/mm/yyyy)
Passport/travel document 2 (if applicable):
4.9 Passport/travel document number:
4.10 Surname/family name:
4.11 Forename(s)/given name(s):
4.12 Date of birth:
4.13 Nationality:
4.14 Place of birth:
4.15 Expiry date: (dd/mm/yyyy)
4.16 Do you have any other official photographic identity document?
e.g. Home Office Application Registration Card (ARC) or national identity card.
Choose an item.

If you have answered yes, please provide a copy with your application. If you have answered ‘No’ to the
question above, please answer question 4.17 below.
4.17 If you do not have a current passport, travel document or any other official photographic identity
document, please give the reason below.

5 Applicant’s contact details

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 5.1 *Daytime telephone number:
Please make sure that you include local/area
and international dialling codes.

5.2 *Evening telephone number:

Please make sure that you include local/area
and international dialling codes.

5.3 *Email address: (UPPER CASE)

5.4 *Confirm email: (UPPER CASE)

6 Address history

6.1 *Current address: This is the physical address you live at.
Please note that this address will appear on your certificate.

Address line 1:
Address line 2:
Address line 3:
Address line 4:

Postcode:
Date from: (mm/yyyy)
6.2 Previous addresses: If you have lived at your current address for less than 10 years please give all your
previous address(es) for this period below, including any temporary accommodation. If you have lived
outside the UK for over 10 years, please also provide your last UK address. If you run out of space, please
use the Additional Information page of this application form.
Previous address 1: Date from: (mm/yyyy) Date to: (mm/yyyy)

Address line 1:
Address line 2:
Address line 3:
Address line 4:

Postcode:

Previous address 2: Date from: (mm/yyyy) Date to: (mm/yyyy)

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 Address line 1:
Address line 2:
Address line 3:
Address line 4:

Postcode:
Previous address 3: Date from: (mm/yyyy) Date to: (mm/yyyy)

Address line 1:
Address line 2:
Address line 3:
Address line 4:

Postcode:
Previous address 4: Date from: (mm/yyyy) Date to: (mm/yyyy)

Address line 1:
Address line 2:
Address line 3:
Address line 4:

Postcode:
Previous address 5: Date from: (mm/yyyy) Date to: (mm/yyyy)

Address line 1:
Address line 2:
Address line 3:
Address line 4:

Postcode:

7 Personal history

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 7.1 *Have you ever lived in Scotland? Choose an item.

7.2 *Have you ever lived in Northern Ireland? Choose an item.

7.3 *Are you a serving, ex-serving, dependant or ex-dependant, partner

or ex-partner of a serving or ex-serving member of the UK armed forces. Choose an item.
Are you a civilian that has been subject to UK armed forces acts?
7.4 *Are you the subject of any impending prosecutions or are you under
Choose an item.
investigation for a criminal offence?

If you have answered ‘Yes’ to question 7.4 please provide details below. If you run out of space, please use
the Additional Information section of this application. Please note that any information regarding
impending prosecutions or criminal investigations held on police databases may show on your certificate.

7.5 Alleged offence(s) 1:

7.6 Date of court hearing: (dd/mm/yyyy)

7.7 Court:
7.8 Additional information:

7.9 Alleged offence(s) 2:

7.10 Date of court hearing: (dd/mm/yyyy)

7.11 Court:
7.12 Additional information:

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 7.13 * In England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Channel Islands, Isle of
Man or when serving in the UK armed forces, have you ever:
 been interviewed by police under caution; Choose an item.
 received a postal requisition or summons;
 been arrested, cautioned, warned or reprimanded;
 received a penalty notice; or
 been convicted of a criminal offence?

You must declare ALL convictions including those you believe to be spent under the
Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
If you have answered ‘Yes’ to any of the above questions, please provide details below. If you run out of
space, please use the Additional Information section of this application.

7.14 Offence(s) 1:

7.15 Date of result/sentence/outcome: (dd/mm/yyyy)

7.16 Court:

7.17 Result/sentence/outcome (e.g. caution/imprisonment/fine):

7.18 Offence(s) 2:

7.19 Date of result/sentence/outcome: (dd/mm/yyyy)

7.20 Court:
7.21 Result/sentence/outcome (e.g. caution/imprisonment/fine):

8 Third party nomination

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 ACRO will not discuss your application or disclose your details with anyone else. However, if you would like
to nominate a third party to discuss this application on your behalf you must provide that person’s contact
details below. Providing contact details for a third party will be considered as consent. If you are a Power
of Attorney for the applicant, please enclose a copy of the Power of Attorney documents with this
application.
8.1 Name of nominated third party:
8.2 Relationship to you:
8.3 Daytime telephone number:
8.4 Evening telephone number:
8.5 Email address: (UPPER CASE)
8.6 Confirm email: (UPPER CASE)

9 Endorser details

Your application must be endorsed by a suitable individual that meets the following criteria:
o Must have known you for a minimum of two years
o Must not be a partner or family member (no matter how distantly related)
o Must be aged 18 years or over
o Must be in one of the occupations or a similar occupation to those listed at the end of
this application
This individual can be of any nationality and can reside anywhere in the world. This section does NOT
require a signature.
Please note: Your application will be delayed if you fail to provide this information.
Your endorser may be contacted to verify the authenticity of your application. As part of this validation
we may need to send the photograph you submit to confirm that it is a true likeness of you.
9.1 *Title: Choose an item. Other: (specify)
9.2 Surname/family name:
9.3 *Forename(s)/given
name(s):
9.4 *Occupation:
9.5 *Relationship to applicant:
9.6 *Email address:
(UPPER CASE)
9.7 *Confirm email:
(UPPER CASE)
9.8 Daytime telephone number:

9.9 Evening telephone number:

10 Additional information

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 10.1 Additional information: please use this page if you ran out of space in any section of the application
or if you wish to provide any additional information in support of your application.

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11 Delivery options

11.1 *Service required: (includes

Standard (£55.00) £55
one certificate)

11.2 *Number of additional/extra certificates (£6.00 each):

£
If you are not requesting additional certificates please leave blank.

Postal options –
 First Class UK or Standard Airmail Included in service cost
 International Trackable £9.00 (not available to the UK)
 International Courier £48.00 (not available to the UK or PO boxes (except for countries
in Africa, the Middle East and the Cayman Islands)

Please ensure you include c/o, department or case reference numbers for delivery to third parties.

Delivery address 1: (current address – as entered in section 6.1)

11.3 Number of certificates to be sent to this address:

11.4 Postal option: Choose an item. £

Delivery address 2: (please complete if using an alternative delivery address)

11.5 Address to be dispatched:

Address line 1:
Address line 2:
Address line 3:
Address line 4:

11.6 Postcode:
11.7 Number of certificates to be sent to this address:

11.8 Postal option: Choose an item. £

Subtotal: £

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 12 Case officer/immigration officer and reference number

If you have been given a reference number of details of a case officer/immigration officer as part of your
visa/immigration process, you may want to include details below. However, please seek their permission
before sharing these details.

This information may assist in the delivery of your Police Certificate if you have asked for it to be sent
directly to the embassy or high commission.

Please note ACRO will not send Police Certificates by e-mail as the security features cannot be replicated.

12.1 Case officer/immigration

officer:
12.2 Case reference number:

12.3 Case officer/immigration

officer email address:

12.4 Confirm email:

13 Payment

You will be sent a payment link for ‘Gov.uk Pay’ from the ACRO Payments Mailbox within seven days to the
email address listed on your application form for you to pay for your Police Certificate by debit or credit
card. Please ensure you check your spam folder if you haven’t received a link before contacting ACRO.

Please note your application will not be processed until payment has been made in full.

If you are unable to pay using this method, alternative payment methods are UK sterling cheque, UK postal
order or international bankers draft. Payment must be made out to ‘PCC for Hampshire’. Do not send cash.
If a receipt is required for the payment this must be requested with the application.

Please now send your application to: Policecertificateapp@acro.police.uk

Payment Reference Number used: GOV.UK PAY

Terms and conditions of service

The following terms and conditions relate to the Police Certificates service provided by ACRO Criminal
Records Office (ACRO). Please read these terms and conditions carefully. If you do not accept these terms
and conditions we will not be able to process your application.

General:
1. You will only be provided with your certificate if you have provided the following:
 a completed application form
 copies of your passport(s) / travel document(s)
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  a colour passport style photo
 payment
 Power of Attorney / legal documents (if applicable)
 your application must be endorsed
2. The provisions of the Data Protection Act mean that in certain circumstances we will not provide some
personal data. You will not be provided with personal data if:
 releasing it to you would be likely to prejudice a criminal investigation
 it identifies other individuals
 it is not relevant for your Police Certificate
3. Certificates are prepared in accordance with the ACRO step-down model (this model is also applied to
Northern Irish, Scottish, military and overseas convictions). Please note that your certificate will contain
any impending prosecutions and offences that are under investigation.
4. ACRO will not accept responsibility for Police Certificates that are rejected by the relevant embassy,
high commission or requesting authority of a country. It is your responsibility to check if a Police
Certificate is acceptable for countries other than Australia, Belgium, Canada, Cayman Islands, New
Zealand, South Africa or USA.
5. If you receive a Police Certificate that includes results of convictions, it is your choice if you proceed
with your application to the embassy/high commission.

Your application:
1. You must complete your application in English. If you fail to complete your application in English you will
not receive your Police Certificate and you will not be refunded.
2. We reserve the right to request original identity documentation. Where we request original documents
they will be returned to you by registered post.
3. We reserve the right to request additional information or clarification. Your application will not be
processed without the requested information. The working days applied to the service will be
suspended until this additional information has been received.
4. If we request additional documentation, information or clarification and you do not reply by the date
specified, we will cancel your application.
5. ACRO cannot be held responsible for items lost or delayed in the post by the postal service or third
party
delivery companies.
6. ACRO adheres to the Royal Mail lost in post policy and will not send any replacements free of charge
until
your item is considered lost under this policy.
7. The information you provide in this application form must be accurate and it must relate to you.
8. You must declare all the names you have ever been known by.
9. ACRO will make any enquiries deemed necessary to process your application or to verify the
information you have provided.
10. Your application may be subject to significant delays if searches of other police/law enforcement
databases are required, or if you are subject to an impending prosecution. If this is the case we are
unable to provide timescales for the release of the certificate and we therefore advise that you DO NOT
arrange travel, employment or accommodation plans until you have received your certificate. ACRO
cannot be held liable for any costs associated with any failure to meet such plans or losses incurred
should there be a delay with your certificate.

Your application may also be delayed if:

 You fail to complete the application form correctly.
 You do not apply the correct postage (for postal applications only).
 You do not provide the required supporting documents.
 You do not provide the correct payment.

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  You send your application to the incorrect address for the service level required (postal
applications only).
 You are subject to an impending/outstanding investigation.
 Searches are required of historical police databases.
 Searches are required of other law enforcement databases.
 There is an unforeseen event or occurrence such as postal service restrictions, adverse
weather conditions or computer system failure.

Privacy:
1. We will only contact you in relation to your police certificate if necessary, by phone, email or letter.
2. Due to the Data Protection Act 2018, ACRO will not provide you with information contained on police
systems over the telephone or by email.
3. The information you provide in your application will be used for processing your request and for any
other policing purpose.
4. The information supplied within your application and the information on the Police National Computer
(PNC) record to which your application relates may be passed to other police agencies and government
organisations in the interests of law enforcement.
5. If you impersonate or attempt to impersonate another person you may be guilty of an offence.
6. If you are an agent or principal-in-fact (i.e. you hold Power of Attorney) and are making an application
on someone else’s behalf, you must provide the Power of Attorney documents as evidence.
7. We may send the photograph you have provided in the application to your endorser to confirm that it is
a true likeness of you. Please be aware that while the email will be sent from ACRO's secure network,
unless the endorser has a secure email address the delivery to their personal inbox is an insecure
connection via the public internet. ACRO cannot accept responsibility for any loss or inappropriate
access to the email once it has left the ACRO secure network. It is your responsibility to ensure that the
email address provided is accurate.
8. We will not discuss or provide details about your application with another party without your prior
consent, unless otherwise stated in your application and with the exception of point 5 & 6 above
9. We will securely store your personal information on our systems for 24 months.

Payment:
1. First class postage of your certificate to a UK address or standard airmail to an overseas address is
included in the fee.
2. ACRO will not be held responsible for any additional charges by your bank or card issuer.
3. ACRO will not accept prepaid return envelopes or postal coupons, these will not be returned.
4. If we do not receive payment within four (4) weeks of your submission, your application will be closed.

Cancellations and refunds:

1. If you cancel your application or we cannot process your application because you have failed to respond
to requests for information, we will deduct a £15.00 administration fee from any refund.
2. If you overpay by £10.00 or less we will not be able to refund you and will donate any remaining money
to charity.
3. If you overpay by more than £10.00, we will contact you to arrange a refund or to obtain your
agreement to donate the overpaid amount to charity. All refunds will be paid in UK pounds sterling.

Raising a concern/dispute:
1. Concerns regarding our services should be made to our Customer Services department via email to:
customer.resolutions@acro.police.uk or by letter to: ACRO, PO Box 481, Fareham, Hampshire, PO14
9FS, (UK). We will endeavour to acknowledge your concern within five working days of receipt and we
will endeavour to resolve your concern within 28 days.

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2. Disputes regarding the information provided to you should be made by email or letter using the contact
details above.
3. ACRO will not be held responsible for errors in records held on national police systems. If you do not
agree with the information on your certificate, ACRO will verify that the disclosure is an accurate
reflection of (a) the information you have submitted in your application, and (b) the information held on
national police systems. If you would like to dispute the information held about you on national police
systems, ACRO will refer you to the relevant data owner (usually the police force or agency that created
the record).

Please indicate that you have read and agree to the terms and conditions of service.

*Applicant name: (print in UPPER CASE):

*Date:

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 Applicant checklist (not applicable to online applications)

This page does not need to be returned with your completed application and can be retained for your
records.
Application form (fully completed). Choose an item.

Signed terms and conditions of service Choose an item.

One recent colour passport style photograph. Choose an item.

Colour copies of passport(s) / travel document / other official photographic

identity document. Colour copies of passport(s) / travel documents must clearly
show your photograph, personal information, expiry date, nationality, machine
readable zone, extension pages and signature (if applicable). Copies of other Choose an item.
official photographic identity documents should show as many of these
features as possible.
Black and white copies will not be accepted.

Correct payment including optional postage costs if applicable Choose an item.

Payment

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 Application endorsement

In order to satisfy ACRO requirements, your application must be endorsed by an individual employed as
one of the following or similar professions:

Accountant Optician
Airline Pilot Personal Licence Holders (Liquor/Alcohol)
Ambulance Service Official / Paramedic Personnel Officer
Architect Pharmacist
Bank / Building Society Official Police Officer/Police Civilian Staff
Barrister Post Office Official
Care Worker (Registered) Prison Officer
Company Chairman Probation Officer
Chemist Salvation Army Officer
Chiropodist Social Worker
Civil Servant (Permanent) Solicitor
Commissioner of Oaths Surveyor
Councillor (Local or County) Teacher
Dentist Trade Union Officer
Director Tutor
Doctor Valuer or Auctioneer
Engineer Veterinarian
Executive Veterinary Nurse
Financial Adviser
Fire Service Official
Funeral Director
Insurance Broker
IT Specialist
Judge
Justice of the Peace
Lawyer
Lecturer
Legal Secretary
Magistrate
Manager
Medical Consultant/Specialist
Member of a Chartered Institute
Member of Parliament
Merchant Navy Officer
Minister of a Recognised Religion
Museum Curator
Notary Public
Nurse (SRN or other qualification)
Officer of the Armed Services (Active or Retired)

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