Chinese Police Clearance Certificate NAATI Translation

Document form and translation scope

A police-issued record and a notarial certificate are different documents. For a Home Affairs police check concerning mainland China, its Department of Home Affairs China police-check instructions list a Notary Certificate of No Criminal Convictions. Obtain the police-issued certificate and then apply to a Public Notary Office for the specified notarial certificate; local procedures may differ. A translated police station letter cannot replace that document.

If a notarial certificate already contains English, an additional NAATI translation is not automatic. Check the recipient’s requirements and any Chinese sections needing translation before ordering. Translation does not replace notarisation, authentication or the original document. The receiving organisation determines the application outcome.

We translate the relevant name, date of birth, ID number, clearance period, certificate statement, issuing authority, issue date, seal or stamp, signature, certificate number and notes shown on the agreed pages. Translation does not create a new police clearance certificate.

When might you need this translation?

This translation supports a requested Chinese character document; each application or recipient determines whether police evidence and English translation are needed.

• PR and migration: check the document form and Department of Home Affairs character requirements.
• Partner visa 820: check the Department of Home Affairs Partner visa 820 page and its character requirements. Under its general guidance, police certificates are usually requested if you are over 17 and lived in a country, including Australia, for at least 12 months in the past 10 years; the certificate must cover time since age 16 or your whole stay in that country.
• Visitor visa 600, Tourist stream outside Australia: the Department of Home Affairs Visitor visa 600 page says police clearance may be requested; it is not required from every applicant.
• Citizenship by conferral: overseas penal-clearance conditions depend on travel or residence history and applicant category; check Department of Home Affairs citizenship guidance, section 7.
• Skills assessment or professional registration: confirm the body’s document form, translation and translator qualifications.
• School or employer background check: confirm the document, English translation and recency requirements.
• Court, lawyer or government submission: confirm the document form, translation and any separate certification or witnessing requirement.

Documents to prepare

Clear, complete scans or photos usually suffice for translation; you normally need not send the physical original. Show full, readable pages without cropped edges, glare or blur. Include relevant certificate pages, existing English pages, attachments, stamps, signatures, notes and backs where they form part of the document. If your English name must match a passport, type the established spelling; do not upload a passport solely for spelling. The recipient may separately require the original document.

Price, delivery and ordering

Quantity 1 covers one source page requiring translation. Choose Standard or Priority, set the page count and select Add to cart. Confirm scope, price and turnaround before ordering multiple pages, notarial attachments or separate certificates.

Priority is available 24/7. Its 1-hour PDF timeframe starts after payment and receipt of all clear, complete documents. Printed copies are available; postage is calculated separately after translation. Postal fees and delivery time are separate from the 1-hour PDF service. Additional copies are available on request. Follow the on-page document-submission instructions, then receive the completed PDF by email.

For Home Affairs applications, provide the original-language document and translation together. If using ImmiAccount, follow Department of Home Affairs document-attachment guidance: PDF attachments are accepted, but encrypted or secured PDFs are not. Follow other recipients’ file-format requirements.

Does the translation expire?

The translation itself usually has no fixed expiry date. The original police certificate may need to be recently issued; a new translation does not renew it. For Australian visa applications, Home Affairs says it accepts police certificates issued in the 12 months before application. This concerns the certificate, not the translation. Check Department of Home Affairs visa application guidance and your recipient’s instructions.

Related services and references

NAATI certification explains translator credentials.

Related documents: Chinese birth certificate, marriage certificate, ID card, household register and driver licence. View more NAATI translation services.

Unsure which document form you need? Read the Chinese police clearance requirements guide, then return to ordering options or contact us about scope or a quote.

Last edited: 29 October 2026. Reviewed by Jinhong Li, NAATI Certified Translator (CPN5BW39O, Chinese ↔ English) — verifiable in the NAATI online directory.