A Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) is more than just a document; it is essential for meeting Immigration New Zealand’s requirements. It serves as a testament to your good character, verifying that you do not have a criminal record or ongoing criminal proceedings. Your active role in providing a PCC is instrumental in the visa application, ensuring that individuals entering New Zealand uphold the country’s safety and security standards.
Who Needs to Provide a Police Certificate
- Age Requirement: Applicants aged 17 and over must provide a police certificate.
- Visa Requirement: When applying for a New Zealand visitor visa, student visa or work visa, you are required to submit police certificates if your cumulative time in New Zealand will reach or exceed 24 months. This includes all previous durations spent in New Zealand on any type of visa, regardless of any breaks spent outside the country.
Requirements for the Police Certificate
- Timeliness: When sending your visa application, the police certificate must be under 6 months old to ensure the information is current.
- Translation: If the police certificate is not in English, you must provide an English translation. A certified translator should translate to ensure accuracy and acceptance by New Zealand immigration authorities.
How to Obtain a Police Certificate
- Determine Your Need: Assess whether your specific visa category requires a police certificate.
- Application Process:
- In Your Country of Citizenship: Apply through the designated national or local police authority or government agency responsible for criminal records.
- In Other Countries Where You’ve Lived: If you have lived in another country for over 12 months in the past 10 years, you must get a police certificate from each country.
- Procedure: This generally involves filling out an application form, submitting necessary identification documents, and possibly providing fingerprints.
- Collecting Your PCC:
- Depending on the country, you may receive your PCC by mail, electronically, or in person from the issuing authority.
Special Considerations for Applicants Outside Their Country of Citizenship
- For Non-Residents: If you reside outside your country of citizenship and need a PCC from that country, you may need to apply via its embassy, consulate, or external police service.
Obtaining Police Clearance Certificates from Key Countries
India:
- Request details: Police certificate.
- How to Apply: Apply to the nearest Indian High Commission or Embassy. If you are in New Zealand, apply to the High Commission of India in Wellington.
- High Commission of India, Wellington: 72 Pipitea Street, Thorndon, PO Box 12211, Wellington 6011.
- What to Provide: A letter outlining your request and applicable fees.
- Fees: Contact the issuing authority for fee and payment information.
- How Long It Takes: Give yourself plenty of time to get this document before you need it for your visa application. Check with the issuing authority to find out how long it will take.
- Further Information: Your certificate must be under 6 months old when submitting your visa application
2. China:
- Request Details: Local Police Clearance letter and a Notarised Police Certificate.
- How to Apply: First, apply to your local Public Security Bureau for a local Police Clearance letter. Then, apply to the Notary Office for a Notarised Police Certificate.
- What to Provide: A copy of the local Police Clearance letter, a letter authorising someone to apply on your behalf (if applicable), your original identity card, and your Hukou book.
- Fees: Contact the issuing authority for fee and payment information.
- How Long It Takes: Ensure you have enough time to get this document before you need it for your visa application.
- Further Information: Your certificate must be under 6 months old when submitting your visa application.
3. United Kingdom:
- Request Details: Police certificate.
- How to Apply: Apply by post or online to the ACRO Criminal Records Office. This also applies if you live in Scotland.
- Website: www.acro.police.uk
- What to Provide: All requirements are noted on the application form.
- Fees: Contact the issuing authority for fee and payment information.
- How Long It Takes: Ensure you allocate sufficient time to obtain this document before it is needed for your visa application.
- Further Information: If your police certificate mentions ‘No Live Trace,’ it indicates that you have convictions that have been ‘stepped down.’ These convictions remain part of your criminal record. They must be disclosed and clarified in any application to Immigration New Zealand. The blue ‘Subject Access Request’ certificate issued under the Data Protection Act is unacceptable. Your certificate must be under 6 months old when applying to Immigration New Zealand
4. Philippines:
- What to Request: NBI Clearance.
- How to Apply: Apply to the nearest Philippine Embassy or Consulate, by mail to the NBI head office, or through a representative in the Philippines.
- Nearest Embassy or Consulate: Philippines Embassies
- NBI Head Office: Mailed Clearance Section, 3rd Floor, NBI Clearance Building, UN Ave., Ermita, Manila.
- What to Provide: Fill out an application form and include a fingerprint card from your local law enforcement (available at Philippine embassies), a recent passport photo, a copy of your passport, and your ID cards.
- Fees: Contact the issuing authority for fee and payment information.
- How Long It Takes: Ensure you have enough time to get this document before you need it for your visa application.
- Further Information: Your certificate must be under 6 months old when submitting your visa application
5 .South Africa:
- What to Request: Police certificate.
- How to Apply: Write to the Commissioner of South African Police or, if you live in the UK, the Consul-General at the South African Embassy.
- South African Embassy, London: Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DP.
- Commissioner, South African Police: Criminal Bureau, Security Branch, Private Bag 308, Pretoria 0001, Republic of South Africa.
- What to Provide: Your full name, date and place of birth, and a certified set of fingerprints.
- Fees: Contact the issuing authority for fee and payment information.
- How Long It Takes: Ensure you acquire this document before your visa application is due. The process can take up to 3-4 months.
- Further Information: When submitting your visa application to Immigration New Zealand, your certificate must be under 6 months old. Contact the issuing authority for current issuing times to ensure you obtain the certificate promptly.
General Tips for Obtaining a PCC
- Early Application: Due to variable processing times and potential delays, apply for your PCC well before your visa application.
- Multiple Countries: Obtain a PCC from each country where you resided for 12 months or more in the past ten years.
- Translations: A certified translation service ensures non-English PCCs are translated into English.
Conclusion
By understanding these requirements and preparing accordingly, applicants can ensure a smoother process when applying for a New Zealand visa. Meeting all the necessary character requirements through a Police Clearance Certificate expedites the visa process. It demonstrates your commitment to upholding the high standards expected by Immigration New Zealand.
Reference
https://www.immigration.govt.nz/
About ICL Immigration
ICL Immigration, based in Auckland, is an established licensed immigration adviser and immigration consultant with over 20 years of experience and a remarkable 97% approval rate. We’ve helped over 1,000 immigrants realise their New Zealand settlement dreams.
We specialise in various visa services, including student, residency, work visas and business-related services like employer accreditation. We ensure personalised solutions for individuals and businesses aiming to navigate New Zealand’s immigration landscape successfully.
