Police Certificate Translation UK: Immigration & Overseas Use

Police certificate translation is commonly required for UK visa applications, overseas employment, and residency applications. Whether you need a UK DBS check translated for use abroad, or an overseas police certificate translated for a UK visa application, our certified translations are accepted by the relevant authorities.

Police Certificates for UK Visa Applications

Many UK visa categories require a police certificate (criminal record certificate) from each country where the applicant has lived for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. If the police certificate is issued in a language other than English, a certified translation is required.

Common examples include certificates from Poland, Romania, Pakistan, India, Nigeria, and other countries with significant UK immigration flows. Each country has its own format and issuing authority.

ACRO and DBS Checks for Use Abroad

If you are a UK national moving abroad, you may need your DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check or ACRO criminal records certificate translated into the language of the destination country. This is commonly required for:

• EU residency applications (Spain, France, Germany, Portugal, etc.)
• Employment abroad (teaching, healthcare, legal, and other regulated professions)
• Overseas visa applications that require criminal background checks

What the Translation Must Cover

A certified translation of a police certificate must translate:

• The issuing authority’s name and address
• The individual’s full name, date of birth, and identifying details
• The period covered by the certificate
• The result (clean record or details of any convictions)
• Official stamps, reference numbers, and signatures

Apostille for Police Certificates

Some countries require police certificates to be apostilled before they will be accepted. If the certificate was issued in the UK (DBS or ACRO), we can obtain the apostille on your behalf. If the certificate was issued overseas and you need it apostilled by that country’s authority, you will need to contact that country’s apostille-issuing authority directly.