Police certificate

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A police certificate is a document required by some nations as a part of the visa application process. It is issued by a police agency, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the United States, to accurately disclose a record of arrests and convictions for crimes in the country of origin. To obtain a police certificate, one must apply for one by submitting fingerprints and other identifying information in the proper form to the agency. The agency might also demand the payment of a fee.

If the police certificate contains record of a conviction, there may be a requirement that the submitter include a complete court record as a part of his or her police certificate submission.

In Australia, police certificates may be required as part of applying to volunteer positions or any employer may require them of job applicants. The certificate is considered to be the property of its subject, who is recommended not to allow copying of the certificate without his consent.

Police certificates are part of a heavy burden of document production that falls on people who wish to legally immigrate to the United States. Their requirement is officially justified by the government by the argument that those who have been convicted of a crime in another country make any country in which they reside less safe for law-abiding citizens.

Nations that ask for police certificates as a part of certain types of visa and permit applications (not an exhaustive list):