ACRO Police Certificate

When notarising and apostilling your ACRO police certificate the process depends on how the police certificate was issued. Your ACRO Police Certificate may be provided to you in any of the following ways:

1. Issued in an original physical version and signed by an official of the issuing authority;
2. Issued in an original physical version without a signature from an official of the issuing authority;
3. Issued in electronic format.

1. Original Physical Version With Signature

If the ACRO police certificate has been issued in an original physical version and signed by an official of the issuing authority, it does not strictly need to be notarised. If you use it abroad, you may get an apostille on the certificate directly from the FCDO. 

We can however still notarise the certificate. We will draft and attach a notarial certificate confirming the authenticity of the ACRO police certificate.

2. Original Physical Version Without Signature

If the ACRO police certificate has been issued in an original physical version but not signed by an official of the issuing authority, it cannot be apostilled without first being notarised. 

We will check the document is authentic and then attach a notarial certificate to the original.

3. Electronic Format

Lastly, if the ACRO police certificate has been issued electronically we will also need to notarise the document before getting an apostille. You will need to share the original email in which the certificate was attached as a PDF and we will check if the document is authentic. We will then attach a notarial certificate to the printed version.

If you only need the ACRO police certificate notarised, that’s exactly what we’ll do. If you also need an apostille, consular legalisation or translation we’ll handle all steps for you.

Apostilling an ACRO Police Certificate becomes necessary when intending to use the document in foreign countries adhering to the Hague Apostille Convention. This authentication is crucial for international recognition in various scenarios, including:

• Legal procedures like immigration
• Obtaining residency
• Citizenship abroad. 

Additionally, employers, educational institutions, and visa authorities in foreign jurisdictions may require the notarised certificate to verify an individual’s criminal record or background.

An ACRO Police Certificate is often required for people who wish to emigrate or need a visa to live and work abroad.

The certificate details if you have a criminal record in the United Kingdom and is often required as part of the process of obtaining a visa by a Consulate/High Commission. It will also include details of any foreign criminal history if it has been disclosed to UK authorities. Certificates also contain impending prosecutions and offences that may be under investigation.

The ACRO Criminal Records Office, which issue the certificates, are a national police unit. Founded in 2006 as the ACPO Criminal Records Office, the aim was to establish an operationally focused unit to organise the management of criminal records information and enhance the links between criminal records and biometric information.

To apply for a Police Certificate, complete the application form online and provide the following:

• A recent high-quality, colour photograph with a plain neutral background (in JPG, GIF, or TIF format, not exceeding 2MB).
• Colour copies of your passport or travel document displaying all details.
• A valid email address for communication.
• Address history for the last 10 years.
• Payment method: a valid debit or credit card.

If applying on behalf of someone else, you must provide:

• A signed letter of authorization or a copy of a Power of Attorney.
• Proof of identity showing the data subject’s signature (passport, driving licence, or identity card).

Email the completed form and supporting documentation to the email they provide making sure you follow the specified guidelines.