An ACRO police certificate is the UK criminal record certificate for people who move, work or settle abroad. If the receiving country asks for an Apostille, NotaryPublic24 arranges the FCDO Apostille for your certificate, with tracked post both ways and FCDO fees included.
An ACRO police certificate is issued by the ACRO Criminal Records Office. It is meant for people who need to emigrate, travel, get a visa to live or work abroad, or apply for citizenship or residency in another country.
The certificate shows your personal details and photograph. It also lists convictions, cautions, reprimands and warnings that fall within the ACRO step-down model, together with impending prosecutions and offences under investigation.
It cannot be used for a job or for immigration in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man. For work in England and Wales, employers use a DBS check instead.
Both certificates come from UK criminal records, but they serve different purposes. A DBS check is for working or volunteering in England and Wales. An ACRO police certificate is for authorities outside the UK.
If an embassy, a foreign employer or an immigration office asks for a UK police clearance certificate, the ACRO police certificate is the document issued for use abroad. Confirm with them before you apply, because ACRO cannot refund the fee if the certificate is not accepted.
An ACRO police certificate is not a certificate of good character or good conduct. If you are asked for one of those, check the exact requirement first. Our guide to police clearance certificates covers certificates from other countries.
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You apply online on the ACRO website using a ten-page form. You need a recent passport-style photo, colour copies of your passport, an email address, your address history for the last ten years, details of any convictions or pending prosecutions, and a payment card.
The fee is currently £70 for one certificate, including standard post. ACRO says processing can take up to 20 working days, not counting delivery. The certificate is sent by post only, so there is no digital copy.
You can also apply for your child under 18, or for another adult with their permission or under a power of attorney. There is no fixed validity period, as each receiving authority sets its own.
ACRO does not apostille certificates itself. The Apostille is issued by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and is accepted in countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention. An ACRO certificate can only receive a paper Apostille, because the FCDO does not issue e-Apostilles for ACRO police certificates for England and Wales.
With NotaryPublic24 you order online, verify your identity and post the original certificate to the secure address we give you. We submit it to the FCDO and return it apostilled by tracked post, with all FCDO fees included in the price.
Order a UK Paper Apostille, or read more about the UK Apostille.
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An Apostille is a certificate that makes your document valid in other countries. It's like a stamp of approval that confirms your document is real and can be used in countries that are part of the Apostille Convention. This agreement between countries makes it easier to use important documents like birth certificates and marriage licenses abroad without needing any other certifications. The Apostille verifies the signatures and seals on your document, ensuring it's accepted as genuine.
Notarization is the official process of having a document legally verified by a notary public. A notary public is an authorized official who verifies the identities of the people signing a document and confirms that the signatures are authentic. This process makes the document legally recognized and trustworthy, helping to prevent fraud and ensuring its validity for important matters like buying a house, signing a contract, or creating a will.
A Notary Public is an authorized official who has the right to issue certain certificates. An example is the Apostille stamp. A Notary Public is authorized by the state and applies their official seal and signature to certify the documents.
ACRO says processing can take up to 20 working days from when it receives a correctly completed application. Postage comes on top, and ACRO advises not to book travel or start a job until the certificate has arrived. If you also need an Apostille, allow extra time for the FCDO.
The fee is currently £70 for one certificate, including standard first class or international post. Extra copies ordered with the application cost £7.75 each, and international courier delivery costs £48. The Apostille is a separate service.
A DBS check is for jobs and volunteering in England and Wales. An ACRO police certificate is for visas, emigration, residency and work abroad, and cannot be used to work or settle in the UK. For applications abroad, the ACRO certificate is the one to use.
Only if the receiving authority asks for it, so check their requirements first. Countries in the Hague Apostille Convention accept the FCDO Apostille. Other countries may require consular legalisation, which NotaryPublic24 does not offer.
No. The FCDO does not issue e-Apostilles for ACRO police certificates for England and Wales. The original paper certificate must be sent for a paper Apostille, which is then attached to the certificate.
No, you do not have to be physically present to get an Apostille online. However, you need to verify your identity with a government issued ID.
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