How to Get a Police Certificate from China's PSB for Express Entry
How to Get a Police Certificate from China's PSB for Canadian Express Entry
The PSB police certificate is one of the most misunderstood documents in a Chinese Express Entry application. The IRCC website describes it as a "police certificate," which makes it sound like something you can pick up at a government window in an afternoon. In China, it's a three-step process involving the Public Security Bureau, a notary office, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs — and it can take four to six weeks from start to finish.
More importantly: submitting the wrong document, or the right document in the wrong form, is one of the top reasons Chinese Express Entry applications receive document-related rejection letters.
What IRCC Actually Requires
IRCC requires a "police certificate" that shows any criminal convictions — or confirms there are none. For China, the acceptable document is a Notary Certificate of No Criminal Convictions (无犯罪记录公证书). This is not the same as the raw PSB station certificate.
The notary certificate must include:
- The original Public Security Bureau certificate (无犯罪记录证明)
- A notarized English or French translation
- The official seal and signature of a licensed foreign-related notary office
Submitting the PSB station certificate alone — even with an attached translation — will likely result in a rejection. IRCC expects the notarized package, not the underlying police document.
Additionally, since China joined the Hague Apostille Convention in January 2024, Canadian immigration authorities also require an Apostille on the notarized document, certifying the notary's credentials. The apostille has replaced the old consular legalization chain.
Step 1: Obtain the PSB Certificate
The certificate is issued by the local Public Security Bureau station (派出所) where your Hukou (household registration, 户籍) is currently registered. This is critical: you cannot walk into any PSB office — you must go to the station where your Hukou is registered.
What you bring:
- Original national ID card (身份证)
- Original Hukou booklet (户口本)
- Statement of purpose (some stations require a document explaining why you need the certificate — a letter referencing your Canadian immigration application, or in some cases a notarized statement)
If your Hukou is in a city where you no longer live: You need to travel back to your Hukou city, or in some cases engage a family member to assist with the application on your behalf with a notarized power of attorney. Some modern notary offices can now perform cross-jurisdictional verification for applicants whose Hukou city differs from their current residence, but this is not universally available.
If you've lived in multiple cities for more than 6 months: Some PSB stations will ask whether you've had extended residency elsewhere and may require additional certificates from those jurisdictions. In practice, many IRCC applications are processed with a single Hukou-city certificate, but if you have lived in a second city for more than six months since age 18, consult your notary office about whether a single-source certificate is sufficient.
Processing time at the PSB: 1 to 2 weeks for standard processing.
Non-Chinese citizens who resided in China: If you are not a Chinese national but lived in China on a residence permit for more than 180 cumulative days, you must apply at the Exit-Entry Administration Department of the PSB in the city where your residence permit was held. You need your passport with entry/exit stamps documenting the period of stay. If your total stay was under 180 days, the PSB will not issue a certificate — provide an explanation letter to IRCC instead.
Step 2: Notarization at a Foreign-Related Notary Office
Take the PSB station certificate to a foreign-related notary office (涉外公证处). Not all notary offices in China are authorized to handle foreign immigration documents — you specifically need a 涉外 (foreign-related) one. These are available in all major cities.
The notary office will:
- Verify the authenticity of the PSB certificate
- Prepare the official Notary Certificate of No Criminal Convictions in both Chinese and English (or French)
- Apply the notary's official seal and signature
Documents to bring to the notary office:
- The original PSB certificate
- Your passport
- Your national ID card
- The application purpose (Canadian immigration for Express Entry)
Processing time: Approximately 5 to 7 business days.
Cost: Varies by city and office; typically RMB 200 to 600 for the notarization package.
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Step 3: Apostille from the MFA or Provincial FAO
Since January 11, 2024, China has been a full member of the Hague Apostille Convention. The document authentication step for Canada-bound documents is now the Apostille rather than the old embassy legalization chain.
The Apostille is issued by:
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in Beijing
- Authorized provincial Foreign Affairs Offices (FAO) in major provincial capitals
You submit the notarized Notary Certificate along with a completed application form and the apostille fee. The MFA or FAO applies a square Apostille certificate to the back of the notarized document, certifying the notary's signature and seal.
Processing time: 3 to 7 business days for standard processing. Rush processing may be available at additional cost.
Cost: Approximately RMB 300 to 500 per document for the apostille.
The Complete Timeline
| Step | Where | Typical Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| PSB certificate issuance | Local PSB station (派出所) | 1–2 weeks |
| Notarization | Foreign-related Notary Office | 1 week |
| Apostille | MFA or Provincial FAO | 3–7 business days |
| Total | 4–6 weeks |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Submitting the raw PSB certificate without notarization. IRCC will not accept the police station document alone, even with a personal translation attached. The notary certificate wrapper is mandatory.
Using a notary office that is not 涉外 (foreign-related) authorized. Documents notarized by a non-foreign-related office are not valid for international immigration purposes.
Forgetting the apostille. Before January 2024, documents went through consular legalization at the Chinese embassy in the destination country. That process is now abolished and replaced by the apostille. An unapostilled notarized document is not sufficient for Canadian immigration purposes as of 2024.
Starting the process after receiving the ITA. The 60-day ITA response window is not long enough to complete all three steps. Begin the PSB certificate process at least 6 to 8 weeks before you expect to need the completed document.
Applicants living in a third country. If you are a Chinese national currently residing in Australia, Germany, the UK, or another country while applying for Canadian Express Entry, you will need a police certificate from both China (for your Chinese residency history) and your current country of residence. The Chinese PSB process still requires visiting the Hukou-registered station in China, which may require a trip home.
For the complete document checklist, timeline planning, and guidance on every China-specific step in the Express Entry process, see the China to Canada Express Entry Guide.
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