Police Certificate

2025/9/19

Police Certificates from the Japanese National Police Agency are issued only when requested by certain authorities as required by law. The certificate is designed for certain purposes such as working with children (under 18), sick, disabled or elderly people in the UK, or when required by foreign authorities (e.g. an embassy, immigration agency). Individuals who wish to apply for a Police Certificate other than for the above mentioned reasons are asked to contact the Consular section to confirm the correct application procedure.


Application Process

1. Obtain a Japanese fingerprint form from the Japanese Embassy
2. Have your fingerprints taken at a police station
3. Apply in person at the Embassy of Japan in the UK
4. Collect the police certificate in two to three months

People living in Scotland and the North of England should contact the Consulate General of Japan in Edinburgh.


1. Obtaining a fingerprint form

【Ways to collect】

A) By post
You can request a form by post. Please send the following documents.


Address
Certificate Officer, Consular Section, Embassy of Japan in the UK
101-104 Piccadilly
London W1J 7JT


*Please use barcoded stamps on your return envelope.
Please note that the Consular Section will not bear responsibility for any loss, delay or damage that occurs as a result of posting the form to you.

B) Collect from the Embassy in person

The form can be collected from the Consular Section. Appointments can be booked ONLINE.


2. Taking your fingerprints at a police station

You must arrange to have your fingerprints taken on the fingerprint form at a police station.
For details, please contact either the Metropolitan Police (https://www.met.police.uk/rqo/request/fp/af/your-fingerprints/), City of London Police (https://www.cityoflondon.police.uk/rqo/request/fp/city/request-your-fingerprints/) or your local Police Station directly. An appointment and/or fee may be required.


3. Application at the Embassy of Japan in the UK

Visits to the Consular Section are by Appointment Only. Appointments can only be booked ONLINE.

The application must be submitted by the applicant in person at the Embassy of Japan in the UK. Documents required for the application are as follows:

  • Your valid passport (Passport must be valid for at least 3 months)
  • A completed fingerprint form

Your application will be forwarded to Japan and it will take approximately two to three months to process. The police certificate certifies whether the applicant has any criminal convictions in Japan and is written in Japanese, English, French, German and Spanish.

In some cases submission of an apostille may be required by the requesting organisation in place of a fully legalized certificate, as facilitated by the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (Hague Apostille Convention). Please confirm with the organisation requesting a Police Certificate whether you will require this in advance and be sure to inform us of this requirement when you apply.


4. Collection

It will take approximately two to three months to process. We will contact you when it is ready for collection.


【Ways to collect】

A) By post

Please provide a pre-paid Special Delivery Envelope (*) and a Postal Return Request Form upon application. Please note that the Consular Section will not bear responsibility for any loss, delay or damage that occurs as a result of posting the certificate to you.

*Please use barcoded stamps on your return envelope.


B) Collection from the Embassy in person

You must bring your valid passport once again for identification purposes.


C) Collection by an authorised person

If you would like to send someone to collect it for you, let us know the nominated person's identity upon your application. The proxy must bring his/her valid passport.



Fee

Free of charge.



Important Information

  1. Please use the fingerprint form provided by the Consular Section.
  2. In some cases we may require additional documents, such as a letter from the authority requesting the Police Certificate and a textual extract of the relevant law with Japanese translations.
  3. The National Police Agency in Japan may request that your fingerprints be taken again if they have not been taken to a sufficient standard.

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