Translating 无犯罪记录证明 (Certificate of No Criminal Record) for the UK – what it is, why you need it, and why it should be done by a professional

Translating 无犯罪记录证明 (Certificate of No Criminal Record) for the UK – what it is, why you need it, and why it should be done by a professional

If you’ve lived in China and are now applying for certain roles or licences in the UK, chances are you’ve come across a document called 无犯罪记录证明 (Certificate of No Criminal Record).

I recently provided a certified translation of a 无犯罪记录证明 for a direct client who needed it specifically for an application to the Security Industry Authority (SIA). In this post, I’ll walk you through what this certificate is, why you might need it translated, and why using a certified translator is crucial if you want it accepted the first time.

What is 无犯罪记录证明 (Certificate of No Criminal Record)?

无犯罪记录证明 literally means “certificate of no criminal record”. It is an official document issued by the Chinese police authorities (公安机关) confirming that an individual has no recorded criminal convictions within a specified period, often up to the date of issue.

Depending on where and when it was issued, the certificate may:

• Be issued by a local Public Security Bureau (公安局)

• Reference a specific jurisdiction (e.g. district or city)

• Include official stamps, serial numbers and signatures

Although short, it carries significant legal and administrative weight – which is why it must be translated accurately by a qualified professional who can certify its accuracy.

Below is a screenshot of the translation I delivered to the client, with all personal detailed redacted (of course!).

Translating 无犯罪记录证明 (Certificate of No Criminal Record) for the UK – what it is, why you need it, and why it should be done by a professional

Why might you need 无犯罪记录证明 translated in the UK?

A certified English translation of 无犯罪记录证明 is commonly required if you are:

• Applying for an SIA licence (security guarding, CCTV, close protection, etc.)

• Undergoing background checks for regulated professions

• Applying for visas, residency or citizenship

• Working with vulnerable groups or in high-trust roles

• Completing employer-led compliance or vetting procedures

UK authorities generally do not accept untranslated documents, and many will only accept translations that meet specific certification standards. A DIY translation – even if linguistically accurate – will most likely be rejected.

Why it is ESSENTIAL to use a certified translator

For authorities like the SIA and other UK regulators, certification is just as important as translation quality. Using a certified translator ensures that your translations are fit for purpose, meet UK compliance expectations, and are far more likely to be accepted without delays or follow-up requests.

A certified translation typically includes:

• A signed statement of accuracy

• Confirmation that the translation is a true and faithful rendering of the original

• The translator’s name, qualifications and contact details

• The date of certification

Here are the ITI's (Institute of Translators and Interpreters) guidelines on who is qualified to provide certified translations:

In the UK, an ‘official’ or certified translator is a professional who has been admitted to the ITI or CIOL, having passed their stringent admission requirements and are held to high standards by professional associations. 

As a Chartered Chinese–English Translator (CIOL) with many years of experience translating official Chinese documents, I regularly work with:

• Police clearance certificates

• Court documents

• Notarial certificates

• Immigration and regulatory paperwork

• Academic certificates
  

Final thoughts

If you’re dealing with a 无犯罪记录证明 for UK use – especially for regulated bodies like the SIA – this is not the place to cut corners.

A professionally certified translation can save you time, stress, and the cost of re-submitting your application.

If you need help translating Chinese police clearance certificates or other official documents for the UK, feel free to get in touch.