Police Certificates

[Vin&Rachel 7]

Hey guys!

I just read this on the Japanese-American Embassy site in regards to what I need for my interview when my Package gets approved etc:

POLICE CERTIFICATE: Each applicant aged 16 years and older must submit a certificate from the appropriate judicial or police authorities of the present country of residence and all countries where the applicant has lived for six months or more since age 16 (Police Certificates are also required for accompanying children age 16 or older).

For countries maintaining national police records, a certificate from the national police or judicial authorities must be submitted. For countries not maintaining national police records, a certificate must be obtained from each locality of residence.

A police certificate must also be obtained from the police authorities of any place where the applicant has been arrested for any reason, regardless of the length of residence. Police certificates are valid for one year. They must be valid when the visa is issued. Police records from certain countries are considered unobtainable. Please inform the embassy/consulate immediately if you cannot obtain a specific record.

However, I have moved over 45 times in my life as my parents moved often with their job and when I was studying from dorms, to new apartments, then to Japan. Do I need police reports for every single town I have lived in since I was 16 regardless if I have never had a record or been arrested?

[JamnSol 35]

All countries where you lived more than six months since you were 16.

Good luck!

[gw68ad78 64]

The only way one would know that you don't have a record or have never been arrested is by getting the reports. No one will take your word for any part of the process. We have to prove everything. Patience and resilience is key :-)

[Vin&Rachel 7]

I understand that I need the reports but do I have to get them from each county or is there a national one? Because honestly, I don't know how the hell I could get the 15+ certificates from all the place I lived in the UK.

[JamnSol 35]

It says country, not county. Google is your friend, it took me about 30 seconds to find this, appears the UK has a service for police certain: https://www.acro.police.uk/police_certificates.aspx

[Vin&Rachel 7]

It says country, not county. Google is your friend, it took me about 30 seconds to find this, appears the UK has a service for police certain: https://www.acro.police.uk/police_certificates.aspx

I wanted to make sure because my situation is little unique with me living in so many places, thanks for the link. You don't have to be an ### about it; I just wanted to ask people first hand that may have been through it thats all, thats what the forums are for to help each other other, all this info is technically on Google, I just wanted a human to confirm it because a lot of walkthroughs on google said "Any PLACE you have live more than 6 months in since you were 16" which is why I was confirming.

[MADDEN 40]

You just need the Acro police certificate, full disclosure. If you lived in Japan for over 6 months and you were over 16 then you will require a police certificate from there also.

Good Luck.

[Boiler 45,551]

UK has a central authority, not sure about all countries.

[racheal&david 108]

You'll need police certificates from ANY country you have resided in for over 6 months since turning 16. Eg; you lived in UK until 18, France for 1 year, Japan for 1 year and China for 5 months. You'd need police certificates from the U.K., France and Japan but not China as it's less than 6 months. These are important in the process to make sure you haven't committed any crimes etc which would make you ineligible for a visa.

[DJ6372 111]

There have been a lot of people in the same situation, usually military familes, myself included

Over the ages of 16 and more than 6 months in that country you need a cert

My hardest one to get was Cyprus, but got them all eventually

Leave yourself a lot of time and patience!

When you fill in your online Visa application you need to list all addresses you lived at, mine went on for ages!

Some Military bases I didn't know the full address, my parents have passed away, so I put as much as I could

Any issues PM me and I will try and help

[Soup Dragon 104]

Question 6.2 from the paper application:

'Previous addresses: If you have lived at your current address for less than 10 years please give all your previous address(es) for this period below. If you have lived outside the UK for over 10 years, please also provide your last UK address. If you run out of space, please use the Additional Information section (10.1).'

Good luck!

[Vin&Rachel 7]

Thanks for the help everyone!