Criminal Record Certificate for the UK

UK Criminal Record Certificate — ACRO, FCDO Apostille & Translation

Updated: March 2026 · Written by the Apostilla Antecedentes team

ACRO police certificate for international use — not a DBS check. FCDO apostille for Hague Convention countries. England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland covered. 100% remote — free consultation.

  • ACRO police certificate (not DBS)
  • FCDO apostille included
  • Scotland & NI covered
  • Free document review
Laura Chen
Reviewed byLaura ChenLegal Document Expert

What type of UK criminal record certificate do you need?

Step 1 of 4

What is the certificate for?

UK criminal record certificates: ACRO vs DBS explained

The UK has two main types of criminal record certificates — but only one is valid for international use:

  • ACRO police certificate — issued by the ACRO Criminal Records Office. This is the correct certificate for international use, visa applications, and foreign embassies. Valid worldwide.
  • DBS check — issued by the Disclosure and Barring Service. For UK domestic employment in regulated sectors only. Not accepted by foreign embassies or immigration authorities.

The UK is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention. Apostilles for eligible public documents from England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are issued by the FCDO Legalisation Office — there is no separate Scottish apostille.

Post-Brexit, the UK remains a full Hague Convention member and FCDO apostilles are still valid across all EU countries.

Who needs this service?

🇬🇧 UK residents applying for visas abroad

Foreign embassies require a UK criminal record certificate — typically the ACRO police certificate, not a DBS check. If apostille is needed for a Hague Convention country, the FCDO issues it. We handle the full chain.

💼 Professionals and job seekers

DBS checks are for UK domestic employment only. For international employment, the ACRO police certificate is required. We obtain the correct certificate for your purpose — domestic DBS or international ACRO.

🌍 People who lived in the UK and now need that record abroad

Lived in the UK previously and now applying for a visa or residency in another country that requires a UK criminal record? We obtain your ACRO certificate remotely and apostille it — no need to travel to the UK.

Required documents

DocumentIssuing authorityEstimated timeNotes
ACRO Criminal Records Office — Police Certificate ACRO Criminal Records Office (UK) Fee and dispatch timeframe confirmed in the official ACRO application The standard UK criminal record certificate for international use. Covers England and Wales. Accepted by most foreign embassies and visa authorities.
DBS Enhanced Check (for UK domestic use only) Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) 8 weeks (standard) For UK domestic employment in regulated sectors (education, healthcare, etc.). DBS checks are NOT accepted for international use — ACRO police certificate is required instead.
Scottish criminal record certificate (if lived in Scotland) Disclosure Scotland 14 days Scotland has a separate criminal records system. If you lived in Scotland, a separate certificate from Disclosure Scotland may be required in addition to the ACRO certificate.
Northern Ireland criminal record certificate (if lived in NI) AccessNI 14 days Northern Ireland has its own criminal records authority (AccessNI). May be required in addition to ACRO if you lived in Northern Ireland.
Apostille (for international use) Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) £45 paper apostille — usually up to 25 working days plus delivery The FCDO Legalisation Office is the designated UK apostille authority for eligible public documents issued in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Scottish-issued documents may have their own prior signature/certification requirements, but there is no separate Scottish Government apostille route. Check eligibility with the FCDO.
Certified translation (if required) Sworn / certified translator 1–2 business days after apostille Where the destination procedure requires one, check which translator type and format it accepts. We provide Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, and other languages.

How the process works

1

We determine exactly what is needed: ACRO police certificate only, Disclosure Scotland or AccessNI additionally, whether apostille is required, and any prior certification the document needs before the FCDO apostille.

2

We guide you through or manage the application for the correct certificate(s). ACRO is the primary document for most international purposes. We coordinate additional certificates if your history spans multiple UK jurisdictions.

3

Once certificates are issued, we submit them to the FCDO, the single UK apostille authority (including for Scotland-issued documents), for the official apostille. The UK is a Hague Convention member — the apostille is recognized in all other member countries.

4

We arrange a certified translation into the required language and deliver your complete document package by tracked international courier — ready for submission to foreign authorities.

Example scenarios

Illustrative examples based on common situations; names and details are changed.

DM
Democratic Memory Law – Name Typo

from USA to Spain

Apostille
The problem was…

An applicant for Spanish citizenship under the Democratic Memory Law had their mother's 40-year-old US Naturalization Certificate rejected because of a minor spelling error in her first name.

We solved it…

The applicant had to petition USCIS for a formal name correction, which can take months, and request an extension from the Spanish consulate.

Result

In this example, the fix is to correct the name through USCIS so the Spanish citizenship application can resume.

DM
Deferred Master's – Expired FBI Check

from USA to Spain

Apostille
The problem was…

A student deferred their Spanish master's program for a year and tried to reuse their previously apostilled FBI background check for the new visa application.

We solved it…

The consulate rejected it because the underlying criminal record check is only valid for 5 to 6 months from its original date of issuance.

Result

In this example, the fix is to obtain a new FBI check for the student visa application for the following year.

FF
FBI Fingerprint Card – Translation Required

from USA to Spain

Apostille
The problem was…

An applicant submitted an apostilled and translated FBI background check to the Spanish consulate, but it was rejected for missing a translation of the physical fingerprint card itself.

We solved it…

The applicant had to hire a sworn translator to translate the English text on the standard FBI FD-258 fingerprint card to meet the consulate's translation checklist.

Result

In this example, the refile would include a translation of the fingerprint card; some consulates require it.

View all cases →

Official sources & authorities

Information on this page is based on procedures from recognized government and intergovernmental bodies — not third-party estimates.

ACRO Criminal Records Office — Police Certificate The ACRO Criminal Records Office issues the UK police certificate for international use. This is the correct document for foreign embassies and immigration authorities. View source →
FCDO — Apostille Service (Legalisation) The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office issues apostilles (legalisation) on UK official documents for use abroad under the Hague Convention. View source →
Disclosure Scotland — Criminal Record Certificates Disclosure Scotland issues criminal record certificates for individuals with Scottish records. A separate certificate may be required if you lived in Scotland. View source →
AccessNI — Northern Ireland Criminal Record Checks AccessNI is the criminal record checking body for Northern Ireland. View source →
Hague Apostille Convention (HCCH) England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland are separately Hague Convention members. Apostille is the correct authentication for UK documents going to other member countries. View source →

Related guides

Guide
UK criminal record certificate for use abroad: complete guide 2026Laura Chen · March 2026
→Guide
ACRO police certificate for visa applications: complete guide 2026Laura Chen · March 2026
→

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Laura Chen

Reviewed by

Laura Chen

Legal Document Expert

Specialist in documents for the English-speaking market with a focus on fast and secure processing.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the ACRO police certificate and why is it different from a DBS check?

A DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check is designed for UK domestic employment in regulated sectors — it is not accepted by foreign embassies. The ACRO Criminal Records Office police certificate is the correct document for international use, visa applications, and use abroad. If a foreign authority asks for a UK criminal record certificate, they need the ACRO certificate.

Does the UK issue apostilles?

Yes. The FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office) Legalisation Office issues apostilles for eligible public documents from England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland — there is no separate Scottish apostille. The UK is a party of the Hague Apostille Convention, so apostilled UK documents are valid in all other Hague member countries.

Do I need separate certificates for England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland?

If you lived in multiple UK nations, you may need certificates from each relevant jurisdiction. The ACRO certificate covers England and Wales. If you also lived in Scotland, a Disclosure Scotland certificate may be required. If you lived in Northern Ireland, an AccessNI certificate may be needed. We advise based on your specific history.

Can I get a UK criminal record certificate from outside the UK?

Yes. ACRO accepts online applications and can issue certificates to applicants worldwide. We assist with the application process and ensure the correct information is submitted. Apostille and delivery are managed fully remotely.

How long is the ACRO police certificate valid?

ACRO does not set an expiry date, but most foreign authorities set their own freshness limits — verify them for your destination. Some embassies specify shorter windows. We time the request to your application deadline.

How long does the full process take?

The ACRO dispatch timeframe is verified directly in the official ACRO application — we confirm it before starting. The FCDO apostille on ACRO certificates is a paper apostille: £45, usually up to 25 working days plus delivery. A certified translation adds 1–2 days once the apostilled document arrives. Total timeline depends on the current ACRO and FCDO services — contact us and we confirm it for your deadlines.

Do I need a certified translation of my UK certificate?

Only if the destination country requires it. Spanish-speaking countries (Spain, Latin America), Portuguese-speaking countries (Brazil, Portugal), and other non-English-speaking countries will require a certified translation. We provide translations recognized by the destination authority.

What happens with my UK records after Brexit?

Brexit did not affect the Hague Apostille Convention — the UK remains a full member. FCDO apostilles for ACRO certificates are still accepted as authentication of origin in Convention States when the Convention is in force for the pair, including EU member states. No changes to the apostille process resulted from Brexit.

Laura Chen
Laura Chen Legal Document Expert
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