If you cannot find your police force listed on the ACPO website you can request the records through the Public Access or Data Protection Office of your regional police force headquarters. The application is free and the forms are usually available to download on the relevant police force's website.
Will other countries have access to my criminal record? The UK does not routinely share criminal record information with overseas authorities. For this reason, if you declare a criminal record on your visa application form, you may be required to provide a copy of your criminal record as part of your application.
Most foreign officials do not check for criminal records, but they have every right to do so if they choose. Each country can handle criminal records however they want, depending on their laws. In general, you're more likely to be denied entry with a violent criminal record.
Under the Act, following a specified period of time which varies according to the disposal administered or sentence passed, all cautions and convictions (except those resulting in prison sentences of over 30 months) are regarded as 'spent'. As a result the offender is regarded as rehabilitated.
Getting a police certificate for an overseas visa application
- Telephone: 0845 60 13 999 (international callers: 0044 1962 871 111)
- Email: .
Several countries will deny you entry based on this information.
- Australia. You must apply for a Tourist Visa (subclass 676) for permission to visit Australia if you have a criminal record.
- Canada. Canada can deny entry to anyone with a criminal record.
- China.
- Other Countries.
- Passports.
- Considerations.
However, some jobs are exempt from this rule, including:
- Jobs that involve working with children or vulnerable adults.
- Senior roles in banking or finance.
- Law enforcement roles, including the police and judiciary.
- The military, navy and air force.
- Work involving national security.
Most will only ask for unspent convictions, although some might ask for 'any convictions in the last 5 years'. If it's spent, you do not need to disclose it under any circumstances when applying for insurance. We have more detailed information on insurance available here.
Although convictions and cautions stay on the Police National Computer until you reach 100 years old (they are not deleted before then), they don't always have to be disclosed. Many people don't know the details of their record and it's important to get this right before disclosing to employers.
In the majority of cases, having a criminal record will impact your ability to serve on a Jury in some way. When you are initially called for Jury service, you will be asked to fill out a form detailing your criminal history, including any periods of imprisonment.
There is no limit to how far back an enhanced or standard check can go. For basic checks, only unspent convictions will be listed on a certificate.
If you're still in your rehabilitation period following a criminal conviction, your conviction is unspent. Any custodial sentence over two and a half years stays unspent. If you were found guilty of a criminal offence by a court, following the specified time-period, your conviction will be considered “spent”.
If over 18 at the time of the offence, a conviction will be filtered 11 years after the date of the conviction, and a caution 6 years after the date of the caution, provided that the applicant did not go to prison, has not committed any other offence and the offence was not of a violent or sexual nature.
To tell or not to tell.On the application, write ”will discuss in interview” rather than a lengthy explanation of past convictions. In an interview, keep explanations brief, and stress what you have learned from your conviction and time in prison, how you have changed, and your skills or assets. Be positive!
Details of your criminal record are not shown when your passport is scanned. The only time your passport is likely to be 'flagged' is when: there is a warrant out for your arrest either nationally or internationally through Interpol.
If you have a criminal record in Dubai, then you wont be eligible for a visa let it be work or travel. But if your criminal record lies back in your country then this depends if your country lets you thru immigration & doesnot press charges then you'd qualify for a visa in Dubai.
If you are travelling to Europe with a criminal record it will probably not cause you any problems. It is possible for a past conviction to prevent you from entering any country, but generally speaking, Europe is a tolerant, accessible region to travel to.
You can get a tourist visa with a record in Dubai, but not sure about work visa. Some people have to provide police records apparently.
Even without disclosing your criminal record, CBP officers can access your full criminal history on the CPIC database. Disclosing your criminal record to CBP officers may include informing them of any withdrawn charges, discharges, stay of proceedings or acquittals.
If you attempt to travel under the Visa Waiver Program and as a result have to make a false declaration to the questions asked as part of the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) process, you are potentially committing a criminal offence under US law.
