UK police certificate (ACRO) from the USA
gov.uk names the USA among the countries that may ask for a police certificate from people applying for a visa or emigrating (get a copy of your police records). The certificate is issued by ACRO Criminal Records Office.
What it costs and how long it takes
| Item | ACRO price |
|---|---|
| Police certificate, one copy | £70 |
| Extra copies ordered with the application | £7.75 each |
| Extra copies ordered later, up to 6 months | £15 each |
| International courier instead of standard post | £48 |
ACRO says processing can take up to 30 working days from receipt of a correct application, not counting the day of submission, the day of dispatch or delivery time, according to its police certificate page. Standard international post has no tracking number.
A certificate is not a subject access request
ACRO also handles subject access requests, a free copy of your own records for personal use. That is a different product, and gov.uk says an employer or landlord cannot make you get one. Records from Scotland and Northern Ireland follow a different process.
If the U.S. side wants an apostille
ACRO police certificates for England and Wales can only get a paper apostille, not an e-Apostille. See apostilles for fees and times.
What the certificate shows
An ACRO police certificate shows your personal details and photograph, convictions, cautions, reprimands and warnings under ACRO's step-down model, impending prosecutions and offences under investigation. Records shared with the UK by overseas authorities may appear too (ACRO).
ACRO says it is your job to check that the authority asking will accept it, and that there is no refund if they refuse. It cannot be used as a «certificate of good character», and it has no fixed validity: each authority sets its own.
Applying from the U.S.
The online form asks for a recent photo, color copies of your passport, an email address, your address history for the last 10 years and details of any prosecutions or convictions. ACRO suggests creating an account first, so you can save the form as you go; without one, the 10-page form must be finished in one sitting.
You can apply for your child or, with permission, for another adult. Someone who has never lived in the UK can still apply if the certificate has been requested and they can show a British passport. Certificates are sent by mail only, never by email, and ACRO can send one straight to the FCDO for an apostille.
Changes, cancellations and children's certificates
Changes to an application, extra copies or a new delivery address go through ACRO Customer Services, quoting your application reference; they cannot be made in the online portal once submitted. Canceling also goes through Customer Services, with the £15 administration fee deducted from any refund.
Anyone who will work with children abroad may also be asked for an International Child Protection Certificate, a separate ACRO product.