Japan - Obtain police clearance certificate

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Procedure

Applying process in Japan for citizen and non citizens.

a. Apply in-person

1. Police Clearance Certificate can be applied at “Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department (TMPD)”.
2. Link for contact : link
3. Address:
   Metropolitan Police Department,
   2-1-1 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku,
   Tokyo 100-8929, Japan.
   Tel: 03-3581-4321 (representative).
4. Go to the respective office. Don’t forget to take the required copy of documents along with originals to the office.
5. Application forms can be obtained from the respective office on visit.
6. Please follow as per authorities guidelines and submit the completed application along with documents. Applicant should pay for any charges if required as advised.
7. This application will be processed by respective department.
8. The certificate can be collected from the office where applicant applied in-person or will be delivered through mail upon notification or issued as per norms.

Applying process – overseas for citizen and non citizens.

a. Apply at embassy or consulate

1. Applicant can apply at their nearest embassy or consulate in person. Link to locate the embassy or consulate: link
2. Application form can be obtained from the embassy or consulate. Call the office and fix appointment for personal visit. Also find out the details for this procedure.
3. On the scheduled date, go to the office with all the document in original and in copy. Please follow as per officer guidelines to process your application.
4. This application will be processed by the respective department. The completed certificates are forwarded to the concern.
5. Applicant shall collect the certificate with the respective office upon notification or can get it delivered as per norms applicable.

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Required Documents

Country specific

• Valid identity document (identity card, passport, driving license).
• Valid passport.
• Citizen proof/Document of National Identity (DNI)

Foreign national

• A copy of your passport while living in Japan.
• A copy of your permit of stay in Japan, passport number and place of issue as well.
• Proofs of legal stay (copy of passport held during the said period with respective stamp and seal).

In general

• Application form
• Valid citizen proof with photo (respective ID’s issued by respective nation).
• Email ID (useful to communicate issues with respect to your application)
• A self-addressed envelope with or without stamps (as required).
• Valid contact number (applicant can be communicated)
• Passport-size photos.
• Birth certificate (as per requirement).
• Letter for representatives
• Full set of fingerprints

Office Locations & Contacts

Metropolitan Police Department,
2-1-1 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku,
Tokyo 100-8929, Japan.
Tel: 03-3581-4321 (representative).

Contact: link1 and link2

Eligibility

• Applicant with valid passport and a valid address proof.
• Age: 16 years and above. In case of minors, the application must be submitted by the parent exercising parental authority, if the minor has not turned 16 years.
• The current address of the applicant must be same as in the passport and other supporting documents.
• Applicants who are in need of residential status, employment or long term visa or for immigration to a foreign nation.

Fees

Fee/charge varies for case to case. Updated fee requirement will be provided by respective authorities while applying.

Validity

Validity norms vary from country to country.

Documents to Use

Please attach documents which can be used by people who would like to follow this procedure.    

Sample Documents

Please attach sample completed documents which would help other people who would like to follow this procedure.    

Processing Time

Processing time varies with respect to the country from where applied.

Related Videos

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications. 
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Instructions

How and Where to Apply for Certificate of Criminal Record

Japanese police certificates will not contain information about criminal convictions when:

• The period of suspended sentence has ended;
• The penalty of the crime was a fine, and the crime occurred more than five years ago;
• The term of the prison sentence ended more than ten years ago; or
• The conviction was vacated or the criminal was subject to a pardon or amnesty.

Persons convicted of crimes in Japan may obtain court conviction records indefinitely. The headquarters' records section of the Metropolitan or Prefectural police issues certificates which include a nationwide criminal records check.

Local Requests

• You should apply to the Prefectural Police Headquarters Identification Section representing your place of residence. To apply, you will need a letter of request from the Canadian visa office (http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/pub/japan_police_certif.pdf or if your application was submitted to the Canadian Visa Office in Tokyo you can also obtain this letter directly from them), and a set of fingerprints. Residents of Tokyo must contact the Police Certificate Sub-section at the address below for more instructions on the documents required to apply The Police Certificate Sub-section

Non-Resident Requests

• Applications may be made at the local Japanese embassy or consulate.

Required Information

• Applicant's birth certificate displaying the full name and date/place of birth
• Full name and date/place of birth of both parents
• Applicant's current profession and current domicile
• Indicate the period during which the applicant resided in the country
• Specify if the applicant was employed during that period and give employer's name and contact.

Need for the Document

A police certificate is an official document issued by police or government agency of a country to enumerate any criminal records that the applicant may or may not have. Criminal records may include arrest, conviction, and possibly criminal proceedings.

A Police Certificate is an official document/certificate to prove whether or not you have a criminal record in Japan.

The certificate can be written in five languages including English.

The certificate will be sealed and it can only be opened by the requesting authority. If the envelope containing the certificate is unsealed before the requesting authority receives it, the certificate becomes invalid.

The certificate will normally be sent to the Japanese Embassy or the appropriate Consulate from the Japanese National Police Agency in Japan within 2 to 3 months from the submission of the application.

The certificate has to be picked up in person at the Embassy or the Consulate General.

The certificate is free of charge.

Information which might help

In many immigration cases you may be requested by relevant Government to present Police Clearance Certificate from another country where you have resided for some time. If you are going through immigration process, you will definitely be asked for such a certificate.

Other uses of the Document/Certificate

The Japanese National Police Agency will issue a Police Certificate as required under the following circumstances (which have been already approved by JNPA):

• Applying for permanent residency in abroad
• Obtaining a live-in caregiver visa in abroad
• Applying for a student authorization (only when Embassy or Consulate abroad so requires)
• Being hired by a federal government organization
• Obtaining a license to own guns
• Obtaining permission to access a nuclear power plant
• Becoming a teacher or registering as a teacher abroad (elementary to high school)
• Adopting a child in abroad
• Involved in child care abroad
• Obtaining a liquor license in abroad
• Being employed by foreign Embassy or Consulate in Japan
• Obtaining permission to access the restricted area in an airport

External Links

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (MOFA)

Tokyo Public Safety Division, Metropolitan Police Department

http://www.cao.go.jp/index-e.html

Others

If you require a Police Certificate for a reason other than those listed above you must provide a copy of the laws or regulations which state the requirement for the police certificate.

In order to apply for a Police Certificate you must provide the necessary documentation listed below:

• Valid passport
• Document to prove on which grounds you are required to apply for this certificate [i.e. Request for Police Certificate/Clearance (Appendix A) which you can download from website when applying for permanent residency abroad, a letter from your employer (organization), potential employer (organization) or requesting organization]
• Application form
• Fingerprint form provided by JNPA

Forms are provided at the Japanese Embassy or the Consulates General for you to fill out at the time of application. At that time, your fingerprints will be taken.

Please ask for further details at the closest Japanese Consulate or the Embassy before you apply.