A criminal record certificate — also called a police clearance certificate — is mandatory for many UK visa categories, particularly Skilled Worker applications in healthcare, education, and social care. The standard ACRO police certificate cost in 2026 is £65, with the premium 2-working-day service at £115. This guide covers the full 2026 fee schedule, the complete list of SOC codes requiring a certificate, how convictions affect visa outcomes, FCDO apostille rules for overseas use, and the 12-month residence rule for overseas certificates. Authoritative guidance lives in official UK police records guidance on gov.uk.
The ACRO Criminal Records Office issues UK police certificates for visa and immigration purposes covering England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. In 2026, the standard service costs £65 with up to 10 working days processing, and the premium service costs £115 with a 2-working-day target. Criminal record certificates are mandatory for Skilled Worker visa applicants in 26 specified SOC codes spanning health, education, and social care. Each overseas applicant must also supply certificates from every country where they lived for 12 months or more in the past 10 years while aged 18 or over.
- What is a Criminal Record Certificate?
- Who Needs a Criminal Record Certificate for UK Visa?
- Types of Criminal Record Certificates
- ACRO Police Certificate Cost 2026 and Processing
- Overseas Criminal Record Certificates
- How Criminal Convictions Affect UK Visa Applications
- Tips for a Successful Application
- Frequently Asked Questions
Criminal Record Certificate UK Visa 2026: ACRO Police Certificate Cost & Complete Guide
The criminal record certificate requirement was introduced in April 2017 for specified sectors and remains one of the most consequential documentary requirements in the UK immigration system. UKVI uses certificates to assess suitability under the Immigration Rules — particularly for roles involving children, vulnerable adults, and patients. Missing a required certificate, or failing to provide a satisfactory written explanation where one cannot be obtained, leads to refusal under Part Suitability of the Immigration Rules.
The ACRO fee schedule remained stable through the 8 April 2026 Home Office fee uplift. Standard service: £65 with up to 10 working days processing. Premium service: £115 with a 2-working-day target. Optional add-ons include international courier delivery and FCDO apostille legalisation (£45 government fee) for certificates being used outside the UK. Certificates are issued as paper hard copies only — electronic certificates and e-apostilles are not available for ACRO documents.
What is a Criminal Record Certificate?
A criminal record certificate (CRC) is an official document confirming whether an individual has criminal convictions, cautions, reprimands, or warnings recorded against them. For UK visa purposes, applicants may need both an ACRO police certificate (covering England, Wales, and Northern Ireland) and certificates from every country where they lived for 12 months or more in the past 10 years while aged 18 or over.
An ACRO certificate displays one of three outcomes: "No Trace" (no criminal records found), "No Live Trace" (previous convictions now considered spent under UK rehabilitation rules), or a detailed list of unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands, or warnings with dates and offence descriptions. The Stepped Down classification appears when a record exists but only limited information is disclosed.
ACRO vs DBS Certificates: The Critical Difference
ACRO police certificates are used for immigration, visa, and overseas employment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) certificates are for UK domestic employment — particularly roles involving children or vulnerable adults — and are not accepted for visa applications. If you submit a DBS certificate instead of an ACRO certificate, UKVI will treat the requirement as unmet and refuse the application.
| Feature | ACRO Police Certificate | DBS Certificate |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Use | Visa, immigration, overseas employment | UK domestic employment only |
| Issuing Authority | ACRO Criminal Records Office | Disclosure and Barring Service |
| Coverage | England, Wales, Northern Ireland | England and Wales |
| Standard Fee 2026 | £65 | £21.50 (basic check) |
| Accepted for UK Visa Application? | Yes — required for specified routes | No — never accepted |
Who Needs a Criminal Record Certificate for UK Visa?
Criminal record certificates are mandatory for Skilled Worker entry clearance applications in 26 specified SOC codes covering health, education, and social care. Adult dependants (partners over 18) of these main applicants must also provide certificates. The requirement applies to overseas entry clearance only — workers already inside the UK extending or switching permission are exempt from the documentary requirement.
The requirement is set out in paragraph SW16.1 of Appendix Skilled Worker. Each main applicant in a specified SOC code, plus each adult dependant aged 18 or over, must supply a UK ACRO certificate (if they lived in the UK 12+ months in the past decade) and certificates from every other country where they meet the same residence threshold.
UK Visa Routes Requiring Criminal Record Certificates
- Skilled Worker visa: Roles in the 26 specified SOC codes — see full list below — under the UK main sponsored work permission
- Health and Care visa: All applicants in eligible clinical and care roles under the NHS Worker Visa concession
- Adult dependants: Partners aged 18 or over of main applicants in the above routes
- Global Talent visa: May be required depending on the endorsing body and field — see the UK Global Talent endorsement pathway
Complete List of 26 SOC Codes Requiring Criminal Record Certificates
If the Certificate of Sponsorship lists any of the following SOC 2020 codes, the applicant and adult dependants must provide criminal record certificates. The list applies to roles assessed under RQF Level 6 skill threshold rules:
| SOC Code | Occupation | Sector |
|---|---|---|
| 1181 | Health services and public health managers and directors | Health |
| 1184 | Social services managers and directors | Social Care |
| 2211 | Medical practitioners (doctors) | Health |
| 2212 | Psychologists | Health |
| 2213 | Pharmacists | Health |
| 2214 | Ophthalmic opticians | Health |
| 2215 | Dental practitioners | Health |
| 2217 | Medical radiographers | Health |
| 2218 | Podiatrists | Health |
| 2219 | Health professionals not elsewhere classified | Health |
| 2221 | Physiotherapists | Health |
| 2222 | Occupational therapists | Health |
| 2223 | Speech and language therapists | Health |
| 2229 | Therapy professionals not elsewhere classified | Health |
| 2231 | Nurses | Health |
| 2232 | Midwives | Health |
| 2312 | Further education teaching professionals | Education |
| 2314 | Secondary education teaching professionals | Education |
| 2315 | Primary and nursery education teaching professionals | Education |
| 2316 | Special needs education teaching professionals | Education |
| 2317 | Senior professionals of educational establishments | Education |
| 2442 | Social workers | Social Care |
| 6141 | Nursing auxiliaries and assistants | Health |
| 6145 | Care workers and home carers | Social Care |
| 6146 | Senior care workers | Social Care |
The sponsor must indicate on the Certificate of Sponsorship whether the role triggers the criminal record certificate requirement. Sponsors operating in the 26 specified SOC codes have a positive duty to flag this — failure to flag is a sponsor licence compliance issue under the published UK employer compliance and licensing framework. If the CoS is silent and the SOC code is on the list, treat the certificate as required.
Types of Criminal Record Certificates
Four types of certificates apply across UK immigration and overseas-use contexts: the ACRO Police Certificate (England, Wales, Northern Ireland), Overseas Criminal Record Certificates from each qualifying country, Subject Access Requests for personal data review (not valid for visa use), and the International Child Protection Certificate (ICPC) for roles involving children overseas. Scotland records are released through a separate Disclosure Scotland process.
- ACRO Police Certificate: The official UK certificate covering England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Discloses spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands, and warnings. £65 standard, £115 premium.
- Overseas Criminal Record Certificate: Issued by national authorities in each country where the applicant lived for 12 months or more in the past 10 years while aged 18 or over. Process, cost, and timeline vary by country.
- Subject Access Request (SAR): A statutory free-of-charge request for personal data held by police forces. SARs are not accepted for visa or immigration purposes — applicants must use an ACRO certificate.
- International Child Protection Certificate (ICPC): A specialised certificate for individuals working with children overseas. The ICPC checks UK police and intelligence databases beyond standard ACRO coverage.
ACRO Police Certificate Cost 2026 and Processing
The ACRO police certificate cost in 2026 is £65 for standard service (up to 10 working days) and £115 for premium service (2 working days). Applications are submitted online at acro.police.uk with a valid passport, proof of address, and a recent passport-style photograph. Additional optional fees apply for international courier delivery and FCDO apostille legalisation (£45). All certificates are issued as paper hard copies — electronic and e-Apostille options are not available for ACRO documents.
Applications are made through the ACRO Criminal Records Office website, accessible to applicants both inside and outside the UK. The hard-copy certificate is dispatched by post; ACRO does not issue digital or PDF certificates. Premium-service applicants receive faster processing but identical document content.
- Step 1: Visit the official ACRO portal and create an applicant account
- Step 2: Complete the online application form with full personal and residence details
- Step 3: Upload required ID — passport, proof of address, recent passport-style photograph
- Step 4: Choose service level: Standard (£65) or Premium (£115)
- Step 5: Select delivery option — UK postal or international courier add-on
- Step 6: Pay online by debit or credit card; receive confirmation email
- Step 7: Track application status via the ACRO portal
- Step 8: Receive paper certificate by post — store the original safely
ACRO Fee Schedule 2026
| Service Type | Fee 2026 | Processing Time |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Service | £65 | Up to 10 working days from receipt of all documents |
| Premium Service | £115 | Within 2 working days from receipt of all documents |
| International Courier Delivery | Additional fee — varies by destination | Tracked international dispatch |
| FCDO Apostille Legalisation | £45 government fee | FCDO postal service approximately 10–20 working days |
| International Child Protection Certificate (ICPC) | £90 | Standard processing |
Premium service is recommended where visa processing timelines are tight — especially when paying for the 5-working-day Priority service on the visa application itself. There is no point paying for premium visa processing if the certificate is stuck in standard ACRO processing.
Contacting ACRO
- Official website: acro.police.uk
- UK telephone: +44 (0)1962 871 111
- Postal address: ACRO Criminal Records Office, PO Box 481, Fareham, PO14 9FS
Overseas Criminal Record Certificates
Any applicant who has lived in any country outside the UK for 12 months or more in the 10 years immediately before the visa application, while aged 18 or over, must obtain a criminal record certificate from that country. The 12 months may be continuous or cumulative — three 4-month stays in the same country count toward the threshold.
Each country sets its own process for issuing criminal record certificates. The UK Government publishes country-by-country guidance covering issuing authority, fees, and processing time. Applicants should start the overseas certificate process well before the planned visa application — some countries process within 2 weeks, while others routinely take 8 to 12 weeks. The full directory lives in the official overseas criminal record checks guide on gov.uk.
When You Cannot Obtain a Certificate
Some countries do not operate a functioning criminal record disclosure system, while others refuse certificates to non-citizens or to applicants no longer resident. Where a certificate genuinely cannot be obtained, the applicant must provide a written explanation supported by evidence. UKVI assesses the explanation on a case-by-case basis. If caseworkers determine that the certificate was in fact obtainable but the applicant failed to obtain it, refusal under the documentary refusal grounds in Part Suitability follows.
- Document attempts: Detail every step taken — embassy contact, application submission, follow-up correspondence
- Refusal evidence: Any embassy letter, system rejection, or formal response confirming non-availability
- Country-specific context: Reference where official UK guidance flags the country as one where certificates are difficult or impossible to obtain
- Timeline: Dates of attempts to demonstrate genuine effort across reasonable timeframes
Where UKVI accepts the explanation, the application proceeds without the missing certificate. Where UKVI considers further effort required, caseworkers typically grant 28 working days to obtain the document before refusing. This grace period is a one-time concession and not a default route — applicants should not rely on it.
How Criminal Convictions Affect UK Visa Applications
A criminal conviction does not automatically disqualify an applicant from a UK visa. UKVI assesses each application individually against the suitability requirements in Part Suitability of the Immigration Rules. The decision balances the nature and seriousness of the offence against time elapsed, evidence of rehabilitation, and the public interest in admitting the applicant.
Outcomes turn on offence type, sentence length, and time elapsed. A custodial sentence of 12 months or more usually triggers mandatory refusal under paragraph SUI 5.1(a) of the Immigration Rules. Sentences of less than 12 months, or non-custodial outcomes, may still lead to refusal under discretionary grounds if the offence is serious or recent. Crucially: full disclosure is essential. Failure to disclose any conviction — including spent convictions and minor traffic offences — can trigger the 10-year deception re-entry ban on top of the original refusal.
UKVI caseworkers consider the following factors when assessing criminal history under Part Suitability refusal grounds:
- Offence type: Violent crimes, sexual offences, drug supply, and offences against children attract the strongest scrutiny
- Sentence length: 12 months or more triggers mandatory refusal; custodial sentences under 12 months attract discretionary refusal (SUI 5.3), assessed case-by-case; non-custodial or out-of-court disposals also attract discretionary refusal, with persistent offending or serious-harm offences triggering mandatory refusal (SUI 5.1(b)-(c))
- Time since conviction: More recent convictions weigh more heavily; longer rehabilitation periods favour the applicant
- Pattern of offending: Multiple convictions are treated more seriously than isolated incidents, especially where they show escalation
- Rehabilitation evidence: Employment, voluntary work, completion of rehabilitation programmes, character references
Applicants must disclose all criminal convictions on the visa application form, including spent convictions, cautions, reprimands, warnings, and traffic offences attracting court proceedings. UK visa application forms expressly disapply the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 — convictions that would be "spent" for UK employment purposes remain disclosable for immigration. Concealment found at decision stage or later triggers refusal and a 10-year deception ban under paragraph SUI 9.1.
Criminal Convictions and Settlement (ILR)
Criminal history affects not only entry-clearance applications but also extensions, the route to UK long-term settlement, and applications for UK naturalisation as a British citizen. The "good character" requirement for citizenship is more stringent than for ILR — even spent convictions can defeat a citizenship application that would otherwise satisfy ILR rules. Applicants with any criminal history approaching settlement or citizenship should obtain professional immigration advice before applying.
Appealing a Visa Refusal Based on Criminal History
A visa refusal under Part Suitability grounds may carry an in-country or out-of-country appeal right depending on the route, the applicant's circumstances, and whether human-rights considerations apply. Where an appeal right exists, the case proceeds to the First-tier Tribunal Immigration and Asylum Chamber. Grounds typically engage Article 8 family-life protections, errors in the caseworker's exercise of discretion, or fresh evidence of rehabilitation. Procedural mechanics live in our First-tier Tribunal appeal guide.
Tips for a Successful Application
Start the certificate process at least 6 to 8 weeks before the planned visa application date. Keep digital and physical copies of every certificate before submission. Maintain a complete 10-year residence log to identify every country requiring a certificate. Use ACRO premium service (£115, 2 days) where the visa timeline is tight. For overseas use of an ACRO certificate, factor in the £45 FCDO apostille fee on top of the ACRO fee. Always disclose every conviction — concealment costs more than honesty.
Start early. ACRO standard service runs up to 10 working days from receipt of complete documents; overseas certificates can take 8 to 12 weeks in some jurisdictions. Build at least 6 weeks of buffer into the visa timeline. Where premium ACRO service is required, factor it in alongside the planned decision timeline after enrolling biometrics.
Check validity at submission. Most immigration authorities accept certificates issued within the last 6 months. Where the visa application takes several months to decide, the certificate may expire before grant — applicants approaching expiry should consider whether to refresh before submission rather than during.
Keep multiple copies. Originals submitted to UKVI are not always returned. Make scanned and physical copies before posting anything. Future applications, sponsor records, and overseas use will all draw on the original document set.
Map your 10-year residence history. Create a country-by-country timeline of every place lived for 12 months or more since age 18 in the past decade. Each entry triggers a separate certificate. The most common refusal trigger in this area is a missing certificate from an early-career or study-abroad country the applicant has not thought about for years.
Update UKVI on any change. If circumstances change between certificate issue and visa grant — particularly any new criminal proceedings or convictions — applicants must inform UKVI immediately. Concealment at this stage carries the same deception consequences as initial non-disclosure.
- Required for Skilled Worker entry clearance in 26 specified SOC codes across health, education, and social care
- ACRO fees 2026: £65 standard (10 working days) or £115 premium (2 working days)
- FCDO apostille legalisation costs £45 government fee for overseas use
- Certificates required from every country lived in for 12 months or more in the past 10 years
- Certificates typically valid for 6 months from date of issue
- Full disclosure mandatory — concealment triggers a 10-year deception ban
- Scotland records use a separate Disclosure Scotland process
- Adult dependants need their own certificates — not covered by the main applicant's documents
For comprehensive guidance covering all paperwork required for entry clearance, see our document checklist — and ensure every piece is prepared well in advance of submission.
Frequently Asked Questions about Criminal Record Certificate UK Visa
A criminal record certificate — also called a police clearance certificate — is an official document confirming whether you have any criminal convictions, cautions, reprimands, or warnings. For UK visa purposes, you may need an ACRO police certificate (covering England, Wales, and Northern Ireland) plus separate certificates from every country where you lived for 12 months or more in the past 10 years while aged 18 or over.
The standard ACRO police certificate costs £65 with processing of up to 10 working days. The premium service costs £115 with a 2-working-day target. Optional add-ons include international courier delivery and FCDO apostille legalisation (£45 government fee) for certificates being used outside the UK. Fees are non-refundable once processing begins, even if the visa application is later refused or withdrawn.
Criminal record certificates are mandatory for Skilled Worker entry clearance applicants in 26 specified SOC codes spanning health, education, and social care — including medical practitioners, nurses, midwives, pharmacists, teachers across all phases, social workers, and care workers. Adult dependants aged 18 or over of these main applicants must also provide certificates. The sponsor flags the requirement on the Certificate of Sponsorship at assignment.
Criminal record certificates are typically accepted by UKVI where they have been issued within the last 6 months at the date of visa application. Some destination authorities outside the UK insist on certificates issued within 3 months. Where the visa application takes longer to decide and the certificate expires during processing, UKVI does not automatically require a refreshed certificate — but the applicant should monitor the timeline and refresh proactively if any delays push beyond 6 months.
A criminal record does not automatically disqualify an applicant. UKVI assesses each application individually, weighing offence type, sentence length, time elapsed, and rehabilitation evidence. A custodial sentence of 12 months or more triggers mandatory refusal. Shorter sentences trigger discretionary refusal assessed case-by-case on offence, time elapsed and rehabilitation. Always disclose every conviction — concealment costs more than the underlying conviction itself through the 10-year deception re-entry ban.
Where a certificate cannot be obtained — because the country has no functioning disclosure system or refuses certificates to non-residents — applicants must provide a detailed written explanation supported by evidence of attempts to obtain the document. UKVI assesses the explanation case-by-case. Where caseworkers consider the certificate obtainable but not obtained, refusal follows. Where caseworkers consider further effort required, applicants typically receive 28 working days to obtain the document before refusal.
The documentary requirement applies to overseas entry clearance applications only. Workers already inside the UK extending or switching permission in the 26 specified SOC codes do not need to supply a fresh certificate as part of the application bundle. UKVI may still ask about criminal history during in-country processing, and any new conviction during the existing leave period must be notified to UKVI in line with general good-character duties.
An ACRO police certificate covers criminal records held in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland — not Scotland, which uses a separate Disclosure Scotland process. Overseas police clearance certificates are issued by national authorities in other countries where the applicant has lived for 12 months or more. For a UK visa application, an applicant may need both an ACRO certificate and certificates from every other qualifying country. Each country has its own process, fee, and processing time — the UK government publishes country-by-country guidance on gov.uk.
An apostille is required where the ACRO certificate will be used in a country that is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention — most European, North American, and many Asian and South American jurisdictions. For UK visa applications submitted to UKVI, no apostille is required because the certificate is being used domestically. The FCDO charges £45 per document for the standard postal apostille; ACRO certificates cannot use the cheaper e-Apostille route because the document is paper-only.