Police Clearance — Royal Thai Police (CID)

Police Clearance + Translation + MFA Legalization — End-to-End

End-to-end police clearance from the Criminal Records Division (CID), Royal Thai Police, with translation and MFA legalization, plus optional embassy attestation. Covers visa, employment, study, and personal applications.

Criminal Records Division (CID), Royal Thai Police — Rama 1 Road, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330

Category 1

For Visa & Immigration

Police clearance for visas and residency abroad

8 use cases

Category 2

For Overseas Employment

Police clearance for foreign employers, work licenses, and professional registration

8 use cases

Category 3

For Studying Abroad

Police clearance for foreign study, scholarships, and internships

5 use cases

Category 4

Personal & Other Purposes

Police clearance for citizenship, adoption, and other purposes

6 use cases

A Thai police clearance certificate is issued by the Royal Thai Police Criminal Records Division (CID) in Bangkok. Applicants submit fingerprints, passport or Thai ID, and supporting documents stating the purpose of the request. Foreign authorities normally require the certificate to be translated and then legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or issued with an apostille, before it is accepted for a visa, residency, or employment file.

Find police clearance by province

iLC files Thai police clearance for residents of all 77 provinces. Pick your province to see the local station, government fee, turnaround, and courier distance to CID Bangkok.

Central Thailand

Northern Thailand

Northeastern Thailand

Eastern Thailand

Western Thailand

Southern Thailand

Thai police clearance — frequently asked questions

Who issues the Thai police clearance certificate?

The Criminal Records Division of the Royal Thai Police in Bangkok issues the certificate. Applications can be lodged in Bangkok or through a provincial police station that forwards the file to CID, and applicants abroad may apply through a Thai embassy or consulate.

What documents are required?

Typically a passport or Thai national ID, recent photographs, a fingerprint card taken by police, and a document showing the purpose of the request, such as a visa or employer letter. Foreign applicants who have held a Thai visa are usually asked for the relevant immigration records.

How long does processing take?

CID processing commonly takes several weeks from the date a complete file is accepted, and provincial or overseas submissions add courier time. Onward translation and legalization steps run after the certificate is issued, so plan the full chain rather than the certificate alone.

Can I apply from outside Thailand?

Yes. Applicants abroad usually take fingerprints at a local police authority, have the fingerprint card certified, and submit the file through a Thai embassy or consulate or through an authorized representative in Thailand holding a power of attorney.

Does the certificate need translation and legalization?

Most receiving authorities require a certified English translation legalized by the Department of Consular Affairs, or an apostille for Hague Convention member states. Confirm the exact requirement with the authority that will receive the document before ordering.

How long is the certificate valid?

The certificate itself carries an issue date rather than an expiry date, but immigration and licensing authorities commonly accept it only within three to six months of issue, so timing the application close to submission avoids re-ordering.

Thai Police Clearance Certificate (CID) — Complete Guide

The Thai Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) is issued by the Criminal Records Division (CRD) of the Royal Thai Police at Government Complex Building B, Chaeng Watthana. It is a mandatory requirement for immigration to Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United States, Germany, Japan and most Schengen states, as well as for professional licensing bodies such as AHPRA, NMC, GMC and TEACH.NSW. A standard PCC covers arrest, prosecution and conviction records held by Thai police from age 15 up to the request date. Because CRD requires biometric fingerprints (either at Chaeng Watthana or at an authorised overseas police station using Form C-216B/E), applicants abroad must plan ahead for at least 4–6 weeks. iLC delivers three combined workflows: (1) domestic PCC with courier pickup, (2) overseas fingerprint kit + international shipping, and (3) PCC + MFA legalization + destination-embassy chain for immigration authorities that require full apostille-equivalent certification.

End-to-End Process — police clearance

The workflow below reflects current 2025–2026 practice with the relevant Thai authority and factors in queue seasonality, translation dependencies, and cross-agency handoffs.

1) Application intake
Passport data, addresses for the past 10 years, and destination-country requirements are reviewed to select the correct PCC subtype.
2) Fingerprint capture
Either at Chaeng Watthana in person or by mailing the C-216B/E form completed at any accredited overseas police station.
3) CRD verification
Records are cross-checked against the Royal Thai Police criminal database and provincial court registers.
4) Certificate issuance
The PCC is printed on secure paper with a QR verification code and CRD embossed seal.
5) MFA legalization (optional)
For destinations requiring authenticated certification, the PCC is legalised by the MFA timing is assessed on your documents.
6) Destination embassy stamp
Non-Hague immigration processes (Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, China, etc.) require an additional embassy stamp in Bangkok.
7) International courier
DHL / FedEx delivery worldwide with tracking, timing is assessed on your documents.

Documents and Preconditions

The checklist below covers standard files. Complex or corporate matters can add supplementary certificates, board resolutions, or notarised affidavits; iLC brief these during the intake call.

Passport and Thai ID (or previous Thai visa page)
Two colour passport photos (4×6 cm, white background)
Purpose letter (visa, employment, licensing)
Prior Thai address history for 10 years
Fingerprint form C-216B/E if applying from abroad
Power of Attorney if using a representative

Who Uses This Service

Real-world scenarios where clients rely on this service every month, spanning individual, family, and corporate mandates.

Australian skilled visa (189/190/491)

AHPRA and Department of Home Affairs require an original PCC with MFA legalization for every applicant aged 16+.

Canadian permanent residency

IRCC requires a PCC covering any 6-month period spent in Thailand for the applicant or accompanying family members.

Overseas nursing / teaching license

NMC (UK), TEACH.NSW, and equivalent bodies require an unexpired PCC as proof of good character.

Executive transfer / L-visa

Corporate HR relies on iLC's expedited PCC + notarization + apostille chain for time-critical relocations.

Options and Trade-offs

Three delivery paths are usually available. We select the option that balances cost, deadline pressure, and destination-authority preferences.

Option	Pros	Trade-offs
Walk-in Chaeng Watthana	Cheapest (THB 100)	Requires personal attendance and 2 return trips (submission + pickup)
Postal application	No travel required	Adds 2–3 weeks vs walk-in and depends on overseas fingerprinting quality
Full-service (iLC)	One point of contact from fingerprint to embassy stamp	Additional service fee vs walk-in

In-Depth FAQ

How long is a Thai PCC valid?

Most immigration authorities accept a PCC up to 6 months old; medical registration bodies typically accept 3 months.

Can I apply without visiting Thailand?

Yes. We mail the C-216B/E kit worldwide, coordinate fingerprinting at a local police station, and return the certificate by courier.

Does the PCC include arrests without conviction?

Yes for adults; juvenile records prior to age 15 are excluded by statute.

Do I need MFA legalization?

Only if the destination authority explicitly asks for it. AHPRA, IRCC and USCIS commonly require it.

Points to check

Before you proceed: Thai Police Clearance Certificate (CID) — Complete Guide

“Before proceeding with Thai Police Clearance Certificate (CID) — Complete Guide, check names across documents and confirm the receiving authority's requirements to avoid incomplete submissions.”

Thai Law & Accounting Services Co., Ltd.

ทีมข้อมูลบริการ

Scope to assess

Service tier	Fees
เอกสารเดี่ยว / Single doc	Ask our team for a quote
แปล + Notary / Translation + Notary	Ask our team for a quote
MFA legalization	Ask our team for a quote
Embassy chain / สถานทูต	Ask our team for a quote

Workflow

01Review documents and the receiving authority's requirements
02Assess scope, fee, and timing for the specific case
03Process the documents and coordinate any further certification
04Check completeness and deliver by the agreed method

Before submission

For Thai Police Clearance Certificate (CID) — Complete Guide, confirm names, document types, and the receiving authority's current requirements before starting. Timing and fees depend on each case.

Please confirm current requirements with the receiving authority

A working guide to police-clearance in Thailand

police-clearance can involve different document checks depending on the receiving authority. Confirm the intended use and destination before arranging translation, a notarial signature, or consular legalization. For a review of your specific police-clearance matter, contact us on LINE @THAIL or by email at Contact@thailaw-accounting.co.th.

How the workflow runs end-to-end

First identify the issuing authority, the person signing, the destination and the receiving body's current requirements. The necessary steps may include translation, certification or consular legalization, but not every document needs every step. Confirm the sequence before sending originals.

Who this service is for

Individuals and businesses may need different supporting documents. Share the document type, destination and receiving authority so the applicable route can be checked for your matter; requirements can change without notice.

Coverage, fees, and timing

Our offices are in Bangkok (Lat Phrao 95) and Khon Kaen. For other locations we can discuss remote document intake and coordination with partners where available. Fees and timing depend on the document, destination and relevant authorities; ask for an individual quote.

Quality assurance and confidentiality

Check names, dates, document versions and the receiving authority's instructions before filing. Acceptance is decided by the receiving authority; ask the team which evidence and original documents are required in your case.

Start your police-clearance matter today

Reach Thai Law & Accounting on LINE Official @THAIL, email Contact@thailaw-accounting.co.th, or phone 092-0170000. Please book an appointment in advance at our Bangkok office (Lat Phrao 95) or Khon Kaen head office; in every other province our team can coordinate with a local partner where available. Fees: ask our team for a quote. Timing is assessed for your documents. Confirm the required documents and any consultation terms with our team before proceeding with your police-clearance matter.

Points to check

Before you proceed: police-clearance

“Before proceeding with police-clearance, check names across documents and confirm the receiving authority's requirements to avoid incomplete submissions.”

Thai Law & Accounting Services Co., Ltd.

ทีมข้อมูลบริการ

Scope to assess

Service tier	Fees
เอกสารเดี่ยว / Single doc	Ask our team for a quote
แปล + Notary / Translation + Notary	Ask our team for a quote
MFA legalization	Ask our team for a quote
Embassy chain / สถานทูต	Ask our team for a quote

Workflow

01Review documents and the receiving authority's requirements
02Assess scope, fee, and timing for the specific case
03Process the documents and coordinate any further certification
04Check completeness and deliver by the agreed method

Before submission

For police-clearance, confirm names, document types, and the receiving authority's current requirements before starting. Timing and fees depend on each case.

Please confirm current requirements with the receiving authority

Police clearance and downstream certification

Explore the site

Go deeper on Police clearance certificate service

These guides outline possible certification steps; confirm the receiving authority's current requirements before filing:

Not sure which route applies? Send us the scan — LINE @THAIL · 092-0170000 · Contact@thailaw-accounting.co.th

Documents usually required

Freshly issued original Thai civil or corporate record from the issuing office
Complete English translation of every page, with the translator's statement of accuracy
Copy of the document holder's passport or Thai national ID card
Power of attorney with ID copies of both parties if someone else files on your behalf

Common reasons a bundle is rejected

Certificates are commonly accepted only within a limited validity window.
Fingerprint sets must follow the format the receiving country specifies.
Spell every name exactly as it appears in the passport, across every document in the same bundle.

Prefer not to handle the chain yourself? Send the scans and we run every step for you, from translation to the final endorsement.

How the process runs — Police clearance certificate service

Obtain a freshly issued original from the office that produced the record and check that every page is present.
Prepare a complete translation with the translator's statement of accuracy attached.
File for legalization at the Department of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with the original and the translation together.
Complete the next certification layer required by the destination country — Apostille, or legalization at that country's embassy in Thailand.
Collect the finished bundle, scan a full copy for your records, then submit it in the format the receiving authority specifies.

Fees and processing times are set by each authority and vary by document and destination — confirm them with the responsible agency.

Handling it yourself vs letting iLC run it

Aspect	Doing it yourself	With iLC
Working out which steps apply	You read each authority's rules yourself, and usually learn a step was missing only after the bundle is refused.	Our advisers review the documents before work starts and sequence translation, notarisation, MFA, and embassy in one pass.
Time spent filing	Repeat trips to each office, queueing and collecting in person.	We file on your behalf; you send scans and receive the finished set by post or courier.
Risk that the translation is refused	Agency names, job titles, and the certification wording often do not match what the receiving office accepts.	We use terminology and certificate formats the receiving authority has accepted before, with two-stage proof-reading.
If the bundle is rejected	You diagnose the cause and refile yourself, losing a full cycle.	We identify the cause, correct it, and refile without you starting over, with progress reported along the way.

What clients typically use this for

Visa and immigration filings
Overseas employment screening
Professional registration

An advisor, not only a document processor

Before any work starts, our team assesses how many certification layers your document actually needs, which authorities are involved, and the correct order for the office you will really file with. One step out of order usually means restarting the whole bundle. More than 15 years of cross-border document work means we recognise how each authority rejects files and prevent it up front.

The certification route is matched to the receiving authority before work begins.
Rejection risks are checked, from name spelling to document validity windows.
The filing sequence is planned around the deadline you actually have.

Consult us at LINE @THAIL · 092-0170000 · Contact@thailaw-accounting.co.th

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