How to get a police certificate – Japan

Name of the document you need

Certificate of Criminal Record

Police certificates and IRCC requirements

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will send you a letter requesting a police certificate after you send your application for permanent residence. You must bring that letter when you apply for a police certificate.

How to apply

If you live in Japan

After you receive the official request letter for a police certificate from IRCC, you must apply in person at the Prefectural Police Headquarters Identification Section where you live. When you go to the police headquarters, your fingerprints will be taken and you will be given an application form to complete.

If you live outside of Japan

After you receive the official request letter for a police certificate from IRCC, you can apply at your local Japanese embassy or consulate. Please refer to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan website for a list of Japanese embassies, consulates and permanent missions.

Your fingerprints will be taken and the application form for the Certificate of Criminal Record will be provided to you at the time and place where you apply.

Special considerations

Do I need a police certificate for International Experience Canada?

If you are a citizen of Japan, you do not need to provide a police certificate from this country with your application. However, an IRCC officer may request one at a later date.

You must provide police certificates for all other countries or territories where you have lived for a total of 6 months or more since your 18th birthday.

You (or a representative acting on your behalf, whom you must identify at the time you apply for the certificate) will receive the Certificate of Criminal Record in person.

You do not need to have your certificate translated.

If you are applying online, open the sealed envelope, scan the document and upload it to your file (please keep the original copy in case IRCC requests to see it).

If you applied using a paper application, send the original to the office where your application is being processed.

Contact information

Please refer to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan website for a list of Japanese embassies, consulates and permanent missions.