A Non-Criminal Record Certificate is commonly required for Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC) and Chinese university applications.
The document confirms that the applicant has no criminal record during the relevant period of residence.
For the CSC Scholarship 2027–2028, applicants should obtain the certificate from the appropriate police or public security authority in their country and make sure it remains valid when the application is submitted.
Non-Criminal Record Certificate at a Glance
| Requirement | General Guidance |
|---|---|
| Document | Non-Criminal Record / Police Clearance Certificate |
| Issued By | Police or competent public security authority |
| Commonly Required For | CSC and Chinese university applications |
| Typical Validity Requirement | Issued within 6 months before application |
| Language | Chinese or English preferred |
| Other Languages | Translation may be required |
| Upload | Clear scanned copy |
| Original | Keep safely for later verification |
Current Chinese university CSC notices commonly require the certificate to have been issued within six months before the application submission date.
What Is a Non-Criminal Record Certificate?
This document may have different names depending on the country.
Common names include:
- Non-Criminal Record Certificate
- Police Clearance Certificate
- Police Character Certificate
- Criminal Record Check
- Certificate of Good Conduct
For CSC purposes, the important point is that it should be issued by a competent police or law-enforcement authority and confirm that the applicant has no relevant criminal record.
HUST’s current scholarship instructions, for example, describe it as a certificate issued by a police station or law-enforcement agency certifying that the applicant has no previous criminal record.
How Recent Should the Certificate Be?
Many Chinese universities require the certificate to be issued within:
6 months before the application submission date.
Therefore, do not obtain it too early.
Example:
If you plan to submit your university application in February 2027, a certificate issued around late 2026 or early 2027 would generally fit a six-month requirement, subject to the university’s exact rules.
Always check your target university’s latest scholarship notice.
What Information Should It Contain?
A standard certificate generally identifies:
- Applicant’s full name
- CNIC / national ID or passport information
- Date of birth where applicable
- Address or area checked
- Police verification result
- Date of issue
- Issuing authority
- Official stamp/signature or digital verification
Your name should match your passport and CSC application.
Language and Translation
Current Chinese university instructions commonly require the document in:
- Chinese, or
- English
If your certificate is issued only in another language, the university may require a notarized Chinese or English translation.
If a Pakistani Police Character Certificate is already issued in English, normally there is no reason to translate the English text again unless your university specifically asks for another form of certification.
How to Get It in Pakistan
In Pakistan, this document is generally known as a:
Police Character Certificate or Police Clearance Certificate (PCC).
The application procedure differs by province and city.
When applying, mention the purpose as:
Study Abroad / Chinese University Admission / Scholarship
and keep your passport and CNIC information consistent.
For Pakistani students:
Islamabad Police Character Certificate
Sindh Police Record Verification System
Balochistan Police Khidmat Markaz
Punjab
Applicants in Punjab can obtain a Police Character Certificate through Police Khidmat Markaz (PKM).
Commonly requested documents include:
- CNIC
- Passport
- Passport-size photographs
Punjab Police states that the normal processing time for a Police Character Certificate through PKM is approximately:
3 working days after application.
Individual district requirements can vary slightly, so confirm the document list with your nearest Police Khidmat Markaz before visiting.
Islamabad
Islamabad Police provides Police Character Certificates through its Police Khidmat Markaz services and also provides an online application facility.
For applicants in Pakistan, the official Islamabad Police guidance lists:
- Original CNIC/B-Form
- Passport
- Residential proof if required
The current listed standard processing time is:
3 working days
with an application fee of:
Rs. 1,000.
Applicants whose CNIC does not show an Islamabad address may need additional residential proof or an affidavit.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police provides Police Clearance Certificate services through Police Sahulat Markaz and its official digital services.
The current guidance lists documents such as:
- CNIC
- Passport for overseas purposes
- Two recent passport-size photographs
- Affidavit
Applicants may need verification for their relevant residential addresses. Where multiple addresses exist, verification may be required from the relevant police stations.
Sindh
Sindh Police provides an official Police Character Certificate process through its Police Record Verification System.
The official form asks for information including:
- Applicant’s name
- Father’s/husband’s name
- CNIC/NICOP
- Passport details
- Pakistan address
- Period of residence
- Purpose of the certificate
- Country for which the certificate is required
Applicants should use the latest form and procedure provided by the relevant Sindh Police authority for their district.
Balochistan
Balochistan Police provides Police Character Certificate services through Police Khidmat Markaz.
Current official information lists:
- Original CNIC/B-Form and copy
- Passport and copy
- Affidavit
- Additional authorization documents when applying from abroad
The currently listed fee is:
Rs. 350
and the stated processing time is approximately:
3 working days.
If You Have Lived at Different Addresses in Pakistan
Police clearance is normally connected to your residence history.
If you have lived in different districts or provinces, the authority may ask for verification covering those addresses.
Do not hide previous addresses simply to make the process easier.
Provide your correct residence history if requested.
If You Are Currently Outside Pakistan
Pakistani police authorities may allow a relative or authorized person to apply on your behalf, but requirements differ by province.
For example, Islamabad Police requires an authority letter and supporting documents for applicants abroad, while KP and Balochistan also provide procedures involving authorized relatives or authority letters.
Check your relevant provincial police instructions before sending documents to Pakistan.
Do You Need MOFA Attestation?
Do not automatically get every Police Character Certificate attested unless your university asks for it.
CSC universities may request:
- Original certificate
- Notarized copy
- Translation
- Authentication/attestation
depending on their own application rules.
Follow the specific requirement of your university rather than paying for unnecessary attestations.
Uploading the Certificate
Before uploading, make sure:
- Full certificate is visible
- Text is readable
- Official stamp/signature or verification is visible
- Issue date is clear
- Your name is correct
- Passport/CNIC details are correct
- Certificate is within the required validity period
Use a clear PDF scan rather than an unclear photograph.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Avoid:
- Obtaining the certificate too early
- Uploading an expired certificate
- Using a certificate without official police verification
- Incorrect passport or CNIC information
- Cropped or blurry scans
- Uploading only an Urdu version when an English/Chinese translation is required
- Using another person’s certificate format without checking your local procedure
- Assuming every Chinese university uses the same validity requirement
Official Information
For CSC applications, applicants should follow the latest requirements published by the China Scholarship Council / Campus China and the official international admissions website of their selected Chinese university.
Current official Chinese university guidance confirms that a valid Non-Criminal Record Certificate should be issued by the relevant public security authority, and many universities require it to be issued within six months before submission.
For Pakistani applicants, use the official police service of your province or city rather than private agents.
Final Advice
For Pakistani CSC applicants, the process is generally straightforward:
Apply through your Police Khidmat/Sahulat or relevant Police authority → Receive Police Character Certificate → Check information and issue date → Translate only if necessary → Scan clearly → Upload to CSC/university portal.
The most important points are that the certificate is genuine, recent, readable and issued by the appropriate police authority.
Important Note
This guide is prepared for applicants planning for the CSC Scholarship 2027–2028. Final validity, translation, attestation and document requirements may differ between Chinese universities. Always follow the latest official scholarship notice of your selected university.