Obtaining an Overseas Police Clearance
An applicant seeking New Zealand teacher registration is responsible for obtaining an overseas police clearance if one is required. The information below will help in finding out who to contact to find out more about individual countries and how they issue police clearances.
Overseas police clearances
If you are an applicant who has lived for a period of 12 months or more in any country other than New Zealand within the last 10 years, you are required to obtain a police certificate from that country.
This police clearance must cover the entire period of time you lived in that country.
Obtaining an Overseas Police Clearance
Australia
Apply to Australia Federal Police, Criminal Records, Locked Bag 8550, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia. Request a National Police check and ensure you enter Code Number 21 for the purpose of the National Police check. Further information is available from their website: http://www.afp.gov.au/.
Canada
Apply to Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Information & Identification Services, Canadian Criminal Record Information Services, 1200 Vanier Parkway, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0R2. Request Consent for Disclosure of Criminal Record Information based on your full name and date of birth. Further information is available from their website: http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/.
Fiji
Apply to the Officer in Charge, CID, Police Headquarters, Suva, Fiji. Request a police certificate to be forwarded direct to the Teachers Council and provide our postal address: New Zealand Teachers Council, P O Box 5326, Wellington 6145, New Zealand.
Ireland
From outside Ireland:
Chief Superintendant Liaison and Protection Garda Headquarters, Phoenix Park, Dublin 8, Ireland.
From Ireland:
In person to your local Garda station.
Request a police certificate of good character.
Japan
From New Zealand:
Embassy of Japan, P O Box 6340, Wellington, New Zealand
From Tokyo:
Tokyo Public Safety Division, Metropolitan Police Department, 2-1-1, Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-Ku, Tokyo.
From elsewhere in Japan:
Your local Prefectural Police Office.
Request a 'No Criminal Record Certificate' (NCRC). 'Police Clearance' (Keisatsu Shomeisho, Hanzai Keirei Shomeisho or Muchanzai Shomeisho)
Singapore
Please note that Certificates of No Criminal Conviction are only issued to citizens of Singapore. Non-citizens will need to contact the New Zealand Teachers Council to request a Statutory Declaration form.
From Singapore:
Apply in person to: CNCC Office, Police Cantonment Complex, Blk D#02-01A, 391 New Bridge Road, Singapore 088762.
From New Zealand:
Singapore High Commission, 17 Kabul Street, Khandallah, Wellington, New Zealand.
Request a Certificate of No Criminal Conviction (CNCC). Further information is available on their website: www.spf.gov.sg/epc/cert_issued.htm
South Africa
Apply to The Commissioner, Criminal Bureau, Security Branch, South African Police, Private Bag 308, Pretoria, 0001, Republic of South Africa. Request a police certificate.
UK & Northern Ireland
1) You can apply for a Subject Access disclosure through the police force where you live or most recently lived in the UK. Links to the police forces are on the following website: http://www.acro.police.uk/subject_access.aspx
OR if you are emigrating to New Zealand
2) You can apply to the Association of Chief Police Officers, ACRO, P O Box 481, Fareham, PO14 9FS, UK for a Police Certificate. Further information is available from their website: http://www.acro.police.uk/police_certificates.aspx
Note: We do accept standard or enhanced disclosures issued through Disclosure Scotland however these must cover the entire period of time you were in the UK.
USA
Apply for a FBI identification record to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Attn: Identification Division, 1000 Hollow Custer Road, Clarksburgh, West Virginia 26306, USA.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong police authorities require a letter of confirmation from the New Zealand Teachers Council that a police certificate is required for the purposes of registration in New Zealand. You will need to submit your application for registration to the Teachers Council before we can issue you with this letter.
Once the Teachers Council has sent you the letter to send to the Hong Kong Police authorities, you will need to apply for 'The Certificate of No Criminal Conviction, from 14th Floor, Arsenal House, Police Headquarters, 1 Arsenal Street, Wanchai, Hong Kong.
Other Countries
You should make your own enquiries about obtaining a police certificate either from the police in that country or nearest embassy as appropriate.
If you are unable to provide a police certificate a statutory declaration is accepted by the Council as a last resort and only for countries where a police clearance certificate is unobtainable. The statutory declaration must be recent, and must detail your attempts to obtain a police certificate. It needs to state that you have not been convicted or found guilty of any offences against the law of that country or have not been charged with any offence against the law in that country. The statutory declaration must be signed by solicitor, Justice of the Peace or notary public.