How to Get a Police Clearance Certificate in Thailand (2026 Guide)

How to Get a Police Clearance in Thailand

In short: to get a police clearance in Thailand, apply in person at the Criminal Records Division of the Royal Thai Police in Bangkok with your passport, Thai visa or work permit, two passport photographs and proof of address, give fingerprints on site, and pay the THB 100 fee. The certificate is issued in 3-7 working days; if it is for use outside Thailand it must then be legalised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at Chaengwattana.

A Thai Police Clearance Certificate (สำเนาประวัติอาชญากรรม) is issued by the Criminal Records Division (กองทะเบียนประวัติอาชญากร / CRD) of the Royal Thai Police (สำนักงานตำรวจแห่งชาติ / RTP) under the Royal Thai Police Act B.E. 2547 (2004) and the Personal Data Protection Act B.E. 2562 (2019). The certificate confirms whether the applicant has a Thai criminal record. Apply in person at the CRD in Bangkok (or selected provincial centres) with a passport, visa, photos, and fingerprints. Domestic-use certificates are issued in 3-7 working days; for foreign use, add MFA legalisation at Chaengwattana (7-15 working days total).

Step by step

1. Decide which certificate you need. A domestic-use certificate is enough for a Thai employer or a Thai government process. Anything that will be sent abroad needs MFA legalisation on top, and some embassies then require their own attestation.
2. Gather the documents. Passport (bio page, current visa and latest entry stamp), Thai visa or work permit if you are a foreign resident, two 2-inch photographs taken within the last six months, proof of address, and a written statement of the purpose the certificate is for.
3. Apply at the Criminal Records Division. The principal office is at Royal Thai Police Headquarters Annex, Building 24, Vibhavadi Rangsit Road, Bangkok. Selected Provincial Police Headquarters can take the application and forward your fingerprint card to the CRD, and applicants already outside Thailand can apply by post.
4. Give fingerprints. These are taken on site at the CRD at no extra charge. If you are applying from overseas, the fingerprint card must be taken at a recognised police station and notarised before it is sent.
5. Pay and collect. The standard certificate is THB 100 and takes 3-7 working days. Some offices offer express processing for an additional THB 100-200. You can collect in person or send a representative holding a notarised Power of Attorney and a copy of their ID.
6. Legalise it for overseas use. Take the certificate to the Department of Consular Affairs at Chaengwattana for MFA legalisation, which brings the end-to-end timeline to roughly 7-15 working days.

Legal Basis and What the Certificate Says

The CRD operates under the Royal Thai Police Act B.E. 2547 (2004) and its regulations, with data handling governed by the Personal Data Protection Act B.E. 2562 (2019). A Police Clearance Certificate reports either:

• "No record found" (ไม่ปรากฏข้อมูลประวัติอาชญากร) — no Thai conviction or pending case linked to the applicant's identity and fingerprints; or
• A specific disclosure of recorded offences and case status (rare; usually only on the applicant's own record check).

The certificate covers Thai records only. Convictions in other jurisdictions are not reported on a Thai Police Clearance Certificate; conversely, Thai records are not shown on a home-country police certificate. Many foreign visa/employer processes require both.

Where and How to Apply

The principal office is the Criminal Records Division, Royal Thai Police Headquarters Annex, Building 24, Vibhavadi Rangsit Road, Bangkok. Some Provincial Police Headquarters can take applications and forward fingerprint cards to the CRD; ask locally. Applications by post are accepted in limited circumstances for applicants outside Thailand, but fingerprint cards must be taken at a recognised police station and notarised.

Documents Required

Fees and Processing

Domestic vs International Certificate

For internal Thai use (work permit, professional licensing, court application), the bare CRD certificate is enough. For foreign use (UK visa, US Green Card, Australian skilled migration, Singapore EP, etc.), a three-step chain is required:

1. Obtain the CRD certificate at the Royal Thai Police HQ.
2. Send the certificate to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Department of Consular Affairs (กรมการกงสุล) in Chaengwattana for legalisation — see our MFA legalisation guide.
3. Have the legalised certificate further authenticated by the destination country's embassy in Bangkok.

Thailand is not a party to the 1961 Apostille Convention, so a single Apostille is unavailable; the three-step chain is the only path.

Common Mistakes

Avoid these traps:

• Applying with a tourist exemption stamp. The CRD generally requires a Non-Immigrant visa or work permit. Tourist visitors often need to apply via their embassy.
• Stale photos or addresses. Photos older than 6 months and addresses not matching TM30 cause rejection.
• Forgetting to specify "for foreign use". The CRD prepares a slightly different format (English headers; ready for legalisation); requesting after the fact wastes days.
• Trying to skip MFA legalisation. Embassies will not accept a CRD certificate without MFA stamp.
• Translation errors. Some destinations require a certified translation into a third language; arrange the translation BEFORE MFA legalisation so MFA can legalise the translation too.
• Sending fingerprint cards without notarisation. Overseas applicants must have a police officer take and certify the prints; non-notarised cards are rejected.

FAQs

1. How long is the certificate valid?

The certificate itself does not "expire" but most foreign authorities accept it only if issued within the last 3-6 months.

2. Can I authorise someone to collect on my behalf?

Yes, with a notarised Power of Attorney and a copy of the representative's Thai ID or passport.

3. Will minor traffic offences show up?

Routine traffic infractions and administrative fines generally do not appear on the certificate — only formal criminal convictions and pending criminal cases.

4. I was charged but acquitted — does it show?

Acquittals and dismissals can appear on the internal CRD record but are usually shown as "ไม่ปรากฏ" (none found) on the public certificate. Where unsure, request the full record (the "personal copy") for review.

5. Can the certificate be cancelled after a long clean period?

Limited expungement applies under specific rehabilitation provisions; consult a lawyer if a past record is causing visa or employment difficulty.

Related Reading

• Document Legalisation at MFA Thailand
• How to Report a Crime in Thailand
• How to File a Police Report in Thailand
• Teaching English Legally in Thailand
• Naturalisation and Thai Citizenship