Non-criminal record certificate for China: the six-month window
Section VI, item 13 of the Application Guide for Chinese Government Scholarship asks for a valid Certificate of Non-Criminal Record (or Police Clearance Certificate), issued by the local public security (such as the police station). It says this certificate is usually issued within six months prior to the submission date of the application. The rule is a condition of that scholarship.
What item 13 says
Item 13 reads, in the guide's English text: "An applicant shall submit a valid Certificate of Non-Criminal Record (or Police Clearance Certificate) issued by the local public security (such as the police station), usually issued within six months prior to the submission date of the application."
The item contains three elements:
| Element | Wording in item 13 |
|---|---|
| Obligation | "shall submit" |
| Document | "a valid Certificate of Non-Criminal Record (or Police Clearance Certificate)" |
| Issuing body | "local public security (such as the police station)" |
| Timing | "usually issued within six months prior to the submission date of the application" |
What the six-month reference means
The word "usually" is part of the rule. Item 13 describes the normal issue window as six months before the submission date. It does not present six months as a fixed cut-off, and it does not state what happens if a certificate was issued earlier.
Item 13 also does not say who sets the submission date. Read the timing against the date you submit your application, not against the date you start the process.
Translation, notarisation and legalisation
Item 13 names no translation, notarisation or legalisation requirement. The item says nothing about the language of the certificate or how it should be certified.
Other items in Section VI deal with notarised copies and translations for other documents. Those rules belong to their own items and do not change item 13.
Scope
Item 13 is a condition of the Chinese Government Scholarship. It is not written as a general admission rule for self-funded students. For a self-funded application, the rules belong to the admissions brochure of the university concerned, and this item does not set them.
Planning suggestion
Suggestion, not a requirement: Since item 13 describes a normal issue window of six months before submission, you may want to compare the issue date of your certificate with your planned submission date before you book any appointment with the police station.
Questions people ask
When should I get my police clearance certificate for China?
Section VI, item 13 says the certificate is usually issued within six months prior to the submission date of the application. Plan the issue date so that it falls inside that window, and check the current notice of the university or scholarship authority handling your case.
Does item 13 require a translation of the certificate?
Item 13 names no translation requirement. It names no notarisation or legalisation requirement either.
Sources
- Application Guide for Chinese Government Scholarship (China Scholarship Council, Campus China)
Checked 11 October 2026
This page is an unofficial summary. It is not published by or affiliated with the Ministry of Education, the China Scholarship Council or any university, and it is not legal advice. The official text and the current notice of the university or authority handling your case prevail if they differ.