A criminal record is generally required to apply for a visa.
This can be applied for under the name ‘proof of travel (criminal record certificate)’.
The actual process I went through was like this.
Issue criminal background certificates.
You don’t need an appointment, so go directly to the Metropolitan Police Department.
In my case, I was in Tokyo, so I went to the Metropolitan Police Department in Kasumigaseki.
Then, first of all, I was stopped at the entrance.
What can I do for you? (scary)’.
I’m here to request a criminal record certificate for my visa application. You will be let through with a ‘Yes’.
The office is open on weekdays from 8:30am to 11:30am and from 1:00pm to 4:30pm.
I went a little earlier, after hours.
Then I am told to wait in a room near the reception desk. When the time is up, you are called and wait until then.
When I am called, I follow the guide and go through the formalities.
It is not often that I have the experience of entering a police station, so I scurried around. A good memory.
These are the three things you need to bring with you.
- Passport (valid, no photocopies)
- Certificate of residence or one issued by a public office and showing name and address (my number or driver’s licence)
- Documents that confirm the fact that the certificate is required to be issued.
After handing this in and filling in the forms, fingerprints are taken on all fingers.
This is also a very rare experience…
Lie or not, I was told that I was not a criminal and that the data would be erased after the examination.
That is the end of the application.
You will receive a paper like this.
How long does it take to acquire?
It takes approximately two weeks to obtain the visa after application.
It is advisable to start a month before you apply for the visa, as you will probably need to do an apostille next to this.
When you receive it, your passport will be subjected to a photo check.
In addition, you will be asked, ‘Do not open it. If you haven’t used it, return it.’ They say. I wanted to see what was inside.
What should I do when I want it notarised (apostille)? I asked, ‘The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will open it once, notarise it and then seal it again, so it’s fine.’ The Ministry of Foreign Affairs opens it once, notarises it, and then seals it again.
The photo shows a scan after the apostille. When you receive it at the Metropolitan Police, you get a brown envelope without a seal.
さいごに
Official information is published by the Metropolitan Police and must be read through.
https://www.keishicho.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/tetsuzuki/toko/toko.html
What happens when you look inside… Do not look at it, even if you wonder what will happen if you look at the contents.
You will also need an apostille (Criminal record apostilled from Japan), so either do it yourself or ask an administrative lawyer to do it for you.
