Police Certificates
A Police Certificate is a certificate in respect of an individual issued by the Gardaí in certain circumstances. The certificate, which is valid for 12 months, states your name, address, date of birth and also includes information about whether or not you have a criminal record in respect of this jurisdiction.
A Police Certificate is issued by the Superintendent and/or Assistant Principal Officer within the Division where the relevant applicant resides, or formerly resided, in the Republic of Ireland. Please go to our Station Directory to find out who your District Superintendent is.
Police Certificates are issued solely for the following purposes:
1. Foreign Consular Authorities / Foreign Visas [e.g. applications, naturalisation and / or other immigration matters]
2. Establishing or registering a Business in another EU Member State
3. Employment in the EU Institutions
4. Development / Humanitarian / Aid Workers deployed Overseas on behalf of a Registered Non-Governmental Organisation with supporting documentation issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and / or any other Statutory Agency related to the activity concerned.
5. Irish Citizens participating and / or engaging in an accredited academic programme on a full time basis for a minimum period of one academic year with a recognised Third Level Educational Institution (in the Host State) outside of this jurisdiction.
The following documents are required:
- Completed application form
- A certified copy of your passport, driving licence or similar for identification purposes
- Proof of address and / or proof of previous addresses
The Police Certificate is issued free of charge and will take approximately three weeks to process and can now be completed online directly.
A Police Certificate cannot be construed as Garda Vetting, a security clearance or a character reference. Garda vetting is not conducted for persons on an individual basis. It is only conducted in respect of personnel working in full-time, part-time, voluntary or in a student placement capacity in a position in an organisation, through which they have unsupervised access to children and/or vulnerable adults. Garda vetting application forms can only be obtained from an organisation registered with the Garda Central Vetting Unit to vet its prospective employees.
In addition to the above, please be advised that a Police Certificate cannot be regarded as an indication of the Applicants Residency / Immigration Status or history in respect of this Jurisdiction.
Police Certificates - Frequently Asked Questions
What are Police Certificates issued for?
Foreign Consular Authorities, Foreign Visas & Establishing a Business in another EU State.
How do I submit an application?
You should submit a completed application form accompanied by a certified copy of your passport, driving licence or similar for identification purposes and proof of address and or previous addresses by post.
Where do I make an application?
Superintendent and/or Assistant Principal Officer within the Division where the relevant applicant resides, or formerly resided, in the Republic of Ireland.
If I reside in Northern Ireland, can I apply for a Police Certificate in the Republic of Ireland?
No, it is suggested you contact your local Police Service of Northern Ireland (P.S.N.I) station for further information regarding the process in Northern Ireland.
Are Police Certificates the same as Garda Vetting?
No, a Police Certificate CANNOT be construed as Garda Vetting, a security clearance or a character reference. Garda vetting is not conducted for persons on an individual basis. It is only conducted in respect of personnel working in full-time, part-time, voluntary or in a student placement capacity in a position in an organisation, through which they have unsupervised access to children and/or vulnerable adults. Garda vetting application forms can only be obtained from an organisation registered with the Garda Central Vetting Unit to vet its prospective employees.
Is there a charge for making an application?
No, the Police Certificate is issued free of charge and will take approximately three weeks to process.
Data Access Request
Subject to the provisions of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018 every individual has a right to access a copy of personal data relating to them which is held by An Garda Síochána.
A Data Protection disclosure is issued directly to the applicant in person for their own personal use.
A Data Protection disclosure cannot be construed as proof of no convictions, Police Certificate, Garda reference or Garda Vetting.
An individual seeking access to their information should complete the Data Access Request form (F20)
An Garda Síóchána and the Freedom of Information (FOI) ACT
The full FOI section is available here.
From 14 October 2015, An Garda Síochána was subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2014 in respect of records relating to the following administrative areas only:
- human resources
- finance
- procurement
An Garda Síochána has been granted a number of exemptions under the FOI Act 2014 to ensure that it can perform its core functions and to ensure that state security is not compromised.