UK Citizens - Do you need Police Certificate from EU Countries after 6 months?

[katie-mills]

Hi Everyone,

This is actually my first post in this forum after getting so much information from other people's threads!

I have received my invitation to apply (through BC PNP EE) and submitted my application about a month ago. However I have been asked to clarify my personal history and now I am worried...

From 29th November 2008 - 2nd May 2009 I was working in France. I was informed (by a somewhat reliable source) that I would not need a police certificate from France as it was an EU country, and I am a UK citizen... I am now doubting how true this is!!

Can anyone shed some light on this?

Thanks in advance,

Katie

 

[jes_ON]

From 29th November 2008 - 2nd May 2009 I was working in France. I was informed (by a somewhat reliable source) that I would not need a police certificate from France as it was an EU country, and I am a UK citizen... I am now doubting how true this is!!

EU or not, you need a PCC from every country you have lived in for at least 6 months since the age of 18. From the specific dates you provided, it looks like you were there for less than 6 months - but if you only give the month and year, it looks like you were there for 6 months. That could be the question (but it certainly isn't because EU countries are exempt, they are not).

I would have advised just getting it anyway to avoid any questions. But since you've already applied, you could explain that you weren't there for a full 6 months (something like 5 months + 1 week), so under the rules, you didn't need to provide that PCC.

 

[Anya654]

Totally agree with Jes_ON!

 

[eddie_in_NL]

I agree with what is said above by Jes_On.

I would like to add that getting a PCC from France is easy and doesn't cost you anything. You just fill some information on their website and will receive it by mail in about a week or two. They do not charge you anything. So you may want to get one just to be on the safe side.

I've done that myself twice, one from my work permit three years ago, and one for my PR application just a few months ago. I requested on the day i received my ITA and got it within two weeks in my address in Canada.

Regards,

 

[britinvancouver]

Being part of the EU does not at all mean getting one for one member of the EU counts for all of them.

You can obtain UK Police Certificate which would include countries inside UK. (A Scottish friend found this out the hard way... they got one for Scotland only).

Also like jes_ON says it wasn't over 6 months so they are probably just clarifying that. I wouldn't worry.

 

[katie-mills]

Being part of the EU does not at all mean getting one for one member of the EU counts for all of them.

You can obtain UK Police Certificate which would include countries inside UK. (A Scottish friend found this out the hard way... they got one for Scotland only).

Also like jes_ON says it wasn't over 6 months so they are probably just clarifying that. I wouldn't worry.

Hi Everyone thank you so much for all the responses!

I was in France for 5 months and 1 week - which I indicated in my application (by putting the dates on my Background Information form). I just got a letter from CIC requesting a police certificate from France - seems strange as it is under 6 months! Oh well - seems like it won't cost me anything at least! In the letter, CIC gave me their address to get the police certificate send directly too so I hope it arrives in the 60 day deadline they've given me.

Incidently this is the second strange thing that's happened in my application - first thing was that they asked for Schedule 4 A - for Business class/Entrepreneur. I am applying through Skilled Worker BC PNP! It was quite strange to answer the questions, "Describe your business plan." or "Write a report that indicates how you accumulated your wealth"... urrrrr :-X

 

[katie-mills]

I would like to add that getting a PCC from France is easy and doesn't cost you anything. You just fill some information on their website and will receive it by mail in about a week or two. They do not charge you anything. So you may want to get one just to be on the safe side.

Thanks eddie - great news that it's free - now I just need to brush up on my French skills! Or trusty Google Translate to the rescue!