If you have spent a cumulative period of 12 months or more living outside of the Republic of Ireland after the age of 18, you must provide a copy of national police clearance for each country where you lived.
The certificates must cover the entire period of residence in each country.
You can use our guiding information below to support you.
The process for getting police clearance differs from country to country. For example, you may need to be a citizen of the country or resident in the country at the time of making the request for police clearance.
Guidance information only
You should always check the website of the relevant country’s embassy or consulate office for up-to-date information.
If the relevant country is not listed, contact the embassy of the country for assistance.
The Teaching Council is not responsible for the content of the links provided.
Albania
Organisation or Body: Republic of Albania Ministry of Justice
Website: Contact Albanian Embassy in the United Kingdom for consular assistance
Argentina
Organisation or Body: Ministerio de Justicia y Derechos Humanos
Website: Registro Nacional de Reincidencia | Argentina.gob.ar
Australia
Organisation or Body: Australian Federal Police
Austria
The Bahamas
Organisation or Body: Royal Bahamas Police Force
Belgium
Organisation or Body: Embassy of Belgium in Dublin
Website: Home page | FPS Foreign Affairs – Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation (belgium.be)
Bulgaria
Organisation or Body: Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria to Ireland
Canada
Organisation or Body: Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Website: Criminal record checks | Royal Canadian Mounted Police (rcmp-grc.gc.ca)
Please note that we require a fingerprint based criminal record check from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Chile
Organisation or Body: Servico de Registro Civil e Identificación
Website: Servicio de Registro Civil
China PR
Organisation or Body: The Public Security Bureau (PSB) of China
Residents: Apply to your local Public Security Bureau.
Non-residents: Contact the Teaching Council.
Cyprus
Organisation or Body: Criminal Record Office of the Cyprus Police
Denmark
Organisation or Body: Danish Police
Website: Certificate of criminal record | | Danish police (politi.dk)
Dubai
Finland
Organisation or Body: The Finnish Police
Website: Finnish Country Signing Certificate Authority (CSCA) – Police (poliisi.fi)
France
Organisation or Body: Ministry of Justice
Germany
Greece
India
Organisation or Body: Embassy of India
Website: How to Apply for Passport | Steps for applying Passport Application (passportindia.gov.in)
Iraq
Italy
Japan
Korea (South)
Lithuania
Organisation or Body: Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania to Ireland
Website: Ministry of Foreign Affairs | Ministry of Foreign Affairs (mfa.lt)
Luxembourg
Organisation or Body: Criminal Records Office
Malaysia
Organisation or Body: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Website: Official Portal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia – Portal (kln.gov.my)
New Zealand
Organisation or Body: Ministry of Justice
Website: Ministry of Justice | New Zealand Ministry of Justice
Nigeria
Organisation or Body: Nigeria Police Force
Poland
Organisation or Body: The Ministry of Justice
Website: Ministerstwo Sprawiedliwości – Portal Gov.pl (www.gov.pl)
Portugal
Organisation or Body: E Portugal portal
Website: Request a criminal record certificate of an individual (eportugal.gov.pt)
Romania
Organisation or Body: Ministry of Administration and Home Affairs
Website: Ministry of Foreign Affairs (mae.ro)
Saudi Arabia
Organisation or Body: Ministry of Interior Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Website: Riyadh Police (my.gov.sa)
Slovakia
Organisation or Body: Crime Register of the Attorney General’s Office
Website: Generálna prokuratúra (gov.sk)
South Africa
Organisation or Body: South African Police Service
Website: Services | SAPS (South African Police Service)
Spain
Organisation or Body: Ministry of Justice Madrid
Website: Certificado de Antecedentes Penales – Trámites – Sede Electrónica (mjusticia.gob.es)
Sweden
Organisation or Body: Swedish National Police Board
Website: Police Record Extracts | The Swedish Police Authority (polisen.se)
Switzerland
Organisation or Body: Federal Office of Justice
Website: Order criminal records excerpt – Criminal records excerpts (admin.ch)
Thailand
Organisation or Body: Thai Embassy
The Netherlands
Organisation or Body: Ministerie van Justitie (Letter required from The Teaching Council)
Website: How do I apply for a certificate of conduct (VOG)? | Government.nl
UK
Organisation or Body: ACRO Criminal Records Office
Website: ICP Certificates (acro.police.uk)
An International Child Protection Certificate is required for registration with the Teaching Council.
Ukraine
Organisation or Body: Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine
Website: МВС України (mvs.gov.ua)
United Arab Emirates
Organisation or Body: Ministry of Interior
Website: Ministry of Interior United Arab Emirates (moi.gov.ae)
Clearance can be sought from the Ministry of Interior United Arab Emirates for the following emirates: Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah, and Umm Al Qaiwan.
United States of America
Organisation or Body: FBI background check
Website: Rap Sheets (Identity History Summary Checks) — FBI