About the Author
Kwok is a practising solicitor based in London, admitted in England & Wales and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. He is registered with the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. Kwok has worked as legal counsel and in-house solicitor across leading firms and corporations. He personally oversees every apostille and legalisation case at Ginkgo Advisory, ensuring consistency, accuracy, and end-to-end quality control.
Kwok Lam
Legal Consultant of Ginkgo Advisory
If you need an ACRO Police Certificate and then a UK FCDO apostille, Ginkgo Advisory can assist in two practical ways.
We can either help after you apply yourself, or we can apply for the ACRO Police Certificate on your behalf and then arrange the apostille.
Option 1: You Apply for the ACRO Police Certificate Yourself
You can create an ACRO account and apply for the ACRO Police Certificate yourself.
During the application, you can ask ACRO to send the original certificate directly to our London office.
Once we receive the original certificate, Ginkgo Advisory can arrange the UK FCDO apostille in 2 working days, where the document is suitable for our express apostille route.
This option may suit you if you want to control the ACRO application yourself, but want professional support with the apostille stage.
The process is:
You apply to ACRO → ACRO sends the original certificate to our London office → Ginkgo Advisory arranges the UK FCDO apostille → We return the apostilled certificate to you
Option 2: Ginkgo Advisory Applies for the ACRO Police Certificate for You
If you prefer a managed process, Ginkgo Advisory can apply for the ACRO Police Certificate on your behalf.
After ACRO issues the certificate, we can arrange the UK FCDO apostille for you.
This option may suit you if you want support with both the ACRO application and the apostille process.
The process is:
Ginkgo Advisory prepares the ACRO application → ACRO issues the certificate → Ginkgo Advisory arranges the UK FCDO apostille → We return the apostilled certificate to you
What If You Do Not Have a Passport or Travel Document?
If you do not have a passport or travel document, ACRO may ask you to provide another photographic identification document with your application.
For example, you may be able to provide a driving licence.
If you do not have any alternative photographic ID, you should contact ACRO Customer Services before applying.
This is important because identification evidence is part of the ACRO Police Certificate application process.
What Is the ACRO Step-Down Model?
The ACRO step-down model affects what criminal record information appears on an ACRO Police Certificate or International Child Protection Certificate, also known as an ICPC.
Criminal convictions recorded on the Police National Computer may remain there until the data subject is treated as having reached 100 years of age.
However, ACRO uses the step-down model to decide what should be disclosed on a Police Certificate or ICPC. The purpose is to make sure disclosure is proportionate and necessary for the intended purpose, in line with data protection law.
Offences may be stepped down after a set time. ACRO considers factors such as:
- The seriousness of the offence
- The age of the person when the offence took place
- The outcome of the case
- The sentence imposed
In addition, ACRO may publish impending prosecutions and current investigations.
If the outcome of a prosecution or investigation later changes, a new application may be needed to obtain an updated certificate.
ACRO Police Certificate Delivery Options
ACRO sends Police Certificates by post only.
ACRO does not email copies of the certificate. You will also not receive a completed Police Certificate through the My Account Portal.
Standard delivery is included in the ACRO application fee. This may be:
- Standard first class post within the United Kingdom, where available
- International standard post for overseas addresses
International courier delivery is available for some destinations and costs £48.
However, international courier delivery is not available for addresses in the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or PO Boxes, except for certain destinations such as countries in Africa, the Middle East and the Cayman Islands.
ACRO uses CitySprint and other partners for courier delivery. The courier company may vary depending on the destination country.
Sending the ACRO Certificate Directly to Our London Office
If you apply yourself, you can ask ACRO to send the original certificate directly to our London office.
This can make the apostille stage smoother because the original certificate can move directly from ACRO to Ginkgo Advisory.
Once we receive it, we can arrange the UK FCDO apostille in 2 working days, where suitable.
How Ginkgo Advisory Can Help
Ginkgo Advisory can assist with:
- ACRO Police Certificate application support
- ACRO Police Certificate application on behalf of an applicant
- ACRO Police Certificate delivery to our London office
- UK FCDO apostille after ACRO issues the certificate
- 2 working day UK FCDO apostille, where suitable
- Return delivery of the apostilled certificate
Whether you apply yourself or ask us to apply for you, we can help create a clear route from ACRO application to FCDO apostille.
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