British Virgin Islands Police Certificate Apostille and TRO London Authentication for Taiwan

Do you need to use a British Virgin Islands Police Certificate in Taiwan?

In the case covered by this service, the document must complete the following legalisation process:

BVI Police Certificate → BVI Apostille → UK FCDO paper Apostille → TRO London authentication → secure courier delivery

The original Police Certificate must first be duly apostilled in the British Virgin Islands. It can then be sent to our London office.

Once the document reaches us, Ginkgo Advisory can arrange:

• our express UK FCDO paper Apostille service, normally completed within 2 working days;
• preparation of the TRO application documents;
• authentication by the Taipei Representative Office in the United Kingdom, London; and
• secure courier delivery to Taiwan or another destination.

The British Virgin Islands has its own designated Apostille authority. The Hague Conference lists Government House in Road Town, Tortola, as the competent authority for the territory. TRO London also lists the British Virgin Islands within its authentication jurisdiction and requires a paper-based Apostille before authentication.

What is a British Virgin Islands Police Certificate?

A British Virgin Islands Police Certificate is an official police record issued through the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force, commonly known as the RVIPF.

It may also be described as a:

• BVI Police Clearance Certificate;
• BVI criminal record certificate;
• British Virgin Islands police clearance; or
• BVI certificate of good conduct.

The Government of the Virgin Islands lists the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force in Road Town, Tortola, as the authority responsible for public compliance and certificate services.

A BVI Police Certificate may be requested for overseas employment, professional registration, licensing, immigration, regulatory checks, court proceedings or another official purpose.

The exact requirements depend on the organisation or authority receiving the certificate.

Does a BVI Police Certificate need an Apostille?

Yes, where the receiving authority requires formal legalisation.

For the Taiwan authentication route covered here, the Police Certificate must first obtain a BVI Apostille in the British Virgin Islands.

The British Virgin Islands has its own Apostille authority. Therefore, the original certificate should be apostilled in the BVI before it is sent to London.

Please do not send an unapostilled BVI Police Certificate to our London office for this service. Send us a clear scanned copy first so that we can review it.

Once the BVI Apostille has been attached, the original document can be securely couriered to us for the UK stages.

Why is a UK FCDO paper Apostille also required?

The BVI Apostille is the first stage. It does not necessarily complete the full legalisation process for use in Taiwan.

TRO London’s published requirements state that documents issued by authorities in the British Virgin Islands fall within its London jurisdiction. These documents must complete the required FCDO legalisation stage before submission to the TRO.

TRO London accepts a paper-based Apostille only for this process. An e-Apostille should not be used for the case route described on this page.

After the BVI-apostilled Police Certificate reaches our London office, we can arrange the UK FCDO paper Apostille.

Our express service normally completes the FCDO paper Apostille stage within 2 working days, starting after we receive and approve the original document.

The 2-working-day service applies to the FCDO stage only. It does not include:

• obtaining the Apostille in the BVI;
• courier delivery from the BVI to London;
• TRO London processing; or
• final courier delivery to Taiwan.

Why does the document go to TRO London?

The Taipei Representative Office in the UK has different territorial jurisdictions.

Documents issued in the British Virgin Islands fall within the published jurisdiction of TRO London, rather than the Edinburgh office.

TRO authentication is separate from the BVI and UK Apostille stages. It is required when the document will be used in Taiwan and the receiving authority has asked for TRO authentication.

The usual process for this case is:

1. Obtain the original British Virgin Islands Police Certificate.
2. Obtain the BVI Apostille in the British Virgin Islands.
3. Courier the apostilled original to our London office.
4. Obtain the UK FCDO paper Apostille.
5. Complete TRO London authentication.
6. Courier the fully legalised document to Taiwan or another destination.

Following the correct order is important. Sending the document to the wrong authority or completing the steps in the wrong sequence may cause delay or rejection.

Our BVI-to-London-to-Taiwan legalisation service

Ginkgo Advisory can manage the UK side of the process after the BVI-apostilled original Police Certificate reaches London.

Our service can include:

• reviewing a scanned copy before the original is sent;
• checking that the BVI Apostille is present;
• receiving the original document at our London office;
• arranging the express UK FCDO paper Apostille;
• preparing the TRO London application;
• providing the prescribed TRO authorisation documents;
• acting as the applicant’s professional agent;
• submitting the document to TRO London;
• collecting the document after authentication;
• sending a scanned completion copy; and
• arranging secure international courier delivery.

This service is suitable for applicants who are based in the British Virgin Islands, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, mainland China, Europe, North America or another overseas location.

You do not need to travel to London. The application can normally be managed through signed documents and secure courier delivery.

What documents do we need from you?

Before sending the original, please email us:

1. a clear scan of the BVI Police Certificate;
2. a clear scan of the BVI Apostille;
3. details of the document’s intended use;
4. the name of the receiving authority in Taiwan;
5. your deadline; and
6. the final delivery address.

For the TRO stage, we may also require:

• a clear, unobstructed copy of the applicant’s valid passport;
• the completed TRO application form; and
• the original prescribed Letter of Authorisation.

Where a professional agent acts for the applicant, TRO London requires specific application, identification and authorisation documents. The TRO does not accept an alternative authorisation letter format.

We will provide the correct forms and signing instructions after reviewing your case.

Can the authorisation letter be signed outside the UK?

Yes. The applicant can be outside the United Kingdom.

However, the TRO has specific rules for its Letter of Authorisation. The applicant’s signature on the authorisation letter must be properly notarised or certified as required.

Where appropriate, our solicitor may be able to witness the signing by video conference. The original signed authorisation document must then be sent to our London office for submission.

We will confirm the correct signing procedure before the applicant signs anything.

Express UK FCDO paper Apostille service

Once the duly BVI-apostilled Police Certificate arrives at our London office and passes our review, we can arrange our express UK FCDO paper Apostille service.

The FCDO stage normally takes approximately 2 working days through our service.

This is significantly faster than relying on the standard public postal process. However, the timing begins only after:

• we receive the original document;
• the BVI Apostille has been checked;
• the document is suitable for FCDO submission; and
• payment and instructions have been received.

If an authority’s signature or seal requires further verification, additional time may be needed.

TRO London authentication

After the UK FCDO paper Apostille has been completed, we prepare the document for submission to TRO London.

We can review the application form, applicant’s passport copy and Letter of Authorisation before submission. This helps reduce the risk of delay caused by missing documents, incorrect signatures or the wrong authorisation format.

Following authentication, we can collect the original and arrange secure delivery to:

• the applicant;
• a lawyer or immigration adviser;
• an employer;
• a Taiwan authority;
• an authorised representative; or
• another nominated recipient.

Important information for Taiwan resident visa applications

Please tell us immediately if the Police Certificate will be used for a Taiwan resident visa.

TRO London’s published checklist contains a specific note stating that, for resident visa applications, it accepts the Police Certificate issued by the ACRO Criminal Records Office.

Therefore, applicants should not assume that a BVI Police Certificate will be accepted for a Taiwan resident visa simply because the document can be apostilled and authenticated.

Before paying for the BVI Apostille, UK FCDO Apostille and TRO authentication, confirm whether the Taiwan authority requires:

• an ACRO Police Certificate;
• a BVI Police Certificate;
• police certificates from both jurisdictions; or
• another form of criminal record evidence.

This service is most suitable where the relevant Taiwan authority has specifically requested a British Virgin Islands Police Certificate.

Frequently asked questions

Can the UK FCDO Apostille a BVI Police Certificate before it has a BVI Apostille?

Not under the case route described here.

The Police Certificate must first be duly apostilled in the British Virgin Islands. Once the BVI Apostille has been attached, the original can be sent to our London office for the UK FCDO paper Apostille stage.

Can I send the original BVI Police Certificate directly to London?

Only after it has received the required BVI Apostille.

Please send us a scanned copy before using an international courier. We will check whether the Apostille is visible and whether the document appears ready for the London stages.

Does TRO London authenticate British Virgin Islands documents?

Yes. TRO London expressly includes the British Virgin Islands within its published authentication jurisdiction.

Final acceptance will still depend on the document, its legalisation chain, its intended use and the requirements of the recipient in Taiwan.

Does TRO London accept an e-Apostille?

No. Its published guidance states that it accepts paper-based Apostilles only for this process.

We therefore arrange a UK FCDO paper Apostille for the case route covered on this page.

Is the FCDO service completed in 2 working days?

Our express UK FCDO paper Apostille service normally completes the FCDO stage within 2 working days after we receive and approve the original document.

The BVI Apostille, TRO authentication and courier stages have separate processing times.

Can you obtain the BVI Apostille in London?

The BVI Apostille is issued under the authority of the British Virgin Islands. It must be obtained before the original document is sent to our London office.

Our service described here begins with a review of the duly BVI-apostilled original and covers the later UK FCDO and TRO London stages.

Can you act for someone who lives outside the United Kingdom?

Yes. We regularly manage international document legalisation matters for overseas applicants.

The applicant will need to provide the required identification, application and authorisation documents. We will provide instructions before submission.

Can you send the completed document directly to Taiwan?

Yes. Once TRO authentication is complete, we can arrange secure courier delivery to Taiwan or another international destination.

Start your BVI Police Certificate legalisation

To request a quotation, email us:

• a clear scan of the British Virgin Islands Police Certificate;
• a clear scan of the BVI Apostille, if already obtained;
• the request or instructions from the Taiwan recipient;
• your required completion date; and
• your return delivery destination.

We will review the document and confirm the correct route.

Once the duly apostilled original reaches our London office, Ginkgo Advisory can arrange the express UK FCDO paper Apostille, TRO London authentication and secure international courier delivery.