If you’ve been asked by the Department of Home Affairs to provide a Hong Kong Police Clearance Certificate (also known as a Certificate of No Criminal Conviction or CNCC), the process works a little differently from most other countries. Here’s what migration professionals have shared about navigating this requirement.
How the Hong Kong PCC Process Works
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Unlike police certificates from many other countries, the Hong Kong Police Clearance Certificate process involves the Department of Home Affairs sending a referral letter directly to the Hong Kong authorities on your behalf. The Hong Kong authorities then send the certificate directly back to the Department — you don’t receive a copy yourself.
This means you have limited visibility over the process once it’s been initiated, which can be frustrating if you’re waiting for your visa to be processed.
What If You’ve Changed Passports?
A common concern arises when you’ve recently been issued a new passport but the Department’s referral letter still references your old passport number. The good news is that the Department’s referral letter to the Hong Kong authorities (known as the HKCNCC referral letter) does not include your passport number.
This means a new referral letter is generally not required just because you’ve changed passports. However, you should still notify the Department about your new passport details separately through the appropriate channels.
How to Track the Progress
Since the Hong Kong PCC is sent directly to the Department, it can be difficult to know whether it’s been received. However, there are ways to get confirmation:
- You can contact the Hong Kong Police to confirm that the certificate has been dispatched
- You can follow up with the Department to ask whether they’ve received it
- Some migration professionals have templates for requesting status updates that can speed up the process
Processing Times
The Hong Kong PCC process can take several weeks to a few months. Factors that can affect processing times include:
- The time it takes for the Department to send the referral letter
- Processing times within the Hong Kong Police Force
- Postal delays between Hong Kong and Australia
Key Tips
- Don’t wait — respond to the Department’s request promptly to initiate the process
- Update your passport details separately if you’ve changed passports
- Follow up after a reasonable period to check whether the certificate has been received
- Keep a record of all correspondence related to the PCC request
If you’re unsure about any aspect of the police clearance process, getting professional help can save you time and avoid unnecessary delays.
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Disclaimer: This blog post is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or migration advice. Visa rules and policies can change, and individual circumstances vary. We recommend booking a consultation with one of our registered migration agents to discuss your specific situation.
Reviewed by VisaTasker Migration Services
MARA Registered Migration Agent · MARN 2318017
This article is written and reviewed by VisaTasker Migration Services, a MARA-registered migration agency based in Australia. As registered agents, we are bound by the Migration Agents Code of Conduct and required to provide accurate, up-to-date advice based on Australian migration legislation. Information is reviewed against the latest Department of Home Affairs policy.
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