RTP criminal record check
A certificate issued by the Special Branch Bureau reporting a search of Thai criminal-record data.
Authority: Special Branch Bureau, Royal Thai Police
Royal Thai Police criminal record check compared with an overseas police certificate
Quick answer
The two documents answer different questions. The Royal Thai Police certificate reports a search of criminal-record data held in Thailand. An overseas police certificate covers only the period the applicant lived in that country. Immigration authorities therefore usually ask for one certificate from every country where the applicant stayed longer than the threshold set in their own rules.
What each option is
Overseas police certificate
A certificate issued by the police or criminal-records agency of the country where the applicant resided.
Authority: The police or records agency of each country
Comparison table based on published requirements
| Criterion | RTP criminal record check | Overseas police certificate |
|---|---|---|
| Scope of the search | Only records held in Thailand. | Only the issuing country’s records; it says nothing about Thailand. |
| Who may apply | Thai nationals and foreigners who have stayed in Thailand, in person or by the authority’s power-of-attorney form. | Set by the issuing country: some allow online filing from abroad, others require the embassy route. |
| Fingerprints | Fingerprints on the prescribed form; applicants abroad may take them at a Thai mission. | Some countries require prints, others search by name and date of birth only. |
| Language of the certificate | Available in English on the authority’s own form, so a further translation is often unnecessary. | If issued in another language, the receiver usually requires a translator-certified translation. |
| Onward certification | For use abroad it normally continues through MFA legalisation and the destination’s final layer. | For use in Thailand it normally carries the issuing country’s certification plus the layer the receiver requires. |
| How recent it must be | The certificate carries no expiry itself; the receiving body sets the acceptable age in its own rules. | Likewise, validity is defined by the receiver, not by the issuing police force. |
Which route fits which case
- RTP criminal record check: You must evidence the period spent in Thailand, whether you are Thai or foreign.
- Overseas police certificate: You lived abroad longer than the threshold the receiving authority sets for an extra certificate.
Mistakes that get files sent back
- Filing only the Thai certificate when the destination asks for every country of residence.
- Spelling the name differently from the passport, so the result no longer matches the rest of the file.
- Skipping the onward legalisation layer before sending it overseas.
- Applying so early that the certificate is older than the receiver accepts on the decision date.
Frequently asked questions
- Can a foreigner request the Thai certificate?
- Yes, if they have stayed in Thailand and file on the Special Branch Bureau’s form with the identification and residence evidence it lists.
- Can I apply for the Thai certificate from abroad?
- Yes — take fingerprints and have documents certified at a Thai embassy or consulate-general, then submit through the channel the issuing bureau publishes.
- Does the result mention dismissed cases?
- What appears depends on the data held and the issuing agency’s disclosure rules; query any entry with the issuer directly.
- Must an overseas certificate be translated?
- If it is not in a language the receiver accepts, a translator-certified translation is required, and some receivers also require the translation to be legalised.
- Can one certificate serve several applications?
- It depends on the receiver; some keep the original, so check how many copies to order up front.
- What if I have changed my name?
- Attach the change-of-name evidence with the application so the search covers the former name and links to the rest of the file.
Official sources
Checked on 2026-08-03; confirm with the authority before filing.
Related pages
Ask our team
The exact steps depend on the receiving authority in each case. Contact our team to confirm the checklist and timing.