Why Can’t You Get a CNCC for a Job in Hong Kong?

Overseas authorities often call it a “police certificate” or “certificate of good conduct”. The Hong Kong Police Force CNCC page says it is issued solely for a person’s visa application or for adoption of children, and applications for any other purpose are not accepted. [1]

The candidate applies, and Police generally need a request letter from the relevant consulate, immigration authority, or government authority. The only other route in the CNCC FAQs is for overseas study, with a letter from a recognized education institution (Q46). An employer’s offer letter fits neither. [1][2]

“Applications for the Certificate for any other purposes will not be accepted.”

Hong Kong Police Force, Certificate of No Criminal Conviction information page [1]

What Are the Differences Between CNCC, CCD and SCRC in Hong Kong?

Hong Kong has no single “police check” or background check service for employers. Police run three separate services, and in each one the individual applies, not the company.

• CNCC is for the person’s own visa or adoption case.
• CCD is how a person checks their own Hong Kong criminal record. It is a request under the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (Cap. 486), Hong Kong’s privacy law, which lets everyone see personal data held about them. Only the person the record is about can apply, unless the CCD Office accepts a valid reason for someone else, such as a parent. An employer cannot apply on a candidate’s behalf. [3][4]
• SCRC is for jobs with children or mentally incapacitated persons (MIPs), and checks only a specified list of sexual offences. The employer gives the candidate a proof-of-employment letter at an advanced stage of hiring, such as after shortlisting; the candidate applies and then shares a checking code. [5][9]

CNCC, CCD and SCRC Comparison Table

	Certificate of No Criminal Conviction (CNCC)	Criminal Conviction Data (CCD) access request	Sexual Conviction Record Check (SCRC)
Who applies	The person, with a consulate, immigration or government authority letter (or, for overseas study, a recognized education institution)	The person the record is about	The candidate, voluntarily, with the employer’s proof-of-employment letter
What it is for	Visa or child adoption	Checking your own Hong Kong criminal record	Jobs with children or MIPs; specified sexual offences only
Fingerprints / attendance	Fingerprints required, except in general for online applicants using “iAM Smart” whose purpose is not child- or MIP-related; in-person applications by appointment	Always in person: fingerprinting and a follow-up interview, even if you apply online	New application: fingerprints in person by appointment, even if you apply online. Renewal: fully online with “iAM Smart +”
Who gets the result	The requesting authority; the applicant gets a copy only if there is a record	The person: a copy if records are found, a verbal reply if none	The employer the candidate authorizes, by Police phone line with the candidate’s checking code
Old minor (“spent”) convictions	Listed, with a note that they are spent	Listed, with a note that they are spent	Not disclosed
Fee	HK$340	HK$160	HK$145 new; HK$76 renewal
Timing	15 calendar days (qualifying online) or 28 (in person or special cases)	About 15 working days normally	Result on the phone line within 5 working days of fingerprints
Usable for an ordinary office hire?	No — purpose not accepted	Not an employer document	No — only for child or MIP work

Sources: Hong Kong Police Force CCD page, CCD FAQs, SCRC Notes to Employers, SCRC FAQs and CNCC pages [1]–[5a], [9]; accessed 4 Nov 2026 (UTC+8).

Can Employers Ask Candidates for a CCD?

Some companies ask candidates to hand over their CCD result during background screening, because it is the one Police check any Hong Kong resident can get. Be careful.

A CCD lists every conviction Police hold, including old minor ones that are “spent” under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Ordinance (Cap. 297). That law lets most people treat a first, minor conviction (no more than three months’ prison or a HK$10,000 fine) as spent after three years without reoffending. A candidate generally does not have to tell an employer about it, except for a few roles such as barristers, solicitors, accountants, the disciplined services, and senior civil service or judicial posts. [4][6][8]

The PCPD’s HR guidance also applies: collect personal data only for a lawful purpose linked to your business, only if necessary, and no more than you need. There are no fixed rules on which jobs justify criminal-record questions; it depends on the role. Tell candidates beforehand whether answering is required and what happens if they don’t. [6]

What Can Hong Kong Employers Do Instead?

This is our recommendation based on PCPD principles, not a PCPD rule or legal advice.

How Should an Offer Letter Word the Criminal Record Requirement?

• Before: “This offer is conditional on you providing a Certificate of No Criminal Conviction (CNCC).”
• Ordinary office role: remove the condition.
• Role with a documented integrity risk (for example cash or asset control): “This offer is conditional on your answer to the role-related declaration in your application form.”
• Role with children or MIPs: “This offer is conditional on a Sexual Conviction Record Check (SCRC). We will give you our proof-of-employment letter at the final stage.”

What Is an Example of a Criminal Record Declaration Question?

Example only, for roles where you have documented the need. Have it reviewed before use.

“Do you have any unspent conviction in Hong Kong for an offence involving dishonesty, theft, or fraud? You do not need to tell us about a conviction that is spent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Ordinance (Cap. 297). Answering is [obligatory / voluntary] for this role; if you do not answer, [state the consequence].”

Which Criminal Record Check Do Teachers and Office Staff Need in Hong Kong?

• International school teacher: the role involves children, so use the SCRC at the final stage and remind the candidate to book a fingerprint appointment. School support staff on the premises, such as librarians or cleaners, can also be eligible. The SCRC covers only listed sexual offences, so keep reference checks too. [5][9]
• Ordinary office role (for example a marketing analyst): no Police check applies. Don’t ask for a CNCC, SCRC, or CCD result. If the role controls cash or assets, a declaration like the one above may be justified; otherwise, ask nothing.

For a broader overview of background checks in Hong Kong, see eeCheck’s Hong Kong Criminal Record Check Guide.

What Should HR in Hong Kong Do Next?

Take the CNCC line out of offer templates, including agency templates. Give your team a simple rule for pre-employment screening: most roles need no criminal-record question; roles with a documented risk get a short declaration; work with children or MIPs gets an SCRC at the final stage. Record why any question is needed, and respect spent convictions.

Sources (accessed 4 Nov 2026, UTC+8, unless noted)

1. Hong Kong Police Force, “Certificate of No Criminal Conviction” (information page). https://www.police.gov.hk/ppp_en/11_useful_info/cert_no_crime.html
2. Hong Kong Police Force, “Certificate of No Criminal Conviction – FAQs” (Q9, Q12, Q13, Q27–Q29, Q41, Q46). https://www.police.gov.hk/ppp_en/11_useful_info/cert_no_crime_faq.html
3. Hong Kong Police Force, “Data Access Request for Criminal Conviction Data”. https://www.police.gov.hk/ppp_en/11_useful_info/ccd.html
4. Hong Kong Police Force, “Data Access Request for Criminal Conviction Data – FAQs” (Q1, Q4, Q9, Q13). https://www.police.gov.hk/ppp_en/11_useful_info/ccd_faq.html
5. Hong Kong Police Force, “Sexual Conviction Record Check – Notes to Employers”. https://www.police.gov.hk/ppp_en/11_useful_info/eta.html
   5a. Hong Kong Police Force, “Sexual Conviction Record Check” (information page; fees). https://www.police.gov.hk/ppp_en/11_useful_info/scrc.html
6. Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (PCPD), “Human Resource Management: Common Questions” (information leaflet, December 2023), Q1 (accessed 3 Nov 2026). https://www.pcpd.org.hk/english/resources_centre/publications/files/Some_Common_Question_Eng.pdf
7. PCPD, “Note for job applicants on criminal records” (bilingual leaflet PDF; accessed 2 Nov 2026). https://www.pcpd.org.hk/english/resources_centre/publications/files/note_for_job_criminal_records.pdf
8. Rehabilitation of Offenders Ordinance (Cap. 297), Laws of Hong Kong — via Hong Kong e-Legislation. https://www.elegislation.gov.hk/
9. Hong Kong Police Force, “Sexual Conviction Record Check – Frequently Asked Questions” (Q1, Q14, Q19–Q21, Q25). https://www.police.gov.hk/ppp_en/11_useful_info/scrc_faq.html

This Senior HR Forum guide is based on public official guidance. It is general information, not legal advice. Confirm current requirements on the Hong Kong Police Force and PCPD websites for your situation.