Facts at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Issuing body | ACRO Criminal Records Office |
| Certificate | ACRO police certificate. London names ACRO and the Irish certificate as examples; a basic DBS check is not named. |
| How to order | Apply online to ACRO. It has a standard and a premium service. |
| Fee | Check the fee with ACRO before you pay. Older figures may be out of date. |
| Time | Check with ACRO. Older figures of about 12 working days (standard) and 4 working days (premium) may be out of date. |
| Apostille | London does not ask for an apostille. ACRO does not issue one. GOV.UK gives an apostille for GBP 45 per document, but do not order one unless the embassy asks. |
| Translation | An ACRO certificate is in English. No translation is needed. |
| Thai embassy limit | The Thai embassy in London asks for a certificate issued within 6 months. |
London is one of the few posts with a clear, current rule (page updated 8 September 2026). The 6-month window is longer than at the US and French posts, which gives UK applicants more room to plan.
Facts at a glance
| Item | London rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Police clearance certificate, for example ACRO or Irish | London DTV page |
| Age | Issued within 6 months of the date of submission | London announcement |
| Who | All three DTV categories, including spouses and children | London DTV page |
| Residence proof | Permanent residence in the UK, Ireland or a British Overseas Territory, for example indefinite leave to remain or Irish long-term residency | London announcement |
| Funds | No less than GBP 12,000 (500,000 THB) | London DTV page |
| DTV fee | GBP 300 | London DTV page |
| Processing | Some cases take 4 to 6 weeks, for example a criminal conviction | London |
| During processing | Stay in the UK or Ireland | London |
ACRO, not DBS
London names ACRO and the Irish police certificate. A DBS check is not named on the London page. Do not send a DBS check instead of an ACRO police certificate.
How to order from ACRO, step by step
- Apply online to ACRO, the Criminal Records Office.
- Choose the standard or the premium service. Check the current fee and time of each on acro.police.uk before you pay.
- Give your details exactly as in your passport.
- Receive the certificate and check it. Note the issue date.
- Submit the DTV within 6 months of that date.
ACRO does not issue apostilles. If you need one, ACRO can post the certificate to the FCDO when you give an FCDO reference as the delivery address.
Timeline plan
London asks you to apply 6 to 8 weeks before travel and not more than 90 days before arrival. It asks you to stay in the UK or Ireland while it processes your application.
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| 3 to 5 months before travel | Order the ACRO certificate. The 6-month window gives you room |
| Next weeks | Collect funds evidence and residence proof |
| 6 to 8 weeks before travel, and not more than 90 days before arrival | Submit on thaievisa.go.th, within 6 months of the certificate date |
| Until the decision | Stay in the UK or Ireland |
Costs to plan for
| Item | Amount | Source | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| DTV at London | GBP 300 | London DTV page, 8 Sep 2026 | Confirmed |
| ACRO police certificate | Shown on acro.police.uk | ACRO | Not confirmed (see below) |
| Apostille, standard paper service, if needed | GBP 45 per document, up to 25 working days plus post | GOV.UK | Confirmed |
Apostille and translation
London does not ask for an apostille on the certificate. Thailand joins the Apostille Convention on 28 February 2027, so a UK apostille may not be enough for use in Thailand before that date. GOV.UK says there is no e-Apostille for ACRO certificates. Do not order an apostille unless the embassy asks.
An ACRO certificate is in English. London asks for certified English translations of documents issued outside Thailand and the UK, so you do not need one for ACRO. The general rules are on the police clearance hub.
Common mistakes
- Sending a DBS check instead of an ACRO or Irish police certificate.
- A certificate more than 6 months old on the day you submit.
- No proof of permanent residence. A UK visa that is not indefinite leave to remain may not meet London's wording. Ask the embassy.
- Leaving the UK or Ireland while the application is processed.
- Applying more than 90 days before arrival.
Before you apply
- Your certificate is from ACRO (or the Irish police) and is less than 6 months old on submission day.
- Your residence proof shows permanent residence in the UK, Ireland or a British Overseas Territory.
- Your funds show at least GBP 12,000.
- You submit 6 to 8 weeks before travel and not more than 90 days before arrival.
- You will stay in the UK or Ireland until the decision.
Want a second look at the whole file? Use the DTV pre-check. The embassy makes the decision.
Not confirmed yet
No official page we read states these points. Ask your embassy before you pay or submit.
- ACRO fees and times. GBP 55 (standard, 12 working days) and GBP 95 (premium, 4 working days) are quoted for ACRO, but other sites quote higher prices for 2026. Check acro.police.uk before you pay.
- Whether a UK visa other than indefinite leave to remain counts as permanent residence at London.
Frequently asked questions
Which police certificate does London accept for the DTV?
London names the ACRO police certificate and the Irish police certificate as examples. A DBS check is not named.
How old can the ACRO certificate be?
Issued within 6 months of the date you submit.
Do I need an apostille on the ACRO certificate?
London does not ask for one. GOV.UK says there is no e-Apostille for ACRO certificates. Thailand joins the Apostille Convention on 28 February 2027.
Do spouses and children need one too?
London lists the police certificate for all three DTV categories, which includes spouses and children.
Can I travel while London processes my DTV?
London asks you to stay in the UK or Ireland during processing.
How much is the DTV in the UK?
London states GBP 300.
Sources
- london.thaiembassy.org/en/page/destination-thailand-visa (read 22 Oct 2026)police certificate within 6 months of submission, e.g. ACRO or Irish police certificate; all DTV categories; permanent residence proof (ILR, Irish long-term residency, British Overseas Territories); fee GBP 300; funds GBP 12,000; translation rule; some cases 4-6 weeks, e.g. criminal conviction; page updated 8 Sep 2026
- london.thaiembassy.org/en/content/adjustment-of-supporting-docdtv (read 22 Oct 2026)London announcement: changes from 31 Aug 2026, certificate within 6 months of submission
- london.thaiembassy.org/en/page/visa-general-information (read 22 Oct 2026)processing up to 4-6 weeks in some cases; apply 6-8 weeks ahead and not more than 90 days before arrival; stay in UK/Ireland during processing
- acro.police.uk/s/acro-services/police-certificates (read 22 Oct 2026)ACRO police certificates: standard and premium services; ACRO does not issue apostilles; can post the certificate to the FCDO with an FCDO reference (fees and times seen in search results only; the site needs JavaScript)
- gov.uk/get-document-legalised (read 22 Oct 2026)apostille fee GBP 45 standard paper, up to 25 working days; no e-Apostille for ACRO police certificates
- hcch.net/en/news-archive/details/ (read 22 Oct 2026)Apostille Convention in force for Thailand 28 Feb 2027
Reviewed by the Thai Visa Pre-Check team
We check documents; we are not a law firm and not the Thai government. We read each embassy page named in the sources on the date shown.
We sell a document check. We do not apply for you, and only the embassy decides your visa.
- Last checked
- First published
What changed
- first published. Added a step-by-step ACRO plan, a timeline that uses London's 90-day rule, and a cost table. Unconfirmed ACRO fees moved into this list.
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