Police clearance certificate: how to get it for a job

What it is and who asks for it

The police clearance certificate (the 'good conduct certificate') is the official Puerto Rico Police document showing whether you have recorded convictions. It is among the most requested documents in hiring: manufacturing job fairs list it as an entry requirement, and fields like security, healthcare and caregiving ask for it almost always.

Having it ready before it is requested is a real advantage: when a recruiter says 'bring it tomorrow', whoever already has it on their phone closes on the spot and whoever does not loses the turn. If you are attending job fairs, carry it along with your resume and proof of education.

How to get it

You request it online through the Government of Puerto Rico's official services portal with your basic personal information, and the digital certificate is issued within minutes in most cases. You do not need intermediaries: if someone charges you to 'get you the certificate', you are paying for something you can do yourself directly on the official portal.

Many employers want it recent (issued within the last 30 to 90 days is typical) so do not pull it months in advance 'just to have it'. Get it when you enter active search mode, and generate it again if the process drags on.

If something shows up on yours

A record is not automatically the end of the application, and the waiting periods are shorter than people assume. **Act 254 of 1974** directs that a **misdemeanor conviction be automatically eliminated** from the certificate **thirty calendar days** after the sentence is served, if you committed no other offense and are not on the sexual offense and child abuse, corruption or domestic violence registries. A **felony** conviction is petitioned to the **Court of First Instance at five years**, with good reputation in the community and the DNA sample if applicable. And if you do not meet those terms, a **rehabilitation and work-readiness certificate** exists, evaluated by the Department of Correction and Rehabilitation.

The terms, the requirements for each route, and the five situations in which a judgment should no longer appear are explained separately, with the statute's articles, in our guide on clearing your criminal record.

If the certificate contains an error (a conviction that is not yours, a dismissed case still showing), report it to the Puerto Rico Police for correction before continuing to apply. It is your record; having it correct is your right.