The main applicant gathers the largest set: passports, certificates, medical and financial papers, including proof of source of funds. Other family members prepare less, but everyone aged 18 and over needs a police clearance certificate. Gathering documents usually takes 1-2 weeks.
How the document pack is organized
It helps to see the pack by role rather than as one long list. Each person has a different job. The main applicant shows who they are, what they do and where their money comes from. Other members confirm their place in the family and a clean criminal record.
What goes into the pack depends on who is on the application. So settle the list of participants first and order certificates second. That way you avoid paying for paperwork nobody needs and you do not miss anything mandatory.
There is no power of attorney in this process. The applicant signs personally, a parent signs for children under 12, and children sign for themselves from age 12. Plan for this if family members live in different places.
Main applicant: the full list
The main applicant is the person who goes through the FIU due diligence check, which is why this pack is the most detailed. The table sets out every item and what to watch for.
| Document | What to watch for |
|---|---|
| International passport | The core document of the application |
| Second ID document | Filed together with the passport |
| Police clearance certificate | From the country of citizenship and of residence, valid for 6 months |
| Birth certificate | Part of the mandatory set |
| Employment letter | Shows what the applicant does for a living |
| Medical certificate | Part of the mandatory set |
| Photo | 35 x 45 mm |
| Bank statement | Covering 6 months |
| Bank letter and business letter | Two separate letters |
| Statement of assets | Gives an overall picture of property and funds |
| Proof of source of funds | Mandatory for every application |
Police clearance: who needs it and from where
This is the one document that applies to every adult. All participants aged 18 and over need one, not just the main applicant. It comes from the country of citizenship and the country of residence. If these are the same, one certificate is enough. If they differ, you need both.
One further rule is easy to miss. If a person lived in another country for more than a year during the past 10 years, a certificate is needed from there too. So before you start, list every long stay abroad in that period, even ones that ended long ago.
The certificate is valid for 6 months. It can also be the slowest item, especially when it has to come from another country. Start with it rather than leaving it to the end.
Spouse
A spouse can be included in the application. From age 18 a spouse provides a police clearance certificate under the same rules as the main applicant, and attends biometrics in person.
A spouse who does not work cannot supply an employment letter. In that case a certificate from a public organization is required. Decide early which organization will issue it, so this item does not hold up the rest of the pack.
If someone marries after the application was filed or after citizenship was granted, the new spouse goes through a separate application. They do not join the original one automatically.
Children
Requirements for children change with age. There are two key thresholds: 12 for signatures and 18 for police clearance.
- Under 12: a parent signs on the child's behalf.
- From 12 to 18: the teenager signs personally.
- From 18: their own police clearance certificate is required.
- From 18 to 25: a child can be included if they study full time, have no income and are not married.
- Over 25: decided individually.
Parents and other relatives
Parents can be included. As adult participants they provide a police clearance certificate from their country of citizenship and residence, and from any country where they lived for more than a year during the past 10 years. They attend biometrics in person.
Other relatives are considered individually. Before ordering certificates for them, first find out whether they can be included. You can ask during the free preliminary check, and the answer comes within 1-2 working days.
Example: who prepares what in a family of four
Say the application covers a husband, a wife, a son of 20 and a daughter of 10. The husband becomes the main applicant and gathers the full list from the table above, including the financial papers and proof of source of funds.
The wife prepares a police clearance certificate and, if she does not work, a certificate from a public organization. The son studies full time, has no income and is unmarried, so he can join the application. At 20 he needs his own police clearance certificate and signs for himself. The daughter needs no certificate, and a parent signs for her.
All four attend biometrics in person. If the son studied and lived in another country for more than a year during the past 10 years, his certificate is needed from there too. Details like this are best settled at the very start.
How to assemble the pack without delays
The standard time for gathering documents is 1-2 weeks. The whole program usually takes 2 months and no more than 3, so a few extra weeks here show up clearly in the overall schedule. A vacation in the middle of the process is what stretches timelines the most.
Translation and notarization are invoiced separately. There are no hidden lines beyond that.
- List all participants and mark everyone who is already 18.
- Write down every country where each adult spent more than a year during the past 10 years.
- Order police clearance certificates straight away, since they are the most time-sensitive item.
- Prepare the main applicant's financial papers: the 6-month statement, the letters, the statement of assets and proof of source of funds.
- Check that nobody who has to sign is leaving on vacation during preparation.
Common questions
Can everything be done through a power of attorney?
No, there is no power of attorney in this process. The applicant signs personally, a parent signs for children under 12, and children sign for themselves from 12.
How long is a police clearance certificate valid?
6 months. All participants aged 18 and over obtain one from their country of citizenship and residence, and from any country where they lived for more than a year during the past 10 years.
What if my spouse does not work?
A certificate from a public organization is required instead of proof of employment.
Is proof of source of funds really mandatory?
Yes. It is a required part of every application, whichever program you choose and whatever the size of the family.
How long does gathering the documents take?
Usually 1-2 weeks. It depends on which countries the certificates come from and whether everyone is available.