A criminal record in China can have devastating consequences for employment, education, professional licensing, and travel. The 2026 expanded pilot program for minor criminal record sealing offers a path forward for qualifying individuals. Yulin criminal defense lawyer Jun Ma explains the requirements and process.
2026 Pilot Expansion
The program expanded from 5 cities in 2025 to 15 cities in 2026, with nationwide implementation expected by 2028. Both criminal records and public security administrative penalty records may be eligible.
Eligibility
- 🛡️ First-time offender with no prior record
- 🛡️ Sentence of 3 years or less (including suspended sentences)
- 🛡️ Five years with no new offenses after sentence completion
- 🛡️ Excluded: national security, organized crime, drugs, sexual offenses, violence
Application Process
Submit the original judgment, sentence completion certificate, criminal record clearance, character references, and a written application to the original trial court.
Rights During Criminal Investigations
If you are facing charges, engage a lawyer immediately. The first 48 hours are critical for bail applications and evidence preservation. Strategic approaches include negotiating non-prosecution, using the guilty plea leniency system, and obtaining victim forgiveness.
The criminal justice system provides multiple pathways to a second chance. The key is knowing how to navigate these options with experienced counsel.
Criminal Procedure Application Notes
I prefer early written notices and clean evidence indexes over informal WeChat-only chains when the amount or regulatory exposure is material.
I convert complex Chinese procedure into a dated checklist with owners for translation, notarization, and internal sign-off across time zones.
- ⚖️ Written scope and remedy map
- 📜 Bilingual document control
- 🛡️ Deadline and limitation tracking
- 💼 Enforcement and settlement options in parallel
Operational Checklist for Foreign Readers
I convert complex Chinese procedure into a dated checklist with owners for translation, notarization, and internal sign-off across time zones.
I plan enforcement first—assets, licenses, receivables, and interim measures—so strategy is not limited to winning on paper.
- ⚖️ Written scope and remedy map
- 📜 Bilingual document control
- 🛡️ Deadline and limitation tracking
- 💼 Enforcement and settlement options in parallel
Risk Controls Before Escalation
I plan enforcement first—assets, licenses, receivables, and interim measures—so strategy is not limited to winning on paper.
I document scope, assumptions, and decision rights at engagement start so foreign clients know what will be filed, who must approve, and when silence becomes a missed deadline.
- ⚖️ Written scope and remedy map
- 📜 Bilingual document control
- 🛡️ Deadline and limitation tracking
- 💼 Enforcement and settlement options in parallel
Implementation Detail 1
I convert complex Chinese procedure into a dated checklist with owners for translation, notarization, and internal sign-off across time zones.
I plan enforcement first—assets, licenses, receivables, and interim measures—so strategy is not limited to winning on paper.
- ⚖️ Written scope and remedy map
- 📜 Bilingual document control
- 🛡️ Deadline and limitation tracking
- 💼 Enforcement and settlement options in parallel
Implementation Detail 2
I treat bilingual consistency as a risk control: chops, authority documents, and English summaries must tell the same commercial story.
I prefer early written notices and clean evidence indexes over informal WeChat-only chains when the amount or regulatory exposure is material.
- ⚖️ Written scope and remedy map
- 📜 Bilingual document control
- 🛡️ Deadline and limitation tracking
- 💼 Enforcement and settlement options in parallel
Implementation Detail 3
I plan enforcement first—assets, licenses, receivables, and interim measures—so strategy is not limited to winning on paper.
I document scope, assumptions, and decision rights at engagement start so foreign clients know what will be filed, who must approve, and when silence becomes a missed deadline.
- ⚖️ Written scope and remedy map
- 📜 Bilingual document control
- 🛡️ Deadline and limitation tracking
- 💼 Enforcement and settlement options in parallel
