In brief
European authorities accept the certificate of no criminal record issued by the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) in the original, with an apostille and a translation into the local language. We order it from the MVD without you travelling, apostille it, translate it in the form accepted in your country and send you the original by courier. Price with apostille: from €115, depending on urgency. Validity is set by each country: most often 3 or 6 months from the date of issue.
Which certificate you need
The certificate of no criminal record (or of a criminal record) is issued by the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) — by the Main Information and Analysis Centre (GIAC) of the MVD or by a regional information centre. European authorities need:
- the original certificate;
- an apostille — only the Russian MVD can issue it;
- a translation into the local language in the form accepted there.
Timescales and prices
The price includes the apostille. The apostille itself adds 7–8 working days to the timescale.
| Time to obtain the certificate | Price with apostille |
|---|---|
| 5 working days (on request) | €545 |
| 6–7 working days | €480 |
| 10–11 working days | €425 |
| 17–18 working days | €265 |
| 35 calendar days | €115 |
On top of this, allow time for the translation and for courier delivery of the original. The state fee for the apostille (2,500 roubles per document) is already included in the price.
Validity by country
| Country | Purpose | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| Italy | Citizenship | no more than 6 months old |
| Spain | Consulate / citizenship | 3 months / 6 months |
| Latvia | Residence permit | 6 months |
| Estonia | Residence permits and visas | 6 months |
| Germany | Professional recognition (medicine, care) | no more than 3 months old |
| Switzerland | Marriage through the embassy | no more than 6 months old |
| Czech Republic | Residence permit | no more than 180 days old |
| Belgium | Stay of more than 90 days | no more than 6 months old |
If your country or procedure is not in the table, ask the authority you are submitting the documents to, or ask us — we will check before you order.
What we need from you
- A scan of your passport and answers to the questions for the application — for example, about previous surnames and addresses.
- The country and authority where you are submitting the certificate, so that we can translate it in the right form.
- The address for delivery of the original.
Translation
The form of translation depends on the country: a sworn translator in Spain, Germany, France, the Netherlands and Estonia; asseverazione or the consulate in Italy; a translation with the translator’s certification note in Latvia; a certified translation in the UK. More about translation requirements by country.
Frequently asked questions
Will an electronic certificate from Gosuslugi do?
Not everywhere. Spain and the Swiss Embassy explicitly require a paper certificate with an MVD apostille, and so do many other authorities. That is why we order a paper certificate by default. If your authority accepts an electronic one, let us know and we will suggest an option.
Do I need to travel to Russia or sign a power of attorney?
No power of attorney is needed: we work remotely. A notarised power of attorney is only required if you hold a Russian passport for travel abroad but no Russian internal passport.
I have an old certificate without an apostille. Can it be apostilled?
Yes, if you have the original and it is still recent enough for your authority. MVD certificates can only be apostilled in Russia — send us the original and we will arrange it. Timescale: 7–8 working days.
Do I need a criminal record certificate for a residence permit?
It depends on the country. Germany, the Netherlands, Italy and Poland usually do not require a foreign certificate for a residence permit, while Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Belgium and the Czech Republic do. For citizenship, a certificate is required almost everywhere.
Sources
- EMN Ad-Hoc Query 2025.68 — Criminal record certificates (January 2026) — checked 22.10.2026
- Russian Tax Code, Article 333.33 — state fee for the apostille — checked 22.10.2026
- HCCH — Contracting Parties to the Apostille Convention — checked 22.10.2026
This is general information, not legal advice. Requirements may differ between authorities: please confirm them before you submit your documents. Legal notice