A certificate of no criminal record is one of the most frequently required documents in the process of legalising a stay in Poland. The voivodeship office may ask for it both when applying for a residence card and when renewing the permit. This document confirms that the foreigner has not been convicted in Poland or in his/her country of origin, and therefore meets the conditions for legal residence on the territory of the Republic of Poland.

Why is a criminal record certificate necessary?

According to the Aliens Act, an applicant for a residence permit should be a person without a criminal record. The provincial offices are obliged to verify this information in order to be sure that the foreigner is not a threat to public order or state security.

The absence of a criminal record certificate may result in the suspension of proceedings or even in a refusal decision. It is therefore advisable to prepare the document in advance - especially as obtaining, translating and legalising it can take several days.

Where can I obtain a criminal record certificate in Poland?

The certificate shall be issued National Criminal Register (KRK). They can be obtained in three ways:

1. Personally - at any NCR information point (e.g. at county courts).
2. Via the Internet - via the e-KRK system at https://ekrk.ms.gov.pl.
3. By proxy - if the foreigner is unable to appear in person, an attorney may submit the application on his/her behalf.

To apply, you will need a valid identity document and stamp duty of £30 (online) or £20 (for a paper application).

Issuing a document usually takes a few minutes for e-KRK, and up to a few working days for in-person applications.

How do I obtain a certificate from my country of origin?

Foreigners often also have to provide certificate of no criminal record from the country of origin. In this case, the document must be obtained from the relevant office or court in the country of citizenship and then translated into Polish by a sworn translator.

Some countries require additional legalisation of a document (e.g. apostille) before it will be recognised by a Polish office. It is worth checking this beforehand, as the lack of an apostille or certification may result in the office not accepting the document.

Advisors ID Poland assist clients in obtaining certificates from abroad, verify the accuracy of translations and ensure that documentation is complete.

How long is the criminal record certificate valid?

The criminal record certificate has a limited validity period - usually 3 months from the date of issue. After this time, the office may ask you to submit it again. Therefore, it is best to submit it only when the application for legalisation of residence is ready to be submitted.

If the procedure takes a long time, the counsellor can help obtain a new document and submit it to the office without interrupting the proceedings.

The most common mistakes when obtaining a certificate

• Submitting an application to the wrong institution (e.g. the district court instead of the NCR).
• No certified translation of the foreign document.
• Failure to provide the original document (offices do not accept photocopies).
• No apostille on document from country of origin.

Any of these errors could result in the document being rejected by the provincial office, so it is worth checking all the details with your adviser before submitting your application.

Can the certificate be obtained more quickly?

Yes - the e-KRK system allows you to download the document in electronic form just a few minutes after paying for the application. A PDF file with a qualified signature is fully accepted by offices in Poland.

However, if you require a document in a foreign language or for international purposes, additional translation and certification may be necessary.

Summary

The certificate of no criminal record is a document that is of key importance in the process of legalising a stay in Poland. It confirms the credibility of the foreigner and enables the office to consider the case positively.

To avoid mistakes and delays, it is advisable to enlist the help of experts. W ID Poland - Contact We assist in obtaining the certificate from both Poland and the country of origin, translate the documents and ensure that all the documentation needed to legalise the stay is complete.