A criminal record certificate is an official document issued by the internal affairs authorities confirming that, at the time of issue, a person has no criminal convictions and is not wanted in connection with criminal proceedings, or that any previous convictions have been spent.
A criminal record certificate may be required in a number of situations, including:
- Applying for a visa;
- Obtaining a temporary residence permit;
- Obtaining a residence permit;
- Applying for citizenship;
- Taking up employment;
- Applying to an educational institution;
- Background checks for adoption and guardianship;
- Submitting evidence in court proceedings;
- Entering into marriage.
What is a Criminal Record Certificate in Turkmenistan?
The full official name of the criminal record certificate in Turkmenistan is the “Certificate of the Presence or Absence of a Criminal Record”. The document is often referred to by its shortened names: “Certificate of Non-Prosecution” or “Criminal Record Certificate”.
A unified procedure for issuing certificates, applicable throughout the country, has been in force since 2025. The issuance of criminal record certificates in Turkmenistan is governed by Order No. 91 of 26 July 2025 of the Minister of Internal Affairs of Turkmenistan, which approved the “Procedure for Issuing Certificates to Individuals Confirming Whether or Not a Person Has Been Convicted Before the Expiry or Removal of a Criminal Record”.
A criminal record certificate is a paper document generated on the basis of information held in the databases of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Turkmenistan. The certificate is issued in Turkmen.
At the applicant’s request, two types of certificate may be issued:
- A certificate confirming that the person has not been prosecuted (“standard” criminal record certificate);
- A certificate confirming that a criminal record has been spent.
In addition, a simplified version of the Turkmen criminal record certificate is available from Turkmenistan’s consular offices abroad.
How to obtain a Criminal Record Certificate in Turkmenistan
The Information Centre of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Turkmenistan is responsible for issuing criminal record certificates. They can be obtained by applying to the information departments of the internal affairs authorities.
Applying for a paper Certificate
To obtain a paper certificate, an application must be submitted to an information department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, together with proof of identity and payment of the state fee.
Applying for a Certificate under a power of attorney
A criminal record certificate can also be obtained under a power of attorney. When submitting the request, the applicant’s representative must present an identity document and a document authorising them to represent the applicant (a power of attorney), as well as provide copies of both documents and a copy of the represented person’s identity document.
To apply for a criminal record certificate, you must:
- Contact an information department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and present your identity document (and, if necessary, documents confirming changes to your personal details);
- Pay the state fee;
- Submit an application;
- Collect the certificate.
Please note that the processing time for a criminal record certificate in Turkmenistan can be quite lengthy.
Obtaining a Criminal Record Certificate through a consulate
To obtain a criminal record certificate through a consulate or the consular section of a Turkmenistan embassy abroad, applicants must verify their identity and submit the following documents:
- An application;
- One colour photograph measuring 3 × 4 cm;
- A photocopy of the internal passport on a SINGLE sheet of A4 paper: pages 1 and 2–3 on the front, and pages 4–5 and 6–7 on the reverse (two copies);
- A receipt confirming payment of the consular fee.
Turkmenistan’s consulates accept applications for criminal record certificates submitted under a notarised power of attorney.
When receiving a criminal record certificate, it is essential to check all personal details carefully. Any error or typographical mistake will render the document invalid.
To confirm the authenticity of a criminal record certificate issued by a consulate, it may be possible to have it certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country where the consulate is located. However, you should check with the receiving institution whether this will be sufficient.
Processing time for a Criminal Record Certificate in Turkmenistan
The overall processing time ranges from one to four months, depending on the city, the nature of the request, whether legalisation is required and the delivery address.
Consular legalisation of a Criminal Record Certificate in Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan is not a party to the 1961 Hague Convention. Therefore, documents issued in its territory cannot be certified with an apostille. To confirm the authenticity of a criminal record certificate issued in Turkmenistan, a relatively lengthy and complex consular legalisation procedure must be completed.
Consular legalisation is a multi-stage procedure for certifying the authenticity of a document, used for countries that are not parties to the 1961 Hague Convention.
To have a criminal record certificate issued in Turkmenistan legalised through the consular procedure, the following steps must be followed:
- Obtain the certificate;
- Have a notarised copy of the certificate prepared;
- Have the authenticity of the notary’s signature and seal confirmed by the Ministry of Adalat (Ministry of Justice) of Turkmenistan;
- Have the document legalised by the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan;
- Obtain a notarised translation of the document;
- Have the document legalised by the consulate or consular section of the embassy of the destination country.
Due to the number of steps involved, this procedure is time-consuming and relatively expensive. Some countries do not have consulates in Turkmenistan, meaning that the final stage of legalisation may need to be completed in another country where the relevant consulate is located.
What is consular legalization?
In our video we are explaining what consular legalization is and where to apply for it.
Schmidt & Schmidt will assist you in all issues concerning the legalization.
Schmidt & Schmidt offers legalization in more than 80 countries all over the world.
Official translation of a Turkmen Criminal Record Certificate
A criminal record certificate issued in Turkmenistan may be in Turkmen or Russian.
The translation must correspond fully to the original, including the accurate reproduction of all personal details (full name, dates of birth and other information). Particular attention should be paid to the correct transliteration of first and last names, as discrepancies with passport details may result in the document being rejected.
If the document bears an apostille or a consular legalisation stamp, the translation must cover not only the certificate itself but also all accompanying stamps and endorsements.
Document delivery
Once a criminal record certificate has been obtained and legalised, it often needs to be sent to another country. In such cases, both the speed and security of delivery are important, particularly when original official documents are involved.
Schmidt & Schmidt arranges international document delivery worldwide. We use reliable logistics solutions and modern tracking systems, allowing shipments to be monitored at every stage of their journey and ensuring timely delivery to the recipient.
Our specialists handle documents with care and confidentiality and help resolve any issues that may arise during international shipping, including carrier requirements and customs clearance procedures.
We can arrange delivery of completed criminal record certificates, legalised documents, translations and other official papers to most countries worldwide, for both private clients and legal firms and organisations.
How can we help?
We will be pleased to assist you in obtaining a criminal record certificate in Turkmenistan, including requesting and legalising it for use abroad, as well as arranging its translation and delivery anywhere in the world.
You can always contact Schmidt & Schmidt. We have extensive experience in obtaining and legalising a wide range of documents and provide all the services required in this area, including preparing notarised copies, translations and the necessary powers of attorney, arranging legalisation of documents by government authorities and foreign consulates, and delivering completed documents to most countries worldwide.
You can find out more about the legalisation procedure on our website.
