Police Clearance Certificate is an official document issued by the internal affairs authorities confirming that a person currently has no criminal record and is not wanted, or that any previous convictions have been legally cleared. It is one of the most commonly requested documents for international mobility.
A Police Clearance Certificate is often required in the following situations:
- Obtaining a visa;
- Applying for a temporary residence permit;
- Applying for a residence permit;
- Obtaining citizenship;
- Employment;
- Admission to an educational institution;
- Background checks for adoption or guardianship;
- Providing evidence in court;
- Getting married.
What is a Police Clearance Certificate in Azerbaijan?
The full official name of the police clearance certificate in Azerbaijan is “Criminal Record Certificate” (“Məhkumluq haqqında arayış”).
The issuance of criminal record certificates in Azerbaijan is regulated by the “Instruction on Issuance of Criminal Record Certificates to Individuals,” approved by Decision No. Q2-001-13 of the Board of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated January 17, 2013, as well as other regulatory legal acts.
A police clearance certificate is a paper or electronic document generated by the Operational Statistical Information Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs based on data from the Criminal Register. The certificate is issued in the Azerbaijani language.
Upon request, two types of extracts may be issued (containing the relevant information):
- A full certificate, which can be legalized and submitted to any institutions both in Azerbaijan and abroad;
- A simplified electronic certificate in PDF format, which can be submitted once via the myGov system to organizations within Azerbaijan.
In addition, there is a version of the Azerbaijani police clearance certificate issued by Azerbaijani consular offices abroad.
How to obtain a Police Clearance Certificate in Azerbaijan
Police clearance certificates in Azerbaijan can be obtained in the following ways:
- in person at “ASAN Service” centers, where representatives of the internal affairs authorities are available;
- electronically via the E-Polis mobile application and the portal e-xidmet.mia.gov.az;
- through the myGov public services portal (simplified version that can be officially submitted to an employer once).
The certificate can be requested personally or for another person with a power of attorney. Certificates for minors are obtained by their parents or legal representatives.
Electronic certificate
An electronic certificate is issued with a digital seal and made available in the user’s personal account.
To apply for a police clearance certificate via the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ electronic services:
- Install the application or access the portal;
- Select the service “Issuance of Criminal Record Certificate”;
- Fill out the application form;
- Submit the application;
- Receive the certificate.
To apply via the myGov service:
- Access the myGov service;
- Fill out the application form;
- Receive the certificate in PDF format;
- If necessary, send it to the relevant organization (e.g., a potential employer).
Paper certificate
To obtain a paper certificate:
- Visit an “ASAN Service” center;
- Fill out an application including the applicant’s full name, place and date of birth, citizenship, address, and passport details;
- Receive the certificate at the scheduled time on an official form containing full name, date and place of birth, information on criminal record (or lack thereof), and, if applicable, details of any served sentence.
Certificate via power of attorney
A police clearance certificate may also be requested through a power of attorney. The applicant’s representative must present their identity document, the power of attorney authorizing them to act on behalf of the applicant, as well as copies of both the power of attorney and the applicant’s identity document.
Certificate through a consulate
To obtain a police clearance certificate through an Azerbaijani consulate or the consular section of an Azerbaijani embassy abroad, the following documents must be provided:
- Application form;
- Identity document with a copy;
- Receipt confirming payment of the consular fee.
When receiving a police clearance certificate, it is essential to carefully verify all personal data. Any mistake or typo will render the document invalid.
Processing time for a Police Clearance Certificate in Azerbaijan
The overall processing time is from one to two months, depending on the city, the specifics of the request, and the need for legalization and delivery.
Apostille on a Police Clearance Certificate in Azerbaijan
Since 2004, Azerbaijan has been a party to the Hague Convention of October 5, 1961, which abolishes the requirement for legalization of foreign official documents (“Apostille Convention”).
An apostille is an internationally standardized form confirming the authenticity of a document for use in countries that recognize this form of legalization. It usually appears as a special stamp or certificate. In recent years, electronic apostilles (e-Apostille) have also become common — a digital mark verifying the authenticity of documents issued in electronic form.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan is authorized to affix apostilles to police clearance certificates.
An apostille cannot be affixed to a police clearance certificate issued by Azerbaijani consular offices, as the apostille procedure does not apply to consular documents. As a result, official authorities in many countries may refuse to accept such certificates. Before obtaining such a document, it is recommended to check with the specific organization whether it will accept it.
What is an apostille?
What is an apostille? Why do I need an apostille? How do I get an apostille? - Our video will explain everything you need to know about the apostille. If you have a document that needs to be certified with an apostille for use abroad, Schmidt and Schmidt will assist you! We provide apostille services in more than 100 countries worldwide.
Consular legalization of a Police Clearance Certificate in Azerbaijan
If the country where an Azerbaijani police clearance certificate is to be used is not a party to the 1961 Hague Convention, such as the UAE, the document must undergo a more complex and costly consular legalization procedure.
Consular legalization is a multi-step process of verifying the authenticity of a document, used for countries that are not members of the 1961 Hague Convention.
To complete consular legalization of an Azerbaijani police clearance certificate, the following steps must be followed:
- Obtain the certificate;
- Legalize the document at the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan;
- Have the document translated and notarized;
- Legalize the document at the consulate or consular section of the embassy of the destination country.
Due to the number of steps involved, this procedure is lengthy and quite expensive. Some countries do not have consulates in Azerbaijan, so the final legalization stage 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 an Azerbaijani Police Clearance Certificate
An Azerbaijani police clearance certificate is usually issued in the Azerbaijani language. To use it abroad, an official translation must be prepared in accordance with the requirements of the destination country — by a sworn, certified, notary, or court translator recognized in that country.
The translation must fully match the original document, including accurate rendering of personal data (full name, date of birth, and other details). Special attention should be paid to the correct transliteration of names and surnames, as discrepancies with passport data may result in the document being rejected.
If the document bears an apostille, the translation must cover both the certificate itself and the text of the apostille.
A translation made within Azerbaijan (except in cases of consular legalization) will most likely not be accepted abroad.
Document delivery
After obtaining a Criminal Record Certificate, as well as completing its apostille or legalization, it is often necessary to send the document to another country. In such cases, not only speed but also security is essential, especially when dealing with original official documents.
Schmidt & Schmidt provides international document delivery services worldwide. We use reliable logistics solutions and modern tracking systems, allowing you to monitor the shipment at every stage and ensuring timely delivery to the recipient.
Our specialists ensure careful and confidential handling of documents and assist in resolving any issues that may arise during international shipping, including carrier requirements and customs clearance procedures.
We can arrange delivery of Criminal Record Certificates, apostilled documents, translations, and other official papers to most countries worldwide — both for private clients and for legal entities and organizations.
How can we help?
We will be happy to assist you with obtaining a Criminal Record Certificate in Azerbaijan, including document retrieval, apostille, and legalization for use abroad, as well as translation and delivery to any country worldwide.
You can always contact Schmidt & Schmidt. We have extensive experience in obtaining and legalizing various types of documents and provide a full range of services in this field, including notarized copies, translation, preparation of powers of attorney, legalization of documents with government authorities and foreign consulates, as well as delivery of completed documents to most countries around the world.
You can learn more about the legalization and apostille procedures on our website.
