Certificate of no criminal record in the Czech Republic: obtaining, apostille and legalisation

A certificate of no criminal record is an official document issued by internal affairs or justice authorities that confirms a person currently has no criminal convictions and is not wanted in connection with any criminal offence, or that their previous convictions have already been expunged.

A certificate of no criminal record may often be required in the following situations:

• obtaining a visa;
• applying for a temporary residence permit;
• applying for a residence permit;
• acquiring citizenship;
• employment;
• enrolment in an educational institution;
• screening for adoption and guardianship;
• submitting evidence to a court;
• entering into marriage.

What is a certificate of no criminal record in the Czech Republic?

In the Czech Republic, a certificate of no criminal record is officially called an "Extract from the Criminal Register" (Výpis z rejstříku trestů). Until 2025, the Criminal Register Authority was a separate agency, but it has now become a structural division of the Czech Ministry of Justice, which is responsible for all procedures related to the registration of criminal convictions and the provision of information about them.

The issuance of certificates of no criminal record in the Czech Republic is governed by the Criminal Register Act No. 269/1994 Sb., as well as other regulatory legal acts.

A certificate of no criminal record is a paper or electronic document generated on the basis of the Czech Criminal Register database. The document is issued in the Czech language or in a "multilingual" European format.

In paper form, the certificate is a document containing the applicant's surname and first name, their date and place of birth, sex, and information about the presence or absence of a criminal record. In electronic form, the certificate is a PDF document with the same content.

Only a paper certificate bearing the signature of an official and issued directly at the Criminal Register Authority of the Ministry of Justice is suitable for apostille and subsequent use abroad.

How to obtain a certificate of no criminal record in the Czech Republic

There are three main ways to obtain a certificate of no criminal record in the Czech Republic:

• apply in person to the Criminal Register Authority of the Ministry of Justice (Ministerstvo spravedlnosti ČR) with a request;
• apply to one of the Czech POINT contact points (a multifunctional centre for administrative services) located at post offices, local government bodies, the Chamber of Commerce, etc.;
• obtain the service electronically through the Citizen Portal (Portál občana) or the public administration services portal (Portál veřejné správy).

Obtaining in person

To obtain a certificate of no criminal record in person in the Czech Republic, you must appear at the authorised body (the Ministry of Justice or a Czech POINT contact point), present a photo identity document, and fill out an application containing the main identifying data (first name, surname, birth certificate number or date of birth for foreigners, citizenship, place of birth).

The accuracy of the data provided in the application is verified against the original of a valid identity document containing at least: first name, current surname, maiden name, date and place of birth, birth certificate number, and citizenship. If any of these data are missing from the identity document (passport, residence permit for foreigners, etc.) and if the applicant is not registered in the population register, additional documents must be provided, for example a birth certificate, a certificate of birth and baptism, a marriage certificate, etc. Citizens of the Czech and Slovak Republics provide the original or an officially certified copy. Citizens of other countries provide the original or an officially certified copy that has been officially translated into Czech.

Only an officially signed and stamped certificate issued by the Ministry of Justice is suitable for apostille and use abroad.

Obtaining electronically

To obtain a certificate of no criminal record electronically, you need to log in to the Citizen Portal or the public administration services portal, fill out a special form, and submit it. The response will arrive in your personal account as a PDF file. Such a certificate is most likely not suitable for use abroad.

Ordering by power of attorney

A certificate of no criminal record may also be obtained by power of attorney. When submitting the request, the applicant's representative presents a document proving their identity, a document authorising them to represent the applicant's interests (a power of attorney), and also provides a copy of it and a copy of the represented person's document.

Obtaining a certificate of no criminal record through a consulate

To obtain a certificate of no criminal record through a consulate or the consular department of a Czech embassy abroad, the following documents must be provided:

• an application;
• an identity document;
• a receipt confirming payment of the fee.

When obtaining certificates of no criminal record, personal data must be checked carefully. Any error or typo will render the document invalid.

IMPORTANT: certificates of no criminal record issued by a Czech consulate are not subject to legalisation or apostille. For use abroad, it is generally necessary to obtain a paper certificate with an apostille, followed by a translation into the language of the country where the document will be used.

Time frame for obtaining a certificate of no criminal record in the Czech Republic

The overall processing time ranges from one to three months, depending on the city, the specifics of the request, the need for legalisation, and the delivery address.

Apostille on a certificate of no criminal record from the Czech Republic

The Czech Republic acceded to the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents in 1998, and in 1999 the Convention entered into legal force on the territory of the country.

An apostille is an internationally standardised form for recording information about the legality of a document for presentation in states and countries that recognise this form of legalisation. It usually looks like a special stamp or certificate. However, in recent years the electronic apostille (e-Apostille) has also become widespread — a special digital mark confirming the authenticity of documents issued in virtual form.

The apostille on certificates of no criminal record from the Czech Republic is affixed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. To submit an application for an apostille, you must have with you the complete package of documents, the application, a printed confirmation of the visit, and a receipt confirming payment of the fee.

Please note that in the Czech Republic it is not possible to affix an apostille to a printout of an electronic certificate of no criminal record or to a copy of a paper certificate. Only the original paper certificate of no criminal record issued by the Ministry of Justice is suitable for an apostille.

Consular legalisation of a certificate of no criminal record from the Czech Republic

If the state in which the Czech extract of no criminal record is intended to be used is not a party to the 1961 Hague Convention — for example, the UAE — then, in order to use this document, it will be necessary to go through the more expensive and complex procedure of consular legalisation.

Consular legalisation is a multi-stage procedure for confirming the authenticity of a document, applied to countries that are not parties to the 1961 Hague Convention.

To carry out consular legalisation of a Czech certificate of no criminal record, the following algorithm must be followed:

1. obtain the certificate;
2. legalise the certificate at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
3. have an official translation of the document made;
4. legalise the document at the consulate or consular department of the embassy of the country of destination.

Because of the large number of steps, this procedure is lengthy and quite costly. Some countries do not have consulates in the Czech Republic, and the final stage of legalisation may take place in other countries where a consulate is located.

Official translation of a certificate of no criminal record from the Czech Republic

A Czech certificate of no criminal record is issued in the Czech language or in EU languages. To use it abroad, it will be necessary to have an official translation made in accordance with the legislation of the country of submission — by a sworn, certified, notarial, or court translator in the country where the document is to be used.

A translation of the extract made in the Czech Republic (except in cases where the consular legalisation procedure is applied) will most likely not be accepted abroad.

Document delivery

After obtaining a certificate of no criminal record and having it apostilled or legalised, there is often a need to send the document to another country. In such cases, not only the speed but also the security of delivery is important, especially when it comes to the originals of official documents.

Schmidt & Schmidt arranges international document delivery worldwide. We use reliable logistics solutions and modern tracking systems, which makes it possible to monitor the movement of the shipment at every stage of its journey and to guarantee its timely delivery to the recipient.

Our specialists ensure the careful and confidential handling of documents and help resolve any issues that may arise during international shipping, including carriers' requirements and the particulars of customs clearance.

We can arrange the delivery of a completed certificate of no criminal record, apostilled documents, translations, and other official papers to most countries of the world — both for private clients and for legal firms and organisations.

How can we help?

We will be glad to help you obtain a certificate of no criminal record in the Czech Republic, including its procurement, apostille, and legalisation for use abroad, as well as its translation and delivery to any location in the world.

You can always turn to Schmidt & Schmidt — we have accumulated extensive experience in the procurement and legalisation of a wide variety of documents, and we provide all the necessary services in this field, including the making of notarial copies, translation, the preparation of the required powers of attorney, the legalisation of documents at government bodies and consulates of foreign states, as well as the delivery of completed documents to most countries of the world.

You can read more about the legalisation and apostille procedure on our website.