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 in connection with a criminal case. Alternatively, any previous criminal records have already been expunged.
Police Clearance Certificate may often be 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 and guardianship;
- Providing evidence in court;
- Entering into marriage.
What is a Police Clearance Certificate in Slovakia?
In Slovakia, a Police Clearance Certificate is officially called an “Extract from the Criminal Register” (Výpis z registra trestov). It is also often referred to as a “criminal record extract”. The authority responsible for maintaining the criminal records register and issuing certificates is the General Prosecutor’s Office of the Slovak Republic.
The issuance of Police Clearance Certificates in Slovakia is regulated by Act No. 192/2023 Coll. on the Criminal Register, as well as other legal and regulatory acts.
A Police Clearance Certificate is a paper or electronic document generated on the basis of data from the Criminal Register of Slovakia. The document is issued in Slovak or in a “multilingual” European format. A certificate can be obtained provided that the applicant has been legally residing in Slovakia for at least 180 days. The certificate may concern either an individual or a legal entity.
An Extract from the Criminal Register must include non-expunged convictions handed down by courts of the Slovak Republic, courts of another European Union Member State, as well as courts of other states whose decisions have been recognized by a court of the Slovak Republic. It includes information on the enforcement of imposed sentences, protective measures and corresponding restrictions or obligations if, under a court decision or by law, the offender is not considered to have no criminal record.
In paper form, the Police Clearance Certificate is a document containing the person’s first and last name, date and place of birth, social insurance number, registered address, nationality, sex, and information about their criminal record. In electronic form, the certificate is a digital extract from the register, which can be accessed through the relevant department of the General Prosecutor’s Office.
In paper form, the certificate is a standard request completed by the applicant and bearing a special stamp confirming the presence or absence of a criminal record. In electronic form, the certificate is an XML document intended to be read by a computer. The electronic document is certified with the digital signature of an official and has no legal validity in printed form.
Only a paper Police Clearance Certificate bearing the signature of an official and issued directly by the Criminal Records Department of the General Prosecutor’s Office is suitable for apostille and subsequent use abroad.
How to obtain a Police Clearance Certificate in Slovakia
There are three ways to obtain a Police Clearance Certificate in Slovakia:
- Submit a request in person to the Criminal Records Department of the General Prosecutor’s Office;
- Submit a request by post;
- Obtain the service electronically through the Criminal Records Department.
Police Clearance Certificate in person
To obtain a Police Clearance Certificate in person in Slovakia, you need to visit an authorized body (the Criminal Records Department of the General Prosecutor’s Office or a post office), present an identity document, and complete an application form.
If the applicant is a citizen of the Slovak Republic, their identity is verified using an identity card, passport, diplomatic passport or service passport.
If the applicant is a citizen of a European Union Member State, their identity is verified using a birth certificate with an officially certified translation into the official language, as well as a travel document or identity document of a citizen of a European Union Member State.
If the applicant is a third-country national (a citizen of a country outside the European Union or a stateless person), their identity is verified using a birth certificate with an officially certified translation into the official language and a travel document.
When submitting an application, original documents must always be provided. Copies are not accepted, even if they have been officially certified!
For apostille and use abroad, only an officially signed Police Clearance Certificate bearing the official seal issued by the General Prosecutor’s Office is suitable.
When applying to the General Prosecutor’s Office, the certificate is issued directly to the applicant; when applying at a post office, it is issued either directly to the applicant or sent by registered mail.
Police Clearance Certificate electronically
To obtain a Police Clearance Certificate electronically, you need to contact the Customer Service Centre of the Criminal Records Department of the General Prosecutor’s Office of the Slovak Republic. When submitting the application, personal and contact details must be provided. The certificate in PDF format can be used for processing legal documents electronically.
Police Clearance Certificate by power of attorney
A Police Clearance Certificate can also be obtained by power of attorney. When submitting the request, the applicant’s representative must present a document confirming their identity, a document authorizing them to represent the applicant (power of attorney), as well as a copy of the power of attorney and a copy of the represented person’s identity document.
Police Clearance Certificate through a consulate
To obtain a Police Clearance Certificate through a consulate or the consular section of a Slovak embassy abroad, the following documents must be provided:
- Application;
- Identity document;
- Proof of payment of the fee.
When obtaining a Police Clearance Certificate, it is important to carefully check the personal details. Any error or typo will render the document invalid.
IMPORTANT: Police Clearance Certificates issued by a Slovak consulate are not subject to legalization or apostille. For use abroad, it is generally necessary to obtain the certificate from the relevant authority in paper form with an apostille and then have it translated into the language of the country where the document will be used.
Processing time for a Police Clearance Certificate in Slovakia
The general processing time is from one to three months, depending on the city, the specifics of the request, and the need for legalization and the delivery address.
Apostille for a Slovak Police Clearance Certificate
Slovakia acceded to the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents in 2001, and the Convention entered into force in the country in 2002.
Apostilles on Slovak Police Clearance Certificates are issued by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs (Consular Services Department). To apply for an apostille, you must have the complete set of documents, the application, and the payment receipt.
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 Slovak Police Clearance Certificate
If the country where the Slovak Police Clearance Certificate is to be used is not a party to the 1961 Hague Convention, for example the UAE, a more expensive and complex consular legalization procedure will be required for the document to be accepted.
Consular legalization is a multi-step procedure for certifying the authenticity of a document, used for countries that are not parties to the 1961 Hague Convention.
To have a Polish Police Clearance Certificate legalized through the consular legalization procedure, you need to follow these steps:
- Obtain the Police Clearance Certificate;
- Have the certificate legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
- Have the document officially translated;
- Have the document legalized at the consulate or consular section of the embassy of the destination country.
Due to the number of steps involved, the procedure is lengthy and quite costly. Some countries do not have consulates in Slovakia, in which case the final stage of legalization 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 Slovak Police Clearance Certificate
A Slovak Police Clearance Certificate is issued in Slovak or in the languages of the EU. To use it abroad, an official translation must be prepared in accordance with the legislation of the country where the document will be submitted — by a sworn, certified, notarial or court translator in the country of destination.
A translation of the certificate made in Slovakia (except when the consular legalization procedure is applied) will most likely not be accepted abroad.
Document delivery
After obtaining and apostilling or legalizing a Police Clearance Certificate, it is often necessary to send the document to another country. In such cases, not only speed but also the security of delivery is important, especially when dealing with original official documents.
Schmidt & Schmidt organizes international document delivery worldwide. We use reliable logistics solutions and modern tracking systems, allowing you to monitor the shipment at every stage and ensure its timely delivery to the recipient.
Our specialists ensure careful and confidential handling of documents and help resolve any issues that may arise during international delivery, including carrier requirements and customs clearance procedures.
We can arrange delivery of Police Clearance Certificates, legalized documents, translations and other official documents to most countries worldwide, both for private clients and for law firms and organizations.
How can we help?
We will be happy to assist you in obtaining a Police Clearance Certificate in Slovakia, including its procurement and legalization for use abroad, as well as translation and delivery anywhere in the world.
You can always contact Schmidt & Schmidt. We have extensive experience in the procurement and legalization of various documents and provide all the necessary services in this area, including obtaining notarized copies, translation, preparation of the required powers of attorney, legalization of documents with government authorities and consulates of foreign countries, as well as delivery of completed documents to most countries worldwide.
You can find more information about the legalization procedure on our website.
