A criminal record certificate is an official document issued by the internal affairs authorities confirming that a person has no criminal record and is not wanted in connection with criminal proceedings, or that any previous criminal convictions have been expunged. It is one of the most frequently requested documents for international mobility.
A criminal record certificate may be required in a number of situations, including:
- Applying for a visa
- Applying for a temporary residence permit
- Applying for a residence permit
- Applying for citizenship
- Employment
- Admission to an educational institution
- Background checks for adoption or guardianship
- Submitting evidence in court proceedings
- Getting married
What is a Criminal Record Certificate in Kyrgyzstan?
The full official title of the criminal record certificate currently issued in Kyrgyzstan is “Certificate of Criminal Prosecution and the Presence or Absence of a Criminal Record in the Kyrgyz Republic”.
The document is commonly referred to simply as a “criminal record certificate”.
The issuance of criminal record certificates in Kyrgyzstan is governed by Cabinet of Ministers Directive No. 260-р of 9 April 2025, Ministry of Internal Affairs Order No. 1 of 7 November 2025, and other regulatory legal acts.
A criminal record certificate is a paper or electronic document generated on the basis of information held in the databases of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The certificate is issued in Kyrgyz.
Depending on the purpose of the application and the applicant’s status, two main types of certificate may be issued:
- Electronic
- Paper.
As of 14 April 2025 in Bishkek and Osh, and 1 May 2025 in all regions of the Kyrgyz Republic, the issuance of paper certificates through the Tunduk portal or mobile application was discontinued. Exceptions apply to citizens aged 50 and over, socially vulnerable groups, and people intending to submit the certificate abroad.
Depending on the information recorded, a certificate may indicate the following circumstances:
- where there is information that a person has been subject to criminal prosecution, but the final procedural decision in the criminal case has not yet been received
- where a court has found a person guilty of a criminal offence and imposed a sentence, and the period required for the criminal record to be expunged under the Criminal Code of the Kyrgyz Republic has not yet elapsed. In this case, the person has a criminal record in the Kyrgyz Republic
- where a court has found a person guilty of a criminal offence and imposed a sentence, but the period required for the criminal record to be expunged under the Criminal Code of the Kyrgyz Republic has elapsed, or where a court has issued an acquittal, among other circumstances
Kyrgyz consular offices abroad also issue their own form of criminal record certificate.
Processing time for a Criminal Record Certificate in Kyrgyzstan
The standard processing time is one to two months, depending on the city, the specifics of the request, whether legalisation is required, and the delivery address.
How to verify the authenticity of a Criminal Record Certificate
The authenticity of a criminal record certificate issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kyrgyzstan can be verified using the special verification service on the Ministry’s website.
Apostille for a Criminal Record Certificate from Kyrgyzstan
Since 2011, Kyrgyzstan has been a party to the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (the “Apostille Convention”).
An apostille is a standardised international certificate confirming the authenticity of a public document for use in countries that recognise this form of authentication. It usually takes the form of a special stamp or certificate.
In recent years, electronic apostilles (e-Apostilles) have also become more widely used. An e-Apostille is a digital certification confirming the authenticity of documents issued in electronic form.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kyrgyzstan is authorised to apostille documents. This public service is provided by the Main Department of Information Technology of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic.
A criminal record certificate issued by a consular office cannot be apostilled, as the apostille procedure does not apply to consular documents. As a result, official authorities in many countries refuse to accept such certificates. Before obtaining one, check with the specific organisation whether it will accept the document.
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 legalisation of a Criminal Record Certificate from Kyrgyzstan
If the country in which the criminal record certificate from Kyrgyzstan is to be used is not a party to the 1961 Hague Convention, such as the United Arab Emirates, the document must undergo the more complex and costly procedure of consular legalisation before it can be used there.
Consular legalisation is a multi-stage procedure for verifying the authenticity of a document, used for countries that are not parties to the 1961 Hague Convention.
To have a criminal record certificate from Kyrgyzstan consularly legalised, follow these steps:
- Obtain the certificate;
- Have a notarised copy of the certificate made;
- Have the notary’s signature certified by the competent justice authority;
- Have the document legalised by the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan;
- Have the document translated and the translation notarised;
- 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 can be lengthy and expensive. Some countries do not have consulates in Kyrgyzstan, so 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 Kyrgyz Criminal Record Certificate
A criminal record certificate issued by the Kyrgyz Republic may be in Kyrgyz or Russian.
The translation must correspond fully to the original, including the accurate rendering of personal details such as full name, date of birth and other information. Errors or discrepancies may result in the document being rejected.
Document delivery
After obtaining a criminal record certificate and having it apostilled or legalised, it is often necessary to send the document to another country. In such cases, both speed and secure 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 transit and helping ensure timely delivery to the recipient.
Our specialists handle documents carefully and confidentially and help resolve potential issues arising during international shipping, including carrier requirements and customs clearance procedures.
We can arrange delivery of completed criminal record certificates, apostilled documents, translations and other official papers to most countries worldwide, for both private clients and law firms and organisations.
How can we help?
We will be happy to assist you in obtaining a criminal record certificate in Kyrgyzstan, including requesting the document on your behalf, arranging apostille certification or legalisation for use abroad, and organising 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 obtaining notarised copies, translation, preparing the necessary powers of attorney, legalising documents with government authorities and foreign consulates, and delivering completed documents to most countries worldwide.
You can read more about the legalisation and apostille procedures on our website.
