A criminal record certificate is an official document issued by the internal affairs authorities confirming that, at the time of its 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 the following situations:
- 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 Tajikistan?
The full official name of the criminal record certificate currently used in Tajikistan is "Certificate of the Presence (Absence) of a Criminal Record".
The issuance of criminal record certificates in Tajikistan is governed by the Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan "On the Instruction for Providing Information on the Presence of a Criminal Record or Criminal Prosecution", as well as other regulatory legal acts.
A criminal record certificate is a paper document issued on the basis of information held in the databases of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The certificate is issued in Tajik.
Currently, criminal record certificates in Tajikistan are issued only as paper documents on a special form. They can be obtained from the internal affairs authorities or requested through a Tajik consulate abroad.
How to obtain a Criminal Record Certificate in Tajikistan
Criminal record certificates in Tajikistan can be requested in the following ways:
- In paper form from the internal affairs authorities at the place of residence;
- In paper form through the Information Centre of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
A paper certificate must be collected in person or by an authorised representative acting under a power of attorney.
Applying for a paper certificate
To obtain a paper certificate, you must contact the relevant department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs at your place of residence or the Ministry's Information Centre. Since 2025, certificates have also been available directly from the Department of Internal Affairs in Dushanbe (previously, applicants in the capital had to apply exclusively through the Information Centre).
Since 1 January 2025, Tajik citizens can obtain criminal record certificates only if they have undergone fingerprint registration (a procedure that has been in place since 1999). Certificates are issued without fingerprint registration only to minors and persons under guardianship. Therefore, Tajik citizens planning to travel abroad are advised to undergo fingerprint registration in advance.
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 application, the applicant's representative must present proof of their identity, a document authorising them to represent the applicant (a power of attorney), and a copy of the applicant's identity document. In addition, they must provide a certificate confirming that the person for whom the criminal record certificate is being issued has undergone fingerprint registration.
To apply for a criminal record certificate, you must:
- Contact the relevant internal affairs department at your place of residence or the Information Centre of the Ministry of Internal Affairs;
- Pay the applicable fee;
- Submit proof of identity (together with a copy), the payment receipt and the fingerprint registration certificate;
- Collect the certificate.
Obtaining a Criminal Record Certificate through a consulate
To obtain a criminal record certificate through a Tajik consulate or the consular section of a Tajik embassy abroad (as part of the document retrieval procedure), you must submit the following documents:
- Application form (to be completed on site);
- Proof of identity;
- Fingerprint registration certificate.
When receiving criminal record certificates and extracts, it is important to check all personal details carefully. Any error or typo will render the document invalid.
Apostille on a Criminal Record Certificate in Tajikistan
Since 2015, Tajikistan 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 an internationally standardised form used to certify the authenticity of a document for presentation in states and countries that recognise this form of legalisation. It usually takes the form of a special stamp or certificate. In recent years, however, electronic apostilles (e-Apostilles) have also become more widespread. An e-Apostille is a special digital certification confirming the authenticity of documents issued in electronic form.
In Tajikistan, criminal record certificates are apostillised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The apostille takes the form of a special seal.
An apostille cannot be affixed to a criminal record certificate issued by a consular office, since the apostillisation procedure does not apply to the legalisation of consular documents. As a result, official authorities in many countries refuse to accept such certificates. Before obtaining this type of document, you should check with the relevant organisation whether it is willing to 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 legalisation of a Tajik Criminal Record Certificate in Tajikistan
If the country in which you intend to use a Tajik criminal record certificate is not a party to the 1961 Hague Convention, such as the UAE, the document must undergo the more complex and expensive procedure of consular legalisation.
Consular legalisation is a multi-stage procedure for confirming the authenticity of a document, used for countries that are not parties to the 1961 Hague Convention.
To have a Tajik criminal record certificate legalised through the consular procedure, you must follow these steps:
- Obtain the certificate;
- Have the document legalised by the Main Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan;
- 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 stages involved, this procedure is lengthy and relatively expensive. Some countries do not have consulates in Tajikistan, so the final stage of legalisation may have 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 Tajik Criminal Record Certificate
A Tajik criminal record certificate may be issued in either Tajik or Russian.
The translation must correspond fully to the original, including the accurate reproduction of all personal details (full name, date of birth and other information). Particular attention should be paid to the correct transliteration of first and last names, as any discrepancies with the 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
After obtaining a criminal record certificate and having it apostillised or legalised, it is often necessary to send the document to another country. In such cases, not only the speed but also the security of delivery is 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 carefully and confidentially 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, apostilled documents, translations and other official papers to most countries worldwide, both for private clients and for law firms and other organisations.
How can we help?
We would be pleased to assist you in obtaining a criminal record certificate in Tajikistan, including requesting the document on your behalf, apostillising 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 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 find out more about the legalisation and apostillisation procedures on our website.
