Certificate of No Criminal Record

A certificate of no criminal record is required by everyone without exception (except children under 14) who submits documents for PRP (Permanent Residence Permit).

⚠️It is not required for an TRP (Temporary Residence Permit).

In Latvia (if you have internet banking or an e-signature), it can be ordered at e.ic.iem.gov.lv or via latvija.lv. You can also type “справка о несудимости в Латвии” into a search engine, and the first result will lead you to the correct site.

In other countries, check locally (at citizenship and migration departments). You can also visit our Telegram chat, which has branches for different countries, and ask the participants for clarification.

Please note! ☝️The certificate must not be in electronic form!
If you are from Latvia, the certificate must be received in printed/paper form by registered mail at your place of residence. The Latvian certificate must bear the seal of the institution in the form of an embossing.

It can be ordered in Russian, but the seal will still be in Latvian. There is no point in doing this, as this document will have to be taken to a translator in Belarus anyway. The cost of translating just one seal will be charged as the translation of 1 page. Therefore, order it in Latvian.

After receiving the certificate by mail, you need to get an apostille on it from a Latvian notary (approximately €30-40).

What is an apostille?

An apostille is a special stamp or mark that confirms the authenticity of the signature, seal, and position of the person who issued the official document so that it can be used in other countries.

An apostille is usually issued in English; there is no need to be alarmed by this. Consequently, the translation of your document will be carried out from two languages — the foreign language (the certificate itself) and English (the apostille).

If you are from Latvia, you can choose a notary using the map: https://www.latvijasnotars.lv/notaries_map

An apostille can only be issued in the country where the document was issued!

However, there are countries where the apostille is not issued by a notary but by other authorities. For example, in Slovakia, the apostille on a birth certificate is placed not by notaries but by district offices. Find out everything locally.

As of 2026, more than 40 countries have implemented or partially use the e-apostille system.

An electronic apostille (e-apostille) is a modern form of document legalization under the Hague Convention of October 5, 1961, which waives the requirement for diplomatic or consular legalization of foreign official documents. Instead of a physical stamp on paper, an electronic record is issued, often accompanied by a QR code or a link to an official register where the authenticity of the document can be verified.

☝️But there is one nuance.

Previously, Belarusian notaries and translators would simply follow the link, verify the authenticity, and certify the translation. Now requirements have changed, and many translators refuse to accept documents with a “link-based” apostille, requesting that:

the entire package—the original document + apostille + decryption — be printed and bound by a notary in the country of issuance as a single paper document.

In practice, this has turned out to be a major problem. For instance, Latvian notaries often refuse to make such a printout, claiming that “the apostille is electronic—and that is enough.” Yes, it is enough for EU countries. But not for third countries. The 1961 Hague Convention clearly allows (and even recommends) receiving countries to require an official paper copy if the document is intended for a third country—in our case, this is Belarus(or the RF). That is, Latvia (or another country) is obliged to ensure the possibility of legalizing the document in a form acceptable to the country of destination.

In Belarus, all of this will need to be translated along with the original document (i.e., there will be 2 translations: one for the original document, the second for the apostille), the translation must be bound with the document and its apostille, and then submitted to a notary for certification (usually they are located at translation bureaus).

There are cases when a person does not have the opportunity to order a certificate online or has already left for Belarus. In this case, contact the Consulate on the territory of Belarus (if one exists). However, you must take into account that the cost of the service will be several times higher than if you did everything in your own country.

Who needs two certificates of no criminal record

If you have currently been living for more than 1 year in a country other than that of your citizenship, you need to order 2 certificates of no criminal record.

For example, if you are a citizen of Latvia but have lived in Germany for more than a year, you will need a certificate from Latvia and a certificate from Germany, as a person can (theoretically) have a criminal record in both places. You must get an apostille in each country.

If you have the status of a non-citizen of Latvia (or an Estonian grey passport) but hold Russian citizenship, do not forget that a certificate of no criminal record from Russia is also required (even if you have never lived in Russia). You can contact the Russian consulate in your country or in Belarus.

Note the nuance: when ordering at the Consulate General of the RF in Riga, you will have to apply to the Consulate of the Republic of Belarus in Daugavpils for legalization.

In Estonia, the Embassy of the Republic of Belarus in Tallinn handles the legalization of the certificate.

Alternatively, you can order a certificate from the RF within Belarus itself. In this case, an apostille will not be required. But take into account the waiting time for the certificate and the duration of your stay. As stated on the website, the certificate is issued based on a response from the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia (response time—up to 30 days).

Embassy of the Russian Federation in Minsk Certificates;
Consulate General of Russia in Brest Certificates;
Consulate General of Russia in Grodno Certificates.

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What if I had a criminal record?

Criminal records have an expiration period (expungement). Old records are cleared. If your record has already been expunged, it will not be indicated in the certificate. If something is written there, it means it has not been expunged yet. In most such cases, PRP is denied, but there is a chance to get an TRP.

Why is there a chance? Because first and foremost, the inspector will look at how the punishment in your country relates to Belarusian laws—i.e., what the article was and what the charges were. If it was something serious (robbery, rape, murder), then an TRP will also be 100% denied, and you will be asked to leave the country in the interest of national security. There have been such cases in our practice. You must at least wait until the criminal record is fully expunged. But it is difficult to say how much you can count on receiving specifically an PRP in the future. A serious criminal record even in the past can influence the decision of the OGiM. In this case, it is more likely that you can request an TRP and later, in the standard manner, apply for an PRP. Furthermore, if you live in Belarus for 5 years, they may no longer request a certificate of no criminal record from your country of citizenship.

If the criminal record is not expunged for milder offenses, the PRP will be denied, but you can safely get an TRP. As soon as the record is fully expunged (for example, in a year), you can re-apply for an PRP, and everything should be approved.

If, for example, the criminal record was for going to the Monument to the Liberators in Riga on May 9 with flowers or portraits of grandfathers who fought for peace, or singing “Katyusha,” or if you were persecuted for political views, then according to Belarusian laws, we have no such article. In this case, with a 99% probability, you will receive an PRP or, if you apply for additional protection or asylum as a political refugee, you will receive approval.

Or, for example, a female citizen is moving home “by roots” but was punished by police in a Muslim country for an uncovered head. Logically, her application will be approved.
That is, a decision is always made after an additional assessment.
The certificate of no criminal record is valid for 6 months.