Today we'll tell you all about the criminal record certificate in Poland. If you have been living in the Republic of Poland for more than two months, it is likely that you have already encountered the need to provide documentary proof of your "legal cleanliness". In this article you will learn who and when you need to obtain a criminal record certificate, and most importantly you will learn step-by-step instructions on how to obtain this document. Make yourself comfortable, and here we go!
What is a criminal record certificate?
A criminal record certificate (zaświadczenie o niekaralności) is an official document that confirms that you are clean before the law in Poland and have not been previously convicted. The National Criminal Registry (Krajowy Rejestr Karny) is responsible for issuing this document. If you have a history of any offence in Poland, you are included in the database of this register (including individuals and organizations).
A criminal record certificate is issued in the form of an ordinary A4 sheet with your personal data and a large number of stamps.
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This is how the criminal record certificate looks like if you obtained it in person at the court. If you obtain the certificate online, it is issued in a different form, we will tell you about it below.
When is it necessary to obtain a criminal record certificate?
You may need a criminal record certificate in Poland in different cases, namely:
Working with children. If you plan to work with children, be it as a nanny, kindergarten teacher or teacher, a criminal record certificate is a must. It is a safety measure for children.
Getting a loan from a bank. Many banks may require a criminal record certificate when considering your loan application.
Certain professions. Certain professions, such as accountant, broker or securities market participant, require a criminal record certificate.
Licences and permits. Certain licences such as a taxi licence or a gun licence require a criminal record certificate.
Starting your own business. If you plan to open your own company in Poland, you will also need a criminal record certificate.
Three relevant ways of obtaining a criminal record certificate in Poland
When you receive a certificate offline, it is issued as an A4 sheet, but when you receive a certificate online, you receive a digital certificate, which has a completely different appearance. You should take this into account and realize that simply printing out a digital certificate will not be valid, and not all places can accept it electronically.
→ Method No. 1 - Going to the local courthouse. It is necessary to go to the court of your district, and you do not need to register online in advance. You can see the addresses of all courts in KRK at this link. Upon arrival, you must immediately pay the fee in the form of a special stamp (the cost is 30 PLN). Then you need to take a special form, which will be placed near the office. In the form you need to fill in the following information:
At the bottom you should put your signature and at the top you should glue the stamp for which you paid 30 PLN. Then, together with the form and your passport, you go to the necessary office. 10-15 minutes of waiting and you will receive a certificate of criminal record.
→ Method No. 2 - obtaining a criminal record certificate online. It is necessary to register on the state portal, enter all the necessary information in the form on the website, sign the application via the ePuap Trusted Profile and send the application. Online pay for the certificate (the cost is 20 PLN). The certificate will be sent to the e-mail address you specified when registering on the website within a day.
→ Method No. 3 - obtaining a certificate by post. This method is almost similar to the first one, but instead of submitting the form personally, in this case it is necessary to send it by post. You can download the form for individuals here, and the form for legal entities can be downloaded by clicking on this link. Also with the form you need to put a cheque for payment of the ship's dues and a stamp. After verification, the certificate will be sent to you by post to your residential address, which you have indicated.
Who may obtain a criminal record certificate in Poland in 2023?
A criminal record certificate in Poland is available not only to Polish citizens, but also to all citizens of other countries. Moreover, if you are not able to apply for the certificate in person, you can entrust a trusted person with this task. To do this, you need to apply for a power of attorney to obtain a criminal record certificate. The fee for the power of attorney is usually PLN 17.
Summarizing the results
Now you know how and where you can get a criminal record certificate in Poland. To summarize the main points of this article:
This certificate can be obtained by Polish citizens, foreigners, individuals and legal entities
There are three relevant methods, including personal presence, online and by post.
Obtaining a criminal record certificate will cost you PLN 30
If you have difficulties or need professional assistance in the process of obtaining a criminal record certificate in Poland, the experienced aksis agents are here to help you. We offer fast obtaining of a criminal record certificate without your presence.
