How to get a criminal record certificate in Poland in 2024?
Optima Parther
Jun 21, 2024
Foreigners who have just recently moved to Poland are often confronted with new terms and documents that need to be obtained. This is especially relevant for those foreigners who are in search of a job or who are already planning to start working for one of the Polish companies.
Today we are going to talk in detail about such a document that almost every person living in Poland has to obtain. We are talking about the certificate of criminal record or as it sounds in Polish – «zaświadczenie o niekaralności». Below you will learn about when you need such a certificate and how you can obtain it.
Where may a criminal record certificate be needed?
Let's start with the fact that in Poland there is a National Criminal Registry (Krajowy Rejestr Karny), which contains a database of offenses and criminals. Moreover, it contains information about not only individuals' offenses but also legal entities. You may need an extract from the criminal register in various cases, including:
- Employment as a taxi driver on the Uber, Bolt and FreeNow apps.
- Employment at businesses that interact with children. This can include schools, daycare centers, children's camps, and other similar places.
- Participation in auctions and bidding.
- Employment as an accountant at the firm.
- Formalization of their own firm.
This is just a small list of places and occasions when you may need a criminal record certificate. For example, it may also be requested when you are applying for a loan or a visa to another country.
Criminal record certificate from your home country
What should you do if you need a criminal record certificate from your home country and you are in Poland? Such cases usually arise when an employer has asked for a certificate from Poland and from your home country. It depends on which country you are a citizen of. For example, Ukrainians can obtain a free criminal record certificate from the DIIA application or apply to the nearest consulate.
Certificate of criminal record from Poland
Actually, the process of obtaining a criminal record certificate from Poland is as simple as possible. All you need to do is gather the necessary documents, go to Krajowy Rejestr Karny, pay the stamp duty (30 PLN), fill in the form and get the necessary document. Find the full list of courts at this link. The form to be filled out can be downloaded in advance on the official portal. What documents are required?
- Passport.
- A receipt for payment of stamp duty.
- If you have any benefits, you need to provide evidence for them.
Keep in mind that you can request such a certificate online from the comfort of your own home. This will be much faster, but the only difference is that the certificate will not have a wet stamp, as it will be in electronic form.
Where can you get help?
If you face any problems while trying to obtain a criminal record certificate in Poland, you can always turn to Optima Partner for help. Our legalization department is always ready to help you with obtaining a criminal record certificate. We will advise you on what documents you need and where the court you need is located. We would like to remind you that a criminal record certificate is required to join Optima Partner as a taxi driver.
