Police certificate translation for NVC and visas
Certified, notarized English translation of “no criminal record” certificates from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and other former Soviet countries — paper or electronic, with apostille if there is one.
Which countries you need a police certificate from
For an immigrant or fiancé(e) visa, every applicant aged 16 or older needs a police certificate from each country that meets one of these rules.
| If you… | You need a certificate from |
|---|---|
| are a citizen of a country and lived there 6 months or more | your country of nationality |
| live in a country now and have been there 6 months or more | your country of current residence |
| lived in any country for 12 months or more after age 16 | that country |
| were ever arrested, at any age, for any length of stay | the city or country of the arrest |
“Police certificates expire after two years, unless the certificate was issued from your country of previous residence and you have not returned there since the police certificate was issued.”
U.S. Department of State — Collect Civil Documents
So a Ukrainian citizen who has lived in Poland for two years usually needs certificates from both Ukraine and Poland. Not sure which ones apply to you? Check the instructions for your consulate, or send us what you have.
What the certificate is called and where to get it
Every country names it differently. Here is what to ask for — with one detail per country that saves applicants a second trip.
Russia
Справка о наличии (отсутствии) судимости
Issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) — on paper through MVD offices and MFC centers, or electronically through Gosuslugi. From abroad you can apply through a Russian consulate or by power of attorney.
Tip: the certificate should list every last name you have used in Russia.
Ukraine
Витяг з інформаційно-аналітичної системи
Issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs on A4 paper with a QR code — online at vytiah.mvs.gov.ua or at an administrative services center (TSNAP).
Tip: order the full version, which includes all current and previous names.
Belarus
Выписка о правонарушениях · Все сведения о судимости
Issued by the Ministry of Interior, in Russian or Belarusian — in person at regional information centers, through a Belarusian embassy, or online via the Unified Portal of Electronic Services.
Kazakhstan
Справка о наличии либо отсутствии судимости
Issued by Public Service Centers or the Prosecutor General's office — online at egov.kz with an electronic signature, through a representative with power of attorney, or via a Kazakh embassy.
Tip: it is bilingual — Kazakh and Russian. We translate both texts.
We also translate police certificates from Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Moldova, and certificates issued by Russian consulates abroad.
What your translation will look like
We have translated more than 600 police certificates since 2007. Here are three recent ones — names and numbers replaced with sample data.
The official title, word for word
“Official statement regarding the presence or absence of criminal records” — not a loose “police clearance”, so the officer sees exactly what was issued.
Every name, as in your passport
Current and previous last names are transliterated the way they appear in your passport and visa application.
Electronic signatures and QR codes
The e-signature block, certificate serial number and QR code are marked and translated, so a printout from Gosuslugi, Diia or egov.kz reads as a complete document.
Apostille included
If an apostille is attached, it is translated as part of the same certified translation.
Who asks for a translated police certificate
Immigrant visas through NVC
Family-based and employment-based immigrant visas, the diversity visa and the K-1 fiancé(e) visa. You upload the certificate and its translation to the NVC and bring both to the interview.
Adoption
Home studies and foreign adoption agencies ask for police certificates from every country where the adoptive parents have lived.
Jobs and professional licenses
Teachers, nurses, caregivers and other licensed professionals are often asked for a background check from their home country.
Other countries' immigration
Canada, European countries and others ask for police certificates too, usually with a translation into English. We prepare those as well.
How much does it cost?
Police certificates are priced from $35 per certificate. An apostille or a second page is added to the quote — send us a photo or scan and we'll confirm the exact amount before you pay.
Translations are usually ready in 1–2 days, weekends included. Applying with your spouse or children? Send all certificates together — and see birth and marriage certificate translation for the rest of your NVC documents.
Russian, Ukrainian, Belarusian, Kazakh and other police certificates → English.
- Paper or electronic certificates
- Certified and notarized
- PDF by email in 1–2 days
- Hard copy by mail: Regular USPS +$13, Priority +$18, Priority Express +$39
Send us the English spelling of every name
With your documents, please send the last name, first name and patronymic of every person in them — exactly as spelled in your U.S. documents or foreign passport (Green Card, Social Security card, visa). This keeps your translation consistent with everything else you file. If a name has no English spelling yet, we'll transliterate it by standard rules.
The patronymic stays in
Many clients don't use a patronymic in the U.S. and ask us to leave it out. We can't: a certified translation must be complete and match the original, so if the document shows a patronymic (Sergeyevich, Ivanovna), the translation shows it too. This does not cause problems — officers expect it on documents from Russia, Ukraine and other former Soviet countries.
Qualified linguists, not a translation app
Since 2007 we have translated more than 12,000 Russian and Ukrainian documents — over 30,000 pages — and not one of our translations has ever been rejected by USCIS.
Never rejected by USCIS
Every translation comes with a signed certificate of accuracy that meets USCIS translation requirements.
Court-certified interpreters
Our team includes California court-certified interpreters and Washington State certified translators.
Degreed linguists
Every translator holds a university degree in linguistics or foreign-language teaching.
Notarized at no extra cost
Accepted by USCIS, NVC, WES, ECE, U.S. courts, SSA, DMV, schools and employers.
Do I need an ATA-certified translator? No. USCIS, the NVC, WES, ECE and U.S. courts do not require ATA certification for document translations. They require a complete, accurate English translation with a signed statement that the translator is competent to translate — which is exactly what we provide.
When you need a signed paper copy
A PDF is enough for online filings — USCIS online applications and NVC uploads. Order a signed, notarized paper copy if you will need your translation in one of these situations.
Immigrant visa interview at a U.S. consulate
You upload scans to the NVC, but at the interview you must show the documents themselves. Bring the paper translation together with your original certificate.
“Every visa applicant … must bring … the original or certified copy version of all civil documents submitted to NVC.”
Source — U.S. Department of State, Interview Preparation: travel.state.gov
USCIS interview (Green Card, citizenship)
Photocopies are fine when you file, but the officer may ask to see the originals. Bring the signed paper translation to your interview.
“USCIS may, at any time, request submission of an original document for review.”
Source — 8 CFR 103.2(b)(5): www.ecfr.gov
Courts
Requirements vary by court. Many courts ask for a signed original translation, sometimes with a notarized translator's affidavit. Check with the clerk before you file — we can prepare either.
DMV and REAL ID
Your documents are checked in the original, so bring a paper translation too. Rules differ from state to state.
Paper copy by mail: Regular USPS +$13 · Priority (2–3 days, tracking) +$18 · Priority Express (1–2 days, tracking) +$39. Choose it when you order online.
Police certificate translation questions
Does the NVC accept a translation of an electronic certificate?
The NVC asks for a copy of the police certificate and a certified English translation. An electronic certificate printed from Gosuslugi, Diia or egov.kz is translated like any other — including the electronic-signature block and the QR code note. Check the instructions for your consulate in case it has extra requirements.
How long is a police certificate valid?
For U.S. immigrant visas, police certificates expire after two years — unless it comes from a country where you used to live and you have not been back since. Some consulates and other countries ask for a more recent one, so check before you order.
My certificate is in my maiden name. Is that a problem?
The certificate should cover every name you have used. Russian MVD certificates list previous names in the same field; for Ukraine, order the full version. We translate all names exactly as they appear.
Do I need an apostille on my police certificate?
It depends on who is asking — check the instructions of the consulate or agency. If your certificate already has an apostille, we translate it as part of the document.
I live in the U.S. How do I get a certificate from Russia or Ukraine?
Usually through the country's online services (Gosuslugi, vytiah.mvs.gov.ua, egov.kz), through a consulate, or by power of attorney to someone at home. We can also help you get documents from Russia.
How fast can I get it?
Usually in 1–2 days as a PDF by email, weekends included. Paper copies with wet signatures and stamps go out by USPS.
What our customers say
“Thank you for quick and accurate translation of my birth certificate. The manager asked all the right questions and helped me get the documents quickly, and the price was less than the other competitors. I highly recommend this service.”
“The translation of my power of attorney was done very well and fast. Their prices are very affordable. Do not be afraid to contact them. 100% positive company.”