Criminal Record Certificate in Kharkiv - Obtain, Translate and Apostille in One Office
Unlike a passport or diploma, you usually do not yet hold the criminal record (non-conviction) certificate - it must first be ordered from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and that is where we start at our Kharkiv office at Sumska St, 47. We then translate it and arrange the apostille - with one key detail: the apostille on this certificate is issued specifically by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and it can only be filed in Kyiv, so we submit your finished certificate there on your behalf, with no trip required.
Timing matters: abroad the certificate is usually valid 3-6 months, and for domestic use in Ukraine about 30 days from the issue date. Translation is roughly from 150 UAH, notarisation from 250 UAH, apostille from 950 UAH plus the state fee; the exact figure for your country is quoted free of charge.
- We order the certificate itself from the police, not just translate a ready one - the full process from scratch
- We meet the validity window: 3-6 months abroad, ~30 days in Ukraine from issue
- The apostille on the certificate is issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Kyiv - we submit it there for you, no trip needed
- Etalon flagship office since 2008 - Sumska St, 47, central Kharkiv, near the metro
Our headquarters in Kharkiv is at Sumska St, 47 (office 11), in the Shevchenkivskyi district near the Arkhitektora Beketova and Universytet metro stations, so you can drop in straight from the city centre.
How to obtain the certificate, how long it is valid and where the apostille is issued
First, the essentials: the criminal record certificate is issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs through the unified state register - the application is filed online or via an MIA service centre or a CNAP (administrative services centre). It takes from a few days up to 30 days, and under a power of attorney we handle it without you queuing.
Next, validity. For use abroad the certificate is usually valid 3-6 months from the issue date (the exact term is set by the embassy, migration authority or employer); for domestic use in Ukraine it is about 30 days. That is why the translation and apostille should be done immediately, so the document does not expire while you assemble the rest of your file.
An important geographic point for Kharkiv: diplomas are apostilled by the Ministry of Education, and a range of certificates by the MFA - both still work only out of Kyiv; civil-registry and notarial documents are apostilled by the Ministry of Justice, which since 1 February 2026 also does this through any registry office or Diia. For a criminal record certificate the apostille is issued by the MIA (which has apostilled its own documents since 2023), and it can only be filed in Kyiv. None of these bodies are in Kharkiv, so we receive and check your documents at Sumska St, 47, then submit them to the right agency on your behalf and return them with the apostille already in place.
Where a criminal record certificate with apostille and translation is needed
Most often the certificate with apostille and translation is required for immigration and residence permits (temporary or permanent), employment abroad, study, marriage to a foreign national, adoption and citizenship applications.
Requirements vary by country: for some an MIA apostille is enough, for others a sworn or notarised translation is needed, and sometimes a translation that itself carries an apostille. For countries outside the Hague Convention, consular legalisation is done instead of an apostille. We confirm the exact format for your destination before we start, so nothing has to be redone and the certificate does not run out of validity.
How we work
- 1Order the certificate from the policeLeave your details online or visit Sumska St, 47 - we request the criminal record certificate from the MIA for you, under a notarised power of attorney where needed.
- 2TranslateWe translate the finished certificate into the destination language and, where required, certify it by a notary or a sworn translator.
- 3Submit for apostille in KyivNo travel needed: we submit the certificate or its translation for apostille to the relevant ministry in Kyiv (for the non-conviction certificate this is the MIA).
- 4Hand over the resultCollect the finished file at Sumska St, 47, by courier in Kharkiv or via Nova Poshta across Ukraine and abroad.
Prices
- Translation of the criminal record certificate per documentfrom 150 UAH
- Notarisation of the translation per documentfrom 250 UAH
- Apostille on the certificate (via MIA in Kyiv) + state feefrom 950 UAH
- Express apostille in 1-3 days where allowedon request
Prices are indicative ("from"), excluding the state fee and the cost of the certificate itself; the final amount is quoted free of charge after we review the documents and confirm the destination country.
FAQ
How long is a criminal record certificate valid?
Abroad the certificate is usually valid 3-6 months from the issue date, while for domestic use in Ukraine it is about 30 days. The exact term is set by the body that accepts it, so the translation and apostille should be ordered right after issue, while the document is fresh.
Where is the apostille issued if I am in Kharkiv?
It depends on the document: diplomas are apostilled by the Ministry of Education, and a range of certificates by the MFA - both still work only out of Kyiv; civil-registry and notarial documents also go through the Ministry of Justice, which since 1 February 2026 accepts them at any registry office or via Diia too. For a criminal record certificate the apostille is issued by the MIA, and it can only be filed in Kyiv. None of these bodies are in Kharkiv, so we accept your documents at Sumska St, 47, submit them to the right agency for you and return them with the apostille already done.
How do I get a criminal record certificate with apostille in Kharkiv?
First we order the certificate itself from the police, then translate it where needed, and then submit it for apostille to the relevant ministry in Kyiv. Etalon handles every step for you - from requesting the certificate to a ready apostilled translation - with no queuing and no trip to Kyiv.
How much does translation and apostille of the certificate cost in Kharkiv?
Translation of the certificate is roughly from 150 UAH, notarisation from 250 UAH, and the apostille from 950 UAH plus the state fee. The exact amount for your destination country is quoted free of charge after we review the documents.
Can the certificate be arranged without me being present?
Yes. Under a notarised power of attorney we order the certificate, translate it and arrange the apostille for you - no queuing at the police or travelling to Kyiv. You send the details online and we return the finished file by courier in Kharkiv or via Nova Poshta across Ukraine.
Where is your office in Kharkiv and do you serve other cities?
Our headquarters is at Sumska St, 47, office 11, in central Kharkiv; it has been the bureau's main office since 2008 with full walk-in service. We also work online and ship finished documents via Nova Poshta across Ukraine and abroad.
Updated: 2026-06-16
