UK ACRO police certificate for Russia

How British citizens get an ACRO police certificate accepted in Russia: ordering it, the FCDO apostille, the notarized Russian translation and the three-month rule.

Author: Nikita Sokolov · Written by Braiden consulting specialists

British citizens applying for a Russian temporary residence permit (RVP), permanent residence (VNZh) or other status are usually asked for a criminal record certificate from the United Kingdom. The document that covers the whole UK and is made for use abroad is the ACRO police certificate, issued by the ACRO Criminal Records Office.

A DBS check (basic disclosure) is designed for employers in England and Wales and is not the usual choice for immigration abroad. For Russia, the ACRO police certificate is what migration offices expect.

Step 1. Apply to ACRO

You apply online on the ACRO website. You will need:

• your passport details;
• your addresses in the UK and abroad for the period ACRO asks about;
• a payment card for the fee.

ACRO offers a standard and a faster premium service. The certificate is sent by post. Check the current fees and processing times on the ACRO website before you apply.

The certificate either states that there is no live trace of you on the Police National Computer or lists the records found. The translation keeps that wording exactly.

Step 2. Apostille from the FCDO

The UK and Russia are both parties to the Hague Apostille Convention, so the certificate needs an apostille, not consular legalization. In the UK apostilles are issued by the Legalisation Office of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). You can apply online and send the document by post; private agents can do it for you.

Make sure the apostille is attached to the original certificate you received from ACRO, not to a photocopy.

Step 3. Notarized translation into Russian

In Russia the certificate and its apostille are filed with a notarized translation. We translate:

• the full text of the certificate — headers, reference number, your personal details and the result;
• the details of your passport, if the certificate lists them;
• the apostille, every numbered item;
• stamps, seals and signatures.

The name in the translation follows your passport translation letter for letter. We keep it in your client record, so the passport, the certificate and every other document you order from us use the same spelling.

Timing

Russian migration offices usually accept a certificate issued no more than three months before filing. ACRO processing, postage, the FCDO apostille and delivery to Russia together can take a month or more, so start early — but not so early that the certificate is too old by the time you file.

If records were found

If the certificate lists convictions or other records, it is still translated in full — the translation does not change or omit anything. Whether the records affect your application is a legal question; Braiden consulting can advise on it separately.

What we need

• the original certificate with its apostille — bring it to our office in Moscow (ul. Gvozdeva 7/4, bldg 1) or send it by courier;
• in advance, a scan or a clear photo of every page, including the apostille — so we can quote the exact price;
• your passport translation if it was made elsewhere, so the spelling of your name matches.

Translation of a police clearance certificate costs from 2,100 roubles, notary included; we quote the exact price from a photo. Order before 15:00 Moscow time and the translation is ready by 12:00 the next business day.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Requirements change; check the current list with your migration office before filing.