How to get a Romanian criminal record certificate
A clear guide for the electronic criminal record certificate, police-counter pickup, minors or proxy requests, and checks needed when the document will be used abroad.
Quick checklist before you go to the counter
- If you are an individual Romanian citizen, start with MAI Hub: the online service is free and generates an electronically signed certificate.
- Check that your MAI Hub account is validated; the platform requires authentication/validation before the request.
- Choose the request reason exactly as required by the employer, institution or foreign authority.
- If you go to a police counter, bring your original valid ID; the standard request can be filled in or printed from the system at the counter.
- For foreign use, check in advance whether the recipient wants an electronic certificate, a paper certificate, a multilingual standard form, apostille, translation or consular route.
Online certificate fee
0 lei for individuals with Romanian citizenship, in electronic format
Certificate validity
6 months from the issue date
Counter timing (Romanian citizens)
Usually on the spot or within 3 working days
Foreign citizens
Around 30 days for the physical certificate
Legal entity
At the police counter, usually on the spot or within 3 working days
How to request the certificate online in MAI Hub
For individuals with Romanian citizenship, the criminal record certificate can be obtained free of charge, electronically, through the MAI services Hub. The physical version remains available at any police unit that has a criminal-record counter.
Fast online flow
- 1Open MAI Hub and sign in to your validated account.
- 2Open Services, then Documents and permits.
- 3Select the service for obtaining a criminal record certificate for an individual.
- 4Open the tab for requesting the criminal record certificate.
- 5Check the pre-filled request, choose the reason, tick the consent box and submit.
- 6Open View document and use Download to save the electronically signed certificate.
If something gets stuck
- •No validated account: complete MAI Hub validation before requesting the certificate.
- •Cannot find the service: search under Documents and permits or use the direct MAI Hub service page.
- •The recipient wants paper: go to a criminal-record counter with your original ID.
- •You need it for a child under 14: the request is made by the parent or guardian with supporting documents.
- •The document is for foreign use: confirm multilingual form, apostille or translation requirements before issuing it.
Choose the scenario that matches your case
The fastest route is MAI Hub. After signing in and validation, the request is pre-filled, you choose the reason and the system generates the electronically signed certificate.
Required documents
- •Authenticated and validated MAI Hub account.
- •Civil-status data checked in the pre-filled request.
- •The request reason, selected in the dedicated field.
- •Consent ticked in the platform.
- •A device where you can save the downloaded certificate.
Where to go
- •MAI services Hub (hub.mai.gov.ro).
- •Romanian Police, through the Criminal Records, Statistics and Operational Records Directorate.
- •Criminal-record police counter, only if the recipient does not accept electronic format.
Fees and payment
- •The online service is free for individuals with Romanian citizenship.
- •Avoid private intermediary sites if you do not actually need representation.
Deadlines and risks
- •After submission, the system automatically generates the certificate.
- •The issued certificate is valid for 6 months from the issue date.
- •Download the document immediately and keep the original electronically signed file.
Check locally with SPCLEP before filing
Exact document lists, office schedule, and pick-up details may vary by locality.
- •Check the opening hours and list of criminal-record counters for your county police inspectorate.
- •If the document must be filed with a specific institution, ask whether it accepts the electronically signed certificate or requires paper.
- •For powers of attorney, confirm the required form: Romanian notarised power, consular power, or apostilled/legalised document made abroad.
- •For companies, check that the person going to the counter can prove legal-representative status or has the correct authorisation.
- •For EU states, ask the recipient whether the multilingual standard form is enough or whether translation/apostille is also needed.
Institution flow (infographic)
Recommended flow: choose online or counter, prepare the right documents, then check the format required by the recipient.
1. Identify who is requesting
Romanian individual, child, proxy, legal entity or applicant abroad.
2. Try the online route if it applies
For Romanian citizens who are individuals, sign in to MAI Hub and use the free electronic service.
3. Submit the platform request
Check the pre-filled data, choose the reason, tick consent and download the electronically signed certificate.
4. Go to the counter for exceptions
For paper certificates, children under 14, proxies, foreign citizens or companies, prepare documents and go to the police.
5. Check timing and validity
Romanian citizens usually receive it on the spot or within 3 days; the certificate is valid for 6 months.
Deadline timeline (infographic)
The timing is based on MAI Hub and Romanian Police information for criminal record services.
Online: automatic generation
After the request is submitted in MAI Hub, the certificate is generated automatically and can be downloaded from View document.
Foreign citizens: around 30 days
For foreign citizens, the physical certificate may take around 30 days because of member-state checks.
Multilingual form: on the spot or 3 days
For no-record certificates used in the EU, the multilingual standard form is issued on the spot or within 3 days.
Frequently asked questions
Is the online criminal record certificate free?
Yes. MAI Hub states that the electronic criminal record certificate is a free public service for individuals with Romanian citizenship. Be careful with private sites that offer paid intermediary services.
Who can obtain the certificate online?
The online service is available to individuals with Romanian citizenship who are registered and validated in MAI Hub. Legal entities use the police-counter route.
How is the certificate obtained for a child?
People aged at least 14 may file personally. For children under 14, the certificate is obtained by the parent or guardian, with the requester's ID and the child's birth certificate; the guardian also presents the guardianship decision.
Is the electronic certificate enough for foreign use?
It depends on the recipient institution. The online certificate is electronically signed, but a foreign authority may require paper, a multilingual standard form, translation, apostille or superlegalisation.
Does a Romanian PFA need a legal-entity certificate?
No. MAI Hub states that PFA, individual enterprises and family enterprises do not have legal personality; they receive an individual criminal record certificate.
Is the criminal record certificate the same as the behavioural integrity certificate?
No. The behavioural integrity certificate is a separate document linked to the national register for sexual offences, exploitation offences or offences against minors. It can be obtained under similar conditions, but it does not automatically replace the criminal record certificate.
Related problems to check
Official sources
Last verified: June 30, 2026
S1: MAI Hub - criminal record certificate for individuals
Main source for the online certificate: free service, authentication, steps, counter route, timing, validity, minors, proxies and requests from abroad.
S2: MAI Hub - criminal record certificate for legal entities
Rules for companies and other legal entities: who files, required documents, issuance timing and validity.
S3: MAI Hub - multilingual standard forms
Rules for multilingual forms that may accompany no-record certificates used in EU member states.
S4: MAI Hub - behavioural integrity certificate
Used to distinguish the criminal record certificate from the behavioural integrity certificate.
S5: Romanian Police - criminal record
Romanian Police information page for issued documents and criminal-record related forms.
Do you have an atypical or urgent case?
Describe your exact situation and get personalized next steps, including which institution to contact first.
Ask now