The Slovak výpis z registra trestov (criminal record extract) costs €3 online, €4.90 at a Slovenská pošta branch, and €6 at the criminal records registry in Bratislava. The Ukrainian certificate of no criminal record is issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine for free via the "Diia" app. Most Ukrainians will need both sooner or later.
In brief:
The Slovak criminal records registry is managed by the General Prosecutor's Office of the Slovak Republic; the document is called a výpis z registra trestov.
Prices are valid from April 1, 2024: €3 online, €4.90 at the post office, €6 at the customer center.
The Ukrainian extract of no criminal record is free; the official processing time is up to 30 calendar days.
For a residence permit, the certificate of no criminal record must not be older than 90 days.
Slovak authorities only accept documents in a foreign language with an official translation.
Which certificate do you need — Slovak or Ukrainian?
It depends on who is asking for it. A Slovak employer, licensing authority, or court will want the Slovak výpis. The Aliens Police, when processing a residence permit application, wants a certificate of no criminal record from your country of citizenship — that is, Ukrainian.
The Aliens Act (§ 32, para. 2, letter b) requires a certificate of no criminal record that is not older than 90 days. This means two things at once: an extract from the criminal records of the country of citizenship and an extract from the criminal records of the country where the person has resided for more than 90 days within a consecutive six-month period over the last three years.
For a Ukrainian who has been living in Slovakia for a year or two, this means both documents — Ukrainian and Slovak. This is the most common reason for rejection of documents, and people usually find out about it already when they have a booked appointment at the migration police.
There is an exception to the 90-day rule. The police may accept an older document if no more than 90 days have passed between its issuance and the foreigner's arrival in Slovakia.
Employment is a separate matter: here, the certificate is requested not by the state, but by a specific employer, and the requirements vary across different industries. What exactly is asked during interviews can be seen in the current job vacancies for Ukrainians. For those transitioning from temporary protection to a residence permit, the certificate becomes part of a broader package — more on this in the article about closing temporary asylum.
How much does a výpis z registra trestov cost and where can you get it?
The price is determined by how you submit the application, not the city. The General Prosecutor's Office has applied all three rates since April 1, 2024, after a change in the law on administrative fees.
An electronic application costs €3.00. An application at a Slovenská pošta branch costs €4.90. An application at the criminal records customer center costs €6.00.
Method | Price | What you need | Where exactly |
|---|---|---|---|
Electronically | €3.00 | Document with chip + BOK and electronic signature | slovensko.sk portal |
Post (IOMO) | €4.90 | Passport or residence permit, parents' details | Any Slovenská pošta branch |
Customer Center | €6.00 | Passport or residence permit, parents' details | Kvetná 13, Bratislava |
Multilingual form | €13.00 | Same as for výpis | Criminal Records Registry |
The post office and customer center issue the výpis during your visit — this is the fastest way if you need the document today.
The service is now provided by all Slovenská pošta branches, not just the specialized IOMO service points, of which there were previously about 500. This means you don't need to travel to a big city.
Another pitfall is the outdated price. Many Slovak websites still mention €3.90 at the post office: this was the rate valid until April 2024. The current amount at the counter is €4.90.
What to bring and what details to fill in?
An original identification document: passport, residence permit, or Slovak občiansky preukaz (ID card). A copy is not accepted.
The application (§ 12, para. 4 of Act No. 192/2023 Coll. on the criminal records registry) requires a full set of details: first name, surname, maiden name, date of birth, place and district of birth, country of birth, citizenship, sex, and address.
A separate line is for parents. The application requires the first name, surname, and maiden name of both parents. The mother's maiden name is often what people struggle with at the counter.
If the person cannot be identified unambiguously, the official may request a birth certificate (§ 12, para. 5). A foreign birth certificate requires an official translation — a selection of document translators can help you find one here.
Can you get a výpis online without Slovak citizenship?
Yes, if you have a residence permit with an electronic chip — eDoPP. The slovensko.sk portal describes it as an electronic identification card that works the same way as an electronic citizen ID (eID). It is issued by the Aliens Police departments.
For the service itself, you need two things: login via a document with a chip and a qualified electronic signature to sign the application. The result is delivered in PDF format and, according to the General Prosecutor's Office's e-service description, is suitable for legal actions.
If you do not have a chip-enabled document, the online route is closed — you will have to use the post office or the customer center. Slovak terms and abbreviations used in this procedure are collected in a dictionary of Slovak terms.
What is the difference between a výpis and an odpis?
A výpis is a document that only lists convictions that have not been expunged (§ 12 of Act No. 192/2023 Coll.). This is what you receive at the post office or online.
An odpis is a full record that includes all convictions, including those that have been expunged or pardoned (§ 20). A private individual cannot order it for themselves: the list of authorized bodies is determined by § 21.
In practice, this means the following. If an employer says they need an odpis, you cannot order it yourself — the institution must request it.
How long is a certificate of no criminal record valid?
The law does not set a single validity period: it is up to the requester to decide.
For employment in the public interest, Act No. 552/2003 Coll. requires a výpis no older than three months. For a residence permit, the limit is 90 days. In the private sector, the employer sets their own requirement, and three months is the most common.
Therefore, a simple strategy is to order the certificate when your document package is almost complete, not "just in case" at the beginning.
How to order a Ukrainian certificate of no criminal record from Slovakia?
The extract is issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine and is free — both electronic and paper versions, including a paper version with an apostille. You only pay for the delivery by the postal operator.
Applications can be submitted via the "Diia" app or the portal services.mvs.gov.ua. Available for ages 14 and up. There are two types of extracts: a short one — only stating whether a criminal record exists or not, and a full one — with data on criminal prosecution and restrictions.
The official service card states a processing time of 30 calendar days. The "Diia" website specifies: up to 10 working days, and up to 30 calendar days if the data requires additional verification. An apostille adds another 5 days.
The main limitation for those already in Slovakia: paper extracts are delivered only within Ukraine.
The solution is through the consulate. You order an electronic extract in "Diia," and the consular department of the Embassy of Ukraine in Bratislava verifies it and issues a paper certificate; the consular fee is €28 by card [CHECK]. The eastern part of the country is served by the Consulate General in Prešov. The logic is the same as with passports — details in the article about the passport service in Bratislava.
Is an apostille and translation needed for Slovak authorities?
Formally, no, but practically, it's better to get one. This is a rare case where the letter of the treaty and practice differ, and knowing about this discrepancy is more beneficial than relying on it.
Ukraine and Slovakia are parties to the Treaty on Legal Assistance, concluded in Moscow on August 12, 1982, and published in Slovakia under No. 95/1983 Coll. The Ministry of Justice of the Slovak Republic, in its own review of such treaties, explicitly states that it applies to Ukraine. Article 11 states that documents drawn up or certified by a competent authority of one party shall be used in the territory of the other without further certification.
However, the same ministry cautions nearby: treaties were concluded for judicial cooperation. If a non-judicial body or a private individual in Slovakia refuses to accept a document without an apostille, it is not considered a breach of the treaty. The ministry advises asking the specific authority where you are submitting the document in advance.
The Ministry of Justice of Ukraine formulates it symmetrically: documents received from justice institutions within the framework of legal assistance requests are accepted in Slovakia without legalization. A certificate from the Ministry of Internal Affairs does not fall into this category.
For employers, licensing bodies, or the aliens police, the conclusion is one: get an apostille. You can order it along with the extract at the "One-Stop Shop for Citizens" on the Ministry of Internal Affairs website; the main service is free. What this stamp is and how it works is explained in the article about apostilles on Ukrainian documents.
Translation is mandatory regardless of the apostille. Documents in a foreign language submitted to the aliens police must be officially translated into the state language (§ 3 of Act No. 270/1995 Coll.) — in original or officially certified copy. The Czech language is also accepted.
One detail that costs people a repeat visit: if the translation is done abroad, the foreigner must provide confirmation from the diplomatic mission that it was performed by an authorized person. An exception applies to translations made in the Czech Republic. Therefore, translating in Slovakia by a sworn translator is usually cheaper than bringing a translation from Ukraine.
Where to start this week?
Ask the person requesting the certificate two things: Slovak or Ukrainian, and whether an apostille is needed. Then, get your passport and your parents' maiden names, go to the nearest Slovenská pošta branch, and pay €4.90. Order the Ukrainian one in "Diia" the same day: 30 calendar days pass faster than you think.
