Polish criminal record certificate: electronic or paper?
How to choose the format of a Polish criminal record certificate. Electronic originals and printouts, what to send to the recipient and what an apostille requires.
Karolina Bałabon — Translate Service author
Karolina Bałabon
Sworn translator
Karolina Bałabon specialises in legal, court, notarial, medical and technical translations. She works with official documents, apostilles and legalisation, using Russian, Ukrainian, Polish and English.
- Since 2000Working in translation
- Sworn translatorSince 2006
- University of WarsawMaster’s degree in Applied Linguistics
About Karolina Bałabon
Karolina Bałabon works in written translation and interpreting. She began her professional career in translation in 2000 and qualified as a sworn translator of Russian in 2006.
She holds a master’s degree in Applied Linguistics from the Faculty of Applied Linguistics at the University of Warsaw, specialising in written translation and interpreting.
After graduating, she passed the state examination before the State Examination Commission appointed by the Polish Minister of Justice and was entered on the register of sworn translators of Russian.
She specialises in translating legal, court, notarial, medical and technical documents, as well as documents issued by civil registry offices (USC). She works with Russian, Ukrainian, Polish and English.
She has worked with documentation for notarial, court and administrative procedures that require precise terminology and compliance with formal requirements.
She has knowledge of sworn translation, apostilles, legalisation and preparing foreign documents for use in Poland.
Education and qualifications
- Education
- University of WarsawUniwersytet WarszawskiFaculty of Applied LinguisticsMaster’s degree in Applied LinguisticsWritten translation and interpreting
- Professional qualifications
- Sworn translator of Russian since 2006State examination for sworn translators
Professional specialisations
Documents and procedures Karolina works with
- Legal and court translations
Legal documents, court judgments and procedural documentation.
- Notarial translations
Powers of attorney, notarial deeds, declarations and documents for a notary.
- Civil registry and USC documents
Birth, marriage and death certificates, and civil registry records.
- Medical translations
Medical reports, certificates and documentation.
- Technical translations
Technical and specialist documentation.
- Apostilles and legalisation
Preparing documents for use abroad and in Poland.
Publications by Karolina Bałabon
How to get a Polish criminal record certificate (KRK)
Ways to obtain a Polish KRK certificate, complete the application, prepare your documents and choose a format for submission.
How to book an apostille appointment at MSZ
A guide to booking at Poland’s MSZ, preparing for your visit and ways to submit documents.
How to complete the MSZ apostille application
Where to download the MSZ apostille application, what to enter in each field and which documents to attach. A worked example for a Polish KRK certificate.
How to verify an apostille: details, registers and discrepancies
How to find the issuing authority, compare apostille details and interpret a search result. e-Apostilles, electronic registers, scans and questions to ask about discrepancies.
Authentication before an apostille in Poland: what to check
When prior authentication is needed, whose signature is checked and how to assess whether your document is ready. A notarial example, checklist and enquiry to the authority.
Where to get an apostille in Poland: choosing the right authority
How to identify the competent authority by issuing country, document type and signature. NAWA, OKE, notarial documents and questions to ask before sending an original.
What is a document apostille and what does it look like?
What an apostille authenticates, what it looks like and when you need one. Choosing the authority, checking exemptions and preparing a document for translation.
Apostille before or after translation: what if your translation is already complete?
Should the apostille go on the original, a copy or the translation? The order of steps, existing translations and translations from scans, with a sample enquiry to the recipient.