Apostille peru criminal record

Apostille Peru Criminal Record — Certificate, Authentication & Translation

Updated: June 2026 · Written by the Apostilla Antecedentes team

Certificado de Antecedentes Penales from the Poder Judicial and PNP for US immigration, Canadian PR, and international use. MRE apostille and certified translation included. 100% remote — free consultation.

  • Poder Judicial & PNP certificates
  • MRE apostille included
  • Certified translation available
  • Free document review
Laura Chen
Reviewed byLaura ChenLegal Document Expert

What type of Peruvian criminal record certificate do you need?

Step 1 of 4

What is the certificate for?

Apostille a Peru criminal record: the Poder Judicial / PNP certificate, cost & time

Peru distinguishes criminal conviction records (Poder Judicial, PEN 40.40; document validity 90 days), police records (PNP, fees vary by route/use) and judicial/prison-related records (INPE). Identify the receiving body's required document. MRE apostilles eligible documents; it does not issue these certificates.

  1. Poder Judicial certificate — covers judicial convictions (PEN 40.40, 90-day validity). This is the standard certificate required by foreign embassies and immigration authorities.
  2. PNP certificate — covers police records. Some employers and authorities require both certificates to obtain a complete picture.
  3. INPE certificate — judicial/prison-related records (PEN 37.70), required by certain authorities depending on the procedure.

Peru joined the Hague Apostille Convention in 2010. For international use, the certificates are apostilled by the Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores (MRE) — digital apostille (PEN 18, up to five working days) for eligible electronic documents or in-person apostille (PEN 31) — making them valid in all other Hague member countries without additional legalization.

Who needs this service?

🇺🇸 Peruvians applying for US or Canadian immigration

Applying for a US green card, USCIS benefit, or Canadian permanent residency? You need a Peruvian Poder Judicial certificate apostilled by the MRE and certified translation in English. We handle the complete process remotely.

💼 Professionals and job seekers

Background checks from both the Poder Judicial and the PNP are routinely required for employment in Peru and internationally. We obtain both quickly and coordinate apostille if needed.

🎓 Students and scholarship applicants

International universities and government scholarship programs often require an apostilled Peruvian criminal record certificate. We ensure your documents meet the exact requirements of the institution or authority.

Required documents

DocumentIssuing authorityEstimated timeNotes
Certificado de Antecedentes Penales (Poder Judicial) Poder Judicial del Perú Official fee PEN 40.40; issuance timing depends on the official CAPe channel (online or in person) The judicial criminal record — the most internationally recognized certificate for foreign use. Official fee PEN 40.40 and its own 90-day validity. Available online.
Certificado de Antecedentes Policiales (PNP) Policía Nacional del Perú (PNP) PEN 5.40 national online / PEN 8.50 in person or international; timing depends on the PNP channel Police-level background check. Fees vary by route/use: PEN 5.40 national online or PEN 8.50 in person or for international use. Some employers and authorities require both judicial and police certificates.
DNI (Documento Nacional de Identidad) or valid passport Applicant Current Required for both Poder Judicial and PNP applications.
Apostille (for international use) Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores del Perú (MRE) Digital PEN 18: up to five business days · In-person PEN 31 Peru joined the Hague Convention in 2010. The MRE apostilles eligible documents; it does not issue these certificates. Digital apostille applies only to eligible electronic documents; documents with wet signatures follow the in-person route.
Certified translation (if required) Sworn / certified translator 1–2 business days after apostille Where the destination procedure requires one, check which translator type and format it accepts. Certified by a translator recognized by the destination authority.

How the process works

1

We determine whether you need the Poder Judicial certificate, the PNP police certificate, or both — and confirm apostille and translation requirements for your specific destination country and purpose.

2

We guide you through or manage the online application for both certificates. For Peruvians abroad, we coordinate the process remotely through the available digital platforms.

3

Once certificates are issued, we submit them to the Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores for the official apostille. We track progress and notify you at every stage.

4

We arrange certified translation into the required language and deliver your complete document package by tracked international courier — ready for foreign authorities.

Example scenarios

Illustrative examples based on common situations; names and details are changed.

DM
Democratic Memory Law – Name Typo

from USA to Spain

Apostille
The problem was…

An applicant for Spanish citizenship under the Democratic Memory Law had their mother's 40-year-old US Naturalization Certificate rejected because of a minor spelling error in her first name.

We solved it…

The applicant had to petition USCIS for a formal name correction, which can take months, and request an extension from the Spanish consulate.

Result

In this example, the fix is to correct the name through USCIS so the Spanish citizenship application can resume.

DM
Deferred Master's – Expired FBI Check

from USA to Spain

Apostille
The problem was…

A student deferred their Spanish master's program for a year and tried to reuse their previously apostilled FBI background check for the new visa application.

We solved it…

The consulate rejected it because the underlying criminal record check is only valid for 5 to 6 months from its original date of issuance.

Result

In this example, the fix is to obtain a new FBI check for the student visa application for the following year.

FF
FBI Fingerprint Card – Translation Required

from USA to Spain

Apostille
The problem was…

An applicant submitted an apostilled and translated FBI background check to the Spanish consulate, but it was rejected for missing a translation of the physical fingerprint card itself.

We solved it…

The applicant had to hire a sworn translator to translate the English text on the standard FBI FD-258 fingerprint card to meet the consulate's translation checklist.

Result

In this example, the refile would include a translation of the fingerprint card; some consulates require it.

View all cases →

Official sources & authorities

Information on this page is based on procedures from recognized government and intergovernmental bodies — not third-party estimates.

Poder Judicial del Perú — Antecedentes Penales Official source for requesting the judicial criminal record certificate in Peru. View source →
Policía Nacional del Perú — Antecedentes Policiales Official PNP source for the police background check certificate. View source →
MRE Perú — Apostilla The Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores apostilles eligible documents for international use; it does not issue these certificates. View source →
Hague Apostille Convention (HCCH) Peru joined the Hague Convention in 2010. Apostille is the correct authentication for Peruvian documents going to other member countries. View source →

Related guides

Guide
Peruvian criminal record certificate: complete guide 2026Laura Chen · March 2026
→Guide
Peruvian criminal record for Canadian PR: complete guide 2026Laura Chen · March 2026
→

Related services

🇺🇸Criminal record for the USAFBI check for US immigration, USCIS, and international use📋All criminal record servicesHub for criminal record certificates from all countries🔏Apostille servicesHague Convention authentication for all document types🌐Certified translationSworn certified translations for all major languages

Criminal record certificates by destination country

USASpainMexicoColombiaArgentinaChileBrazilCanada
Laura Chen

Reviewed by

Laura Chen

Legal Document Expert

Specialist in documents for the English-speaking market with a focus on fast and secure processing.

View full profile →

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between the Poder Judicial certificate and the PNP certificate?

The Poder Judicial certificate covers judicial criminal records — convictions and sentences issued by Peruvian courts. The PNP certificate covers police records — arrests, investigations, and charges that may not have resulted in convictions. Foreign embassies typically require the Poder Judicial certificate; some also require the PNP. We advise on what your specific authority needs.

Can I get a Peruvian criminal record certificate from outside Peru?

Yes. The Poder Judicial offers online issuance for many types of certificates. We coordinate the process for Peruvians abroad and advise on any cases where a proxy or representative may be needed.

Does Peru issue apostilles?

Yes. Peru joined the Hague Apostille Convention in 2010. The Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores (MRE) is the competent authority for issuing apostilles on official Peruvian documents, including criminal record certificates — but it does not issue the certificates themselves.

How long is the Peruvian certificate valid?

The Poder Judicial certificate has its own 90-day validity. Beyond that, the recency limit is set by the receiving office and procedure: verified Spanish checklists range between three, five and six months. The Spanish Embassy in Ottawa, for example, publishes six months for self-employed work. Always check the checklist for your specific procedure. We time your request to meet your application deadline.

How long does the full process take?

Issuance is handled through the official CAPe channel (online or in person) and its timing is set by the Poder Judicial, not by us. MRE digital apostille (PEN 18) is up to five working days per the official portal; the in-person apostille (PEN 31) depends on office and delivery. The official certificate fee is PEN 40.40; our service fees are quoted separately and confirmed at case review.

Do I need a certified translation of my Peruvian certificate?

Only if the destination country requires it. English-speaking countries (US, UK, Canada, Australia) and non-Spanish-speaking European countries will require a certified translation. We provide translations recognized by the destination authority.

Laura Chen
Laura Chen Legal Document Expert
Online
|

Ready to get started?

Message us today for a free document review and guidance.