Criminal Record Certificate for Peru

Peruvian Criminal Record Certificate — USA, Canada & International

Updated: March 2026 · Reviewed by specialist

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?

Peruvian criminal record certificates: what you need to know

Peru has two main criminal record certificates:

  1. Poder Judicial certificate — covers judicial convictions. 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.

Peru joined the Hague Apostille Convention in 2010. For international use, both certificates can be apostilled by the Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores (MRE) — 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 1–3 business days The judicial criminal record. Most internationally recognized certificate for foreign use. Available online.
Certificado de Antecedentes Policiales (PNP) Policía Nacional del Perú (PNP) 1–3 business days Police-level background check. 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 5–10 business days Peru is a Hague Convention member since 2010. The MRE issues apostilles on official Peruvian documents.
Certified translation (if required) Sworn / certified translator 1–2 business days after apostille Required for non-Spanish-speaking destination countries. 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.

Real client cases

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 carried a 6-month processing delay, requiring them to request an extension from the Spanish consulate.

Result

Name corrected. Spanish citizenship application resumed.

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

New FBI check obtained. Student visa approved for 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 get the visa approved.

Result

Visa approved after adding translation of fingerprint card.

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 issues apostilles on official Peruvian documents for international use. 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

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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.

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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.

How long is the Peruvian certificate valid?

Both the Poder Judicial and PNP certificates are typically valid for 90 days from issuance. Most foreign consulates require the certificate to be issued within the last 3–6 months. We time your request to meet your application deadline.

How long does the full process take?

Each certificate is typically issued within 1–3 business days. The MRE apostille takes 5–10 business days. A certified translation adds 1–2 days. Total typical timeline: 8–16 business days. Expedited options available.

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
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