Time “killers”: Criminal Background Certificates and Apostilles

Usually, official documents issued abroad should be legalized or verified with Apostille in order to be accepted in Lithuania (typically this is relevant for criminal record certificates, diplomas, marriage certificates, birth certificates etc.).

Criminal Background Certificates

Some applicants are exempted from the requirement to provide criminal clearance certificate, for instance, EU Blue Card applicants and their family members (these foreigners are requested to confirm that they have no criminal record). However, in most other TRP cases, criminal background certificates are necessary.

Furthermore, the criminal record certificate must be legalised or certified by Apostille in the country where they are issued, except for certificates issued in:
• Ukraine, Russia, Estonia, Latvia or Moldova;
• a diplomatic mission or consular office of a foreign state residing in the Republic of Lithuania;
• a diplomatic mission or consular post of a foreign state residing abroad and accredited, in addition to another country, also to the Republic of Lithuania.

Marriage & Birth Certificates

Marriage certificates (relevant for spouses) and birth certificates (relevant for kids) are required in all family reunification cases, for instance, when TRP is requested for a family member of EU Blue Card holder/applicant.

Furthermore, marriage certificates and birth certificates must be legalised or certified by Apostille in the country where they are issued, except for certificates issued in:
• EU Member State;
• Ukraine, Russia, Moldova,
• Switzerland, Turkey, Cape Verde, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Northern Macedonia, issued in the form approved by the Vienna Convention of 8 September 1976 on the Extradition of Extracts from Records of Civil Status.