How to Get a Background Check in Uzbekistan for Ecuador Visa

Uzbekistan's official background check document is called the Certificate of Absence (or Presence) of a Criminal Record (Uzbek: *Sudlanmaganligi to'g'risidagi ma'lumotnoma*; Russian: *Spravka o nesudimosti*). It is commonly referred to as a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) in English.

This certificate is issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs (IIV) of the Republic of Uzbekistan and confirms whether an individual has any criminal convictions on record.

Ecuador requires this certificate for tourist visa applicants from visa-required countries. The certificate must be: - Issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs through a Public Services Center or the my.gov.uz portal - Apostilled by the appropriate Uzbek authority (Uzbekistan is a Hague Convention member) - Translated into Spanish by a certified translator - Issued within 180 days before your visa application date

Important: Ecuador's 180-day validity window pauses while your visa application is under review. The clock does not run during processing — it only counts the days before you submit and after Ecuador issues a decision. You will not be penalized for Ecuador taking several weeks to process your file.

The Certificate of Absence of a Criminal Record is issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs (IIV) of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

There are two channels depending on your citizenship:

1. Uzbek citizens and CIS nationals — Apply through a Public Services Center (*Yagona interaktiv davlat xizmatlari markazi*) in your region, or online through the Unified Portal of Interactive State Services at my.gov.uz.

1. Foreign nationals residing in Uzbekistan — Must apply through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan, not through the Public Services Centers.

The in-person application center for the Republican Information Center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs is located at 1 Yunus Radjabiy Street, Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Local police stations do not issue this certificate. The document must come from the centralized IIV system.

Option A: Online via my.gov.uz (Recommended for Uzbek citizens)

Step 1 — Register on the portal Go to my.gov.uz. Register and verify your identity through the Unified Portal of Interactive State Services' Identification System. The portal is available in Uzbek and Russian.

Step 2 — Submit your application Navigate to the criminal record certificate service (Service No. 135: *Applying for certificates of absence (presence) of a criminal record*). Complete the application form with your personal details.

Step 3 — Wait for processing The certificate is processed within 2–5 business days after submission.

Step 4 — Collect your certificate When the certificate is ready, collect it in person at your nearest Public Services Center. You may also authorize a representative with a notarized power of attorney to collect it on your behalf.

Option B: In-Person at a Public Services Center

Step 1 — Visit your local Public Services Center Bring your identification documents (see Required Documents below). Fill out the application form provided at the center.

Step 2 — Submit your application and documents Hand in the completed form along with copies of your identification documents.

Step 3 — Wait for processing and collect The certificate is typically ready within 2–5 business days. Return to the center to collect it.

For Uzbek citizens applying in Uzbekistan: - Valid Uzbek passport (original and copy) - National ID card (if applicable) - Completed application form (available at the Public Services Center or generated through my.gov.uz)

For Uzbek citizens applying from abroad: - Valid Uzbek passport (copy) - Contact the nearest Uzbek Embassy or Consulate for country-specific requirements and procedures

For foreign nationals who have resided in Uzbekistan: - Valid passport (original and copy, including pages showing entry stamps and registration) - Proof of legal stay in Uzbekistan (residence permit, registration card, or relevant visa pages) - Application form

Note: Requirements may vary depending on your specific situation. Contact the Public Services Center or the Ministry of Internal Affairs directly if you are unsure which documents to bring.

Online application (my.gov.uz): 2–5 business days In-person application (Public Services Center): 2–5 business days

The official processing time for citizens of Uzbekistan and CIS member states is approximately 2 business days in straightforward cases, though it may extend to 5 business days.

Foreign nationals applying through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs may experience longer processing times.

Important note on validity: Uzbekistan's certificate of absence of a criminal record has a domestic validity of 3 months from the date of issuance, after which it must be replaced with a new one. However, for Ecuador visa purposes, the relevant validity period is Ecuador's 180-day rule — the certificate must be dated within 180 days of your visa application submission date.

The government fee for the Certificate of Absence of a Criminal Record in Uzbekistan is free of charge — there is no application fee when applying through my.gov.uz or at a Public Services Center.

This makes Uzbekistan one of the few countries where the background check itself carries no government fee. Your costs will come from the apostille and translation steps that follow.

Uzbekistan has been a member of the Hague Apostille Convention since 15 April 2012 (accession deposited 25 July 2011). This means Uzbek documents can be apostilled for use in Ecuador — no embassy legalization chain is required.

Apostille Authorities in Uzbekistan

The authority that apostilles your document depends on which government body issued it:

• Ministry of Justice (and regional departments of justice) — for documents from justice authorities, civil registry offices, and documents certified by notaries
• Supreme Court — for documents from courts
• Prosecutor General's Office — for documents from prosecution, investigation, and inquiry authorities
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs — for all other official documents

Since the Certificate of Absence of a Criminal Record is issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, it falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for apostille purposes. Contact the Ministry of Justice in Tashkent or your regional department of justice to confirm which office handles your specific document.

Apostille Cost and Timeline

Apostille fees for official documents in Uzbekistan typically range from 200,000–400,000 UZS (approximately $15–$30 USD), though fees are subject to change. Processing time is approximately 10–20 business days.

An electronic apostille system is expected to be introduced, which may streamline processing in the future. Verify current fees and timelines with the relevant apostille authority before applying.

Important: Do not skip the apostille step. Ecuador will reject any foreign background check that is not properly apostilled.

Ecuador requires all foreign-language documents to be translated into Spanish by a certified translator. Your apostilled certificate will be in Uzbek or Russian, so a certified Spanish translation is mandatory.

Requirements for the translation: - Translated by a certified or sworn translator (not a machine translation) - The translation must cover both the certificate itself and the apostille stamp/page - Translator's certification, signature, and contact information must be included

[EcuadorTranslations.com](https://ecuadortranslations.com) provides certified Spanish translation services specifically for Ecuador immigration documents. Their translators are familiar with Uzbek and Russian official document formats and Ecuador's visa requirements.

Translation turnaround: Typically 2–5 business days depending on document complexity.

When submitting your background check as part of an Ecuador tourist visa application, Ecuador requires:

1. Issued within 180 days of the date you file your visa application
2. Apostilled by the appropriate Uzbek authority
3. Translated into Spanish by a certified translator

Critical note on the 180-day validity window: The 180-day clock measures from the certificate's issue date to the date you submit your visa application — not to the date Ecuador approves or denies it. Ecuador's visa processing time does not count against the 180-day window. The clock pauses while Ecuador is actively reviewing your application. You will not be penalized for Ecuador taking several weeks or months to process your file.

Practical implication: Get your certificate apostilled and translated before you submit your EcuaGo application. Do not apply for your certificate so early that it will be older than 180 days by the time you are ready to submit.

Background Checks for Multiple Countries of Residence

Ecuador requires background checks from your country of origin AND every country where you have resided in the last 5 years. If you are an Uzbek citizen who has lived in Russia, Kazakhstan, or any other country during the past 5 years, you must obtain a separate background check from each country of residence.

Each additional background check must also be apostilled (or legalized, if the country is not a Hague Convention member) and translated into Spanish.