Albanian police certificate translation (UK & US)

In short

The Dëshmi penaliteti is Albania's criminal record certificate, the document UK and US authorities mean when they ask for an Albanian police certificate.
In the UK, Skilled Worker applicants in health, education, therapy and social care jobs need one, with a certified translation.
For a US visa interview in Tirana, the US Embassy says Albanian documents don't need translating, except court decisions; interviews elsewhere need a certified translation.
Certificates go out of date: the Home Office normally expects one issued in the last 6 months, and the State Department says US police certificates expire after two years.

If you have lived in Albania, a UK employer, the Home Office or a US visa officer may ask for proof that you have no criminal record there. The document they mean is the Dëshmi penaliteti, Albania's criminal record certificate.

This guide explains when you need it, when it needs translating, and what to check before you send it.

What is the Dëshmi penaliteti?

The Dëshmi penaliteti is an official certificate showing whether a person has a criminal record in Albania. English-language guidance calls it different things: GOV.UK uses "Certificate of Judicial Status", and the US Embassy in Tirana calls it the "Ministry of Justice Clearance". They are the same document.

You can apply online through the e-Albania portal: the US Embassy in Tirana points visa applicants there. GOV.UK's guidance for employers also describes applying through Albanian post offices. The certificate is in Albanian, so outside Albania it usually needs a translation.

It covers Albania only. If you have also lived in Kosovo, Greece or another country, each one issues its own certificate, and you may need those too.

When UK offices ask for it

Skilled Worker visas in health, education, therapy and social care

GOV.UK says Skilled Worker applicants applying from outside the UK need a criminal record certificate if they work in education, healthcare, therapy or social services, for example as a teacher, nurse, psychologist or social worker. The certificate is needed from each country where you have spent long enough, and GOV.UK sets out the exact rule by age: under 28, any country where you have stayed for a total of 12 months or more since you turned 18.

GOV.UK is clear about translations: "If your documents are not in English or Welsh you'll also need to provide a certified translation." The Home Office's criminal record certificate guidance adds that a certificate from your most recent country of residence is normally expected to be issued no earlier than 6 months before you apply.

UK employers and volunteering roles

A UK DBS check only covers UK records. Employers recruiting someone who has lived abroad often ask for an overseas police certificate as well, and GOV.UK publishes country-by-country guidance on how to get one. If your employer asks for the Albanian certificate, they will usually need it in English.

For the general Home Office translation rules, see certified translation for a UK visa.

When US offices ask for it

Immigrant visas and fiancé(e) visas

For an immigrant visa, the State Department asks applicants aged 16 or over for a police certificate from their country of nationality if they lived there for more than 6 months, and from any other country where they lived for 12 months or more from the age of 16. Albanian citizens who grew up in Albania will almost always need the Dëshmi penaliteti.

Does it need translating?

It depends on where your interview is:

Interview at the US Embassy in Tirana. The embassy says: "You are not required to translate documents issued by the Albanian authorities, except for court decisions." When you apply on e-Albania, it asks you to choose Albania as the destination if your interview is in Tirana.
Interview anywhere else, for example London. The State Department asks for certified translations of civil documents that are not in English or in the official language of the country where you apply, so an Albanian certificate needs a certified English translation.

For anything filed with USCIS, every foreign-language document needs a full certified translation. See USCIS translation requirements.

What to check in the translation

Names

Albanian names often include ë and ç, and the certificate may show your name differently from your passport. Tell your translator how your name is spelled in your passport, so it matches across your application. Our guide to Greek, Albanian and French names in English explains why this matters.

Father's and mother's names

Albanian official documents usually list the father's name (atësia) and often the mother's name (amësia). These are translated as "Father's name" and "Mother's name", so the officer can match them with your other documents, such as your Albanian birth or family certificate.

The result line

The most important sentence states whether a record was found. It must be translated exactly, without softening or adding anything.

Seals, codes and dates

Certificates downloaded from e-Albania usually carry an electronic seal and a verification code. These are part of the document, so the translation notes them, together with the issue date written in full, such as 4 November 2026.

Timing: get it, then translate it

Because the certificate goes out of date, order it close to your application and translate it straight away. The Home Office normally expects the certificate from your latest country of residence to be issued within the last 6 months, and the State Department says police certificates for US immigrant visas expire after two years. If you're unsure, ask the office handling your case how recent it must be.

What it costs

At Lexiveris, an Albanian police certificate is priced as a civil certificate: £15.88 or $24 a page, with the certificate of accuracy included. Most are a single page. If you also need a court decision translated, it is priced as a legal document, at £41 or $40 a page. Express delivery within 24 hours adds 50%. You can price your document online and see the total before you pay.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to translate my Albanian police certificate for a US interview in Tirana?

According to the US Embassy in Tirana, no: documents issued by the Albanian authorities don't need translating, except court decisions. If your interview is in another country, such as the UK, you need a certified English translation.

How recent does the certificate need to be?

For the UK, Home Office guidance normally expects the certificate from your latest country of residence to be issued no earlier than 6 months before you apply. For a US immigrant visa, the State Department says police certificates expire after two years.

I also lived in Kosovo or Greece. Is the Albanian certificate enough?

No. Each country issues its own certificate, covering its own records. If the rules say you need one from Kosovo or Greece too, you'll need to get those separately. We also translate Greek certificates, and Kosovo certificates issued in Albanian.

My certificate shows a conviction. What should I do?

Translate the certificate and any court decision it refers to, so the officer has the full picture. We translate documents only and can't advise on how a record affects your application: for that, speak to a regulated immigration adviser or lawyer.

Sources

This article is general information based on published guidance as of 4 November 2026. It is not legal or immigration advice, and requirements can change. Always check the current requirements with the office handling your case. Lexiveris Translations provides translation services only and is not affiliated with any government agency.