If you worked in Poland as a nurse, carer, teacher or social worker and now have a UK job offer, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) may ask for a Polish criminal record certificate. Missing it is one of the easier ways to get a Skilled Worker or Health and Care Worker visa refused.
The short answer: you need a Polish certificate if you are applying from outside the UK, your sponsored job is in a listed health, education or social care occupation, and you spent 12 months or more in Poland (in one stay or in total) in the last 10 years while aged 18 or over. Your partner may need one too.
This guide helps you check whether the rule applies to you, order the certificate from the Polish National Criminal Register (Krajowy Rejestr Karny, KRK) while living abroad, and prepare an English translation UKVI can accept.
Which UK visas need an overseas criminal record certificate?
The overseas criminal record certificate requirement applies to Skilled Worker entry clearance applications for jobs in specified occupation codes. The Health and Care Worker visa is part of the Skilled Worker route, so it is covered too. The rule is set out in paragraph SW 16.1 of Appendix Skilled Worker to the Immigration Rules.
GOV.UK summarises the affected jobs as education, healthcare, therapy and social services roles — for example teachers, teaching assistants, nurses, doctors, pharmacists, psychologists, social workers and probation officers (Skilled Worker visa: documents).
Two limits matter. The rule applies to entry clearance, meaning applications made from outside the UK; extensions and switches made inside the UK are not caught by SW 16.1. And the rule applies to the partner of a Skilled Worker in these jobs under paragraph SW 34 of the same appendix. Other visa routes have their own requirements, which this article does not cover.
Does the rule apply to you? A four-step check
Answer these four questions in order. If the answer to all four is “yes”, plan on providing a Polish certificate.
- Are you applying for a Skilled Worker or Health and Care Worker visa from outside the UK? If you are extending or switching inside the UK, this particular requirement does not apply.
- Is the occupation code on your Certificate of Sponsorship on the SW 16.1 list? Ask your employer for the four-digit SOC 2020 code if you do not have it.
- Were you in Poland for 12 months or more in the 10 years before your application date, counting only time after your 18th birthday? Separate stays are added together.
- Does your partner meet the same Poland test? If you are in a listed job and your partner is applying as your dependant, they need their own certificate under the same conditions.
The same test applies to every other country where you have lived, except the UK. Someone who worked in the Philippines, then Poland, then the UAE may need three certificates.
Which jobs are on the list?
The table groups the SOC 2020 codes in SW 16.1. Always check the exact code on your Certificate of Sponsorship against the current appendix, because the list is amended from time to time.
| Occupation group | Examples | SOC 2020 codes in SW 16.1 |
|---|---|---|
| Nursing and midwifery | Midwives, community, specialist, mental health and children’s nurses | 2231–2237 |
| Doctors and other health professionals | GPs, specialists, pharmacists, dentists, radiographers, paramedics | 2211, 2212, 2251–2259 |
| Therapy and psychology | Physiotherapists, occupational and speech therapists, psychologists | 2221–2229 |
| Teaching and education | Teachers and education professionals | 2312–2329 |
| Social work and welfare | Social workers, probation and welfare professionals | 2461–2469 |
| Health and welfare associate roles | Youth workers, counsellors, housing officers and similar | 3211–3224 |
| Teaching assistants and childcare | Higher-level teaching assistants, early years practitioners, teaching and childcare assistants | 3231, 3232, 6111–6117 |
| Care and nursing support | Nursing auxiliaries, care workers, senior care workers | 6131–6136 |
| Managers in health, social care and childcare | Health services, social services and care home managers | 1171, 1172, 1231–1233 |
| Less obvious entries | Fitness and wellbeing instructors; HR and industrial relations officers | 3433, 3571 |
The last row surprises many applicants. An HR officer moving from a Warsaw shared-services centre to a UK employer can fall within the rule even though the job has nothing to do with care.
How the “12 months in Poland” test works in practice
The appendix says 12 months or more “whether continuously or in total” in the 10 years before the application date, while aged 18 or over. These examples show how it plays out for an application made in October 2026:
- 14 months in Kraków in 2021–2022, aged 25: certificate needed.
- Two contracts in Poland of 7 and 6 months: 13 months in total, so a certificate is needed.
- 11 months in Poland in total: no Polish certificate under this rule, but check every other country you lived in.
- Studied in Wrocław from age 17 to 19: count only the months after your 18th birthday.
- Lived in Poland only until 2015: outside the 10-year window, so no Polish certificate under this rule.
If you are close to the 12-month line, count the dates from your passport stamps, residence card or employment contracts rather than relying on memory.
Care workers: what changed on 22 July 2025
Since 22 July 2025, care workers and home carers (SOC 6135) and senior care workers (SOC 6136) can only be sponsored in applications for permission to stay made inside the UK, and only under transitional rules that run until 22 July 2028. Appendix Skilled Worker no longer allows new entry clearance in those two codes.
For a carer in Poland, this has two consequences. A care worker job in the UK is generally no longer a route in from abroad, so treat any offer of a “care worker visa” from outside the UK with caution and ask the employer which SOC code it will use. And carers already in the UK who extend or change sponsor are not making an entry clearance application, so SW 16.1 does not require an overseas certificate from them — although an employer may still ask for one as part of its own safer-recruitment checks.
Registered nurses, doctors, teachers, social workers and other listed professionals can still apply from abroad if the job meets the route’s other requirements, such as skill level and salary. For them, the certificate rule applies in full.
How to get a Polish KRK certificate from the UK
You can order a Polish criminal record certificate from abroad in three ways: online through the e-KRK platform, by post to the KRK, or through a representative in Poland holding your power of attorney. According to gov.pl, anyone can apply, including foreigners.
| Method | Official fee | Official timing | What you receive | Fit for a UK visa file |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| e-KRK online | Depends on papers | Within 7 calendar days | XML file with an electronic signature | Log-in needs Profil Zaufany, a qualified electronic signature or e-Dowód. A printout is not an official document, so check how your application accepts electronic originals before choosing this route. |
| Post from the UK | Depends on papers | Drawn up within 7 days; KRK says delivery abroad can take up to 4 weeks | Paper certificate posted to your UK address at no extra cost | Easy to scan and translate. Allow for international post. |
| Representative in Poland | Depends on papers, plus PLN 17 stamp duty on the power of attorney | Usually issued on the spot at a KRK information point | Paper certificate, then couriered to you | Fastest paper option when time is short. The power of attorney must be in Polish. |
Fees and timings come from the Ministry of Justice pages on applying for a certificate, applying from abroad and the KRK FAQ. Check them again before paying, as fees can change.
The online route only works if you can log in with Profil Zaufany, a qualified electronic signature or e-Dowód. Many foreigners who have left Poland no longer have these, so for most UK applications a paper certificate is the practical choice.
Applying by post: step by step
- Download the request form for information about a person from the Ministry of Justice KRK pages and complete it in Polish.
- Pay PLN 30 to the Ministry of Justice account shown on gov.pl and keep the payment confirmation.
- In the upper left corner of the form, write your name and the UK address the certificate should be sent to.
- Sign the form and post it with the payment confirmation to the KRK Information Office in Warsaw or another designated point.
- When the certificate arrives, check that your name, date of birth and parents’ names match your passport and records.
If you would rather not handle Polish forms and payments yourself, Lex Corporation’s Poland police clearance certificate service collects the certificate in Warsaw under a power of attorney. The full procedure, including e-KRK, is explained in our guide to the Polish criminal record certificate for foreigners.
Does UKVI need an English translation of a Polish KRK?
Yes. The KRK issues certificates in Polish only, and UKVI requires a certified translation of any document that is not in English or Welsh. You submit the Polish original together with the translation.
Under paragraph 39B of Part 1 of the Immigration Rules, the translation must be dated and include:
- confirmation that it is an accurate translation of the original document;
- the full name and signature of the translator, or of an authorised official of the translation company;
- the translator’s or translation company’s contact details;
- for applications made inside the UK, certification by a qualified translator and details of their credentials.
A Polish sworn translation (tłumaczenie przysięgłe) is prepared by a translator on the Ministry of Justice list and usually contains the translator’s name, register number and signature. Check that it also shows a date and contact details, as UKVI expects. Sworn translation services in Warsaw can prepare an English translation that covers these points, and Lex coordinates certified translation of police clearance certificates together with retrieval.
Do you need an apostille?
The KRK does not issue apostilles. An apostille for a Polish public document is issued by the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Skilled Worker rules and GOV.UK guidance reviewed for this article do not state that an apostille is required for the overseas criminal record certificate.
Requirements may depend on your circumstances and the decision-maker, so follow your own visa application checklist and your sponsor’s instructions. If an apostille is requested, add it before the translation is made, so the translation covers the apostille too. Lex can arrange apostille and legalization in Warsaw.
How long does it take? Plan backwards from your visa date
From the UK, allow about four to six weeks for the certificate and its translation, and more if an apostille is needed. The KRK’s own estimate for postal requests sent abroad is up to four weeks, before translation time.
| Step | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Confirm the SOC code and your Poland dates | 1 day |
| Postal request to the KRK and delivery to the UK | Up to 4 weeks (KRK estimate) |
| Representative in Warsaw collects and couriers the certificate | Usually a few working days, depending on courier |
| Certified English translation | Depends on the translator |
| Apostille, only if your checklist requires it | Adds time; check with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or your provider |
Polish law sets no validity period for a KRK certificate, and the UK rules reviewed for this article do not set one either. Sponsors often prefer a recent certificate, so avoid ordering it so early that your employer asks for a new one.
What if you cannot get the certificate?
Under SW 16.2, UKVI can accept a satisfactory explanation of why it is not reasonably practicable to obtain a certificate. GOV.UK guidance says the explanation must detail your attempts and confirm why it was not possible.
Poland accepts applications from abroad by post and through representatives, so it is hard to argue that a Polish certificate cannot be obtained. Treat the explanation route as a last resort, not a shortcut.
Common mistakes that delay UK applications
- Counting only your last stay in Poland instead of adding up all stays in the 10-year window.
- Forgetting that a partner in the same application needs their own certificate.
- Printing the e-KRK XML file and treating the printout as the certificate.
- Sending a translation without a date or the translator’s contact details.
- Ordering the certificate only after the Certificate of Sponsorship is assigned, leaving no margin for postal delays.
Get your Polish certificate ready for your UK visa
If UKVI needs a Polish criminal record certificate from you or your partner, Lex Corporation can obtain it from the KRK in Warsaw under a power of attorney and coordinate the English translation, so you do not need to travel to Poland. Tell us your visa timeline through our Poland police clearance certificate service and we will confirm what we can arrange.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do I need a Polish certificate if I lived in Poland for exactly one year?
Yes, if the rest of the test is met. Appendix Skilled Worker covers 12 months or more, continuously or in total, in the 10 years before your application, while aged 18 or over. Exactly 12 months counts, so check your entry and exit dates carefully.
Do Polish citizens moving to the UK also need a KRK certificate?
Yes, when they apply for a Skilled Worker or Health and Care Worker visa in a listed job. The rule depends on where you have lived, not on your nationality, and Polish citizens without settled or pre-settled status need a visa like other applicants.
Can someone in Poland apply for my certificate for me?
Yes. The KRK accepts applications from a representative who holds your power of attorney. The power of attorney must be in Polish, and PLN 17 stamp duty is payable on it in addition to the PLN 30 certificate fee.
How long is a Polish criminal record certificate valid for a UK visa?
Polish law sets no validity period for a KRK certificate, and the UK rules reviewed here do not set one either. Your sponsor or visa checklist may still expect a recently issued certificate, so confirm before you order.
Do I need a certificate to extend my Health and Care Worker visa in the UK?
Not under SW 16.1, which applies only to entry clearance applications made from outside the UK. Your employer may still ask for an overseas check as part of its own recruitment policy.
Contact Lex Corporation
Are you ready to safeguard your corporate invoicing workflows permanently? Contact Lex Corporation today to schedule a comprehensive technical audit. We will accelerate your compliance processes and mitigate regulatory risks before the 2027 deadlines arrive.
Potrzebujesz zaświadczenia o niekaralności z Polski?
Lex Corporation wspiera klientów w Polsce i za granicą w uzyskaniu zaświadczenia o niekaralności, przygotowaniu pełnomocnictwa, apostille, tłumaczenia przysięgłego oraz międzynarodowej wysyłce dokumentów.