Facts at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Issuing body | Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD): Main Information and Analytical Centre (GIAC) or a regional information centre |
| Certificate | Certificate of the presence or absence of a criminal record (справка о наличии (отсутствии) судимости). Check with the Moscow embassy whether it wants the electronic or the paper version. Order paper if you may need an apostille. |
| How to order | Apply through Gosuslugi, an MFC office, or in person at an information centre. |
| Fee | Free. |
| Time | Up to 30 calendar days. The MVD can extend this by up to 30 more. |
| Apostille | The GIAC and regional centres can apostille a paper certificate (about RUB 2,500 per document, regional page). Moscow does not ask for one on the page we read. Do not order one unless the embassy asks. |
| Translation | The certificate is in Russian. Check with the embassy whether it wants a certified English translation. |
| Thai embassy limit | Most embassies accept 3 to 6 months; get it as close to your application as you can. |
The Royal Thai Embassy in Moscow applies the new DTV rule from 31 August 2026. Its page states no age limit, translation rule or DTV fee, so ask Moscow before you order translations or stamps.
Facts at a glance
| Item | What we know | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Document | Certificate on the presence or absence of a criminal record | MVD |
| Issuer | MVD: the GIAC or a regional information centre | MVD |
| Where to apply | Gosuslugi, an MFC, or in person at an information centre | MVD regulation, order No. 660 |
| Cost | Free | MVD regulation, order No. 660 |
| Time | Up to 30 calendar days. The MVD can extend by up to 30 more | MVD regulation, order No. 660 |
| Format | Electronic PDF with a qualified signature, or paper | MVD |
| Age limit at Moscow | Not stated | Moscow page |
| Translation rule at Moscow | Not stated | Moscow page |
The MVD terms come from order No. 660 of 27 September 2019, as shown on MVD pages. Open the MVD page on мвд.рф to confirm the terms before you apply.
What Moscow says
Moscow repeats the Ministry of Foreign Affairs rule of 31 August 2026:
- The "document indicating current location" is replaced by proof of permanent residence.
- A criminal record certificate is added.
- Applications submitted with payment before 31 August 2026 follow the old rules.
The page gives no maximum age, no translation rule and no DTV fee.
Paper or electronic: decide first
This is the choice that is special to Russia. The MVD issues the certificate as an electronic PDF with a qualified signature, or on paper.
The apostille is the reason to think ahead. MVD pages describe the apostille on a paper certificate, issued by the GIAC or a regional information centre. We found no MVD statement about an apostille on the electronic version. If there is any chance that Moscow will ask for an apostille, order paper.
How to order the certificate, step by step
- Collect the rest of your DTV file first. Funds and residence proof take time. The certificate should be one of the last items, so that it is recent when you submit.
- Choose the channel. Gosuslugi online, an MFC, or an MVD information centre in person.
- Choose the format. Paper if you may need an apostille. Electronic PDF if Moscow confirms it accepts one.
- Submit the request. Enter your name exactly as in your passport.
- Wait up to 30 calendar days. The MVD can extend this by up to 30 more days.
- Check the certificate. Name, date of birth and issue date must match your passport and your e-Visa form.
- Arrange a translation if Moscow asks for one. The certificate is in Russian.
- Apply on thaievisa.go.th. Moscow advises sending e-Visa applications at least 14 business days ahead of travel.
Timeline plan
Moscow states no age limit. Aim to submit within 3 months of the date on the certificate; that is the shortest limit any Thai post we read sets. See the age limits by embassy.
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| 8 to 10 weeks before you submit | Request the certificate. The MVD allows up to 30 days, plus up to 30 more |
| When the certificate arrives | Check the details. Order a translation if Moscow wants one |
| Before the certificate is 3 months old | Submit and pay on thaievisa.go.th |
| At least 14 business days before travel | Latest time to apply, as Moscow advises |
Costs to plan for
| Item | Amount | Source | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| MVD certificate | Free | MVD regulation, order No. 660 | Confirm on мвд.рф |
| Apostille on a paper certificate | Set by the MVD | Regional MVD page | Not confirmed (see below) |
| Translation | Set by the translator | None | Only if Moscow asks |
| DTV fee at Moscow | Not stated on the pages we read | Moscow | Check the e-Visa system |
Apostille
The GIAC and the regional information centres can put an apostille on a paper certificate. Moscow does not ask for an apostille on the page we read. Thailand joins the Apostille Convention on 28 February 2027, so a Russian apostille may not be enough for use in Thailand before that date. Do not order one unless Moscow asks. The general rules are on the police clearance hub.
Common mistakes
- Applying at a Thai post in a third country without permanent residence there. The rule asks for permanent residence in the country where you apply. See which embassy.
- Ordering an electronic certificate when an apostille may be needed later.
- Sending only the Russian original when Moscow wants a translation.
- Ordering the certificate so early that it ages before your funds and residence proof are ready.
Before you apply
- You are a national or permanent resident of the country of the Thai post you apply to.
- The certificate is from the MVD, in the format Moscow accepts.
- It is less than 3 months old on the day you submit, unless Moscow states a different limit.
- You asked Moscow whether it wants a translation or an apostille.
- Your name on the certificate matches your passport.
Want a second look at the whole file? Use the DTV pre-check. The embassy makes the decision.
Not confirmed yet
No official page we read states these points. Ask your embassy before you pay or submit.
- The DTV fee at Moscow.
- The maximum certificate age at Moscow.
- Whether Moscow accepts the electronic PDF, and whether it wants a translation. That the two formats have equal legal force is not confirmed on an official page.
- The current apostille fee. A regional MVD page gives RUB 2,500 per document. We also found no statement on an apostille for the electronic certificate.
- How a Russian citizen without permanent residence in Russia applies in Moscow.
- How Russians who live abroad obtain the certificate.
Frequently asked questions
Which document do Russians need for the DTV?
The MVD certificate on the presence or absence of a criminal record. Since 31 August 2026, every DTV application needs a criminal record certificate.
How do I order it?
Through Gosuslugi, at an MFC, or in person at an MVD information centre. The MVD regulation (order No. 660) sets these channels.
How long does it take and what does it cost?
The MVD regulation gives up to 30 calendar days, extendable by up to 30 more, and no charge. Confirm the terms on мвд.рф when you apply.
Paper or electronic?
MVD pages describe the apostille on paper certificates, so order paper if you may need an apostille. Ask Moscow which format it accepts.
Does Moscow need a translation?
The Moscow page gives no translation rule. Ask the embassy before you pay for one.
How old can the certificate be?
Moscow states no limit. Treat 3 months from the issue date as the safe limit.
Sources
- moscow.thaiembassy.org/en/publicservice/adjustment-to-supporting-documents-for-destination-thailand-visa-dtv-a (read 22 Oct 2026)Moscow: proof of permanent residence replaces current-location document; criminal record certificate added; from 31 Aug 2026; earlier applications follow old rules; no age, translation or fee rule on the page
- xn--b1aew.xn--p1ai/mvd/structure1/Centri/Glavnij_informacionno_analiticheskij_cen/gosuslugi/spravka3 (read 22 Oct 2026)MVD service page for criminal record certificates (seen in search results; the page did not load in full): order No. 660 of 27 Sep 2019, up to 30 calendar days (extendable by up to 30), free of charge, apply in person at the information centre, via MFC or via Gosuslugi
- 42.xn--b1aew.xn--p1ai/document/2514460 (read 22 Oct 2026)MVD regional page (seen in search results): apostille on the paper certificate from the GIAC or information centre, state fee RUB 2,500 per document
- moscow.thaiembassy.org/en/publicservice/revision-of-thailand-s-visa-exemption-and-visa-on-arrival-schemes (read 22 Oct 2026)Moscow: e-Visa should be requested at least 14 business days ahead; information as of 31 Aug 2026
- hcch.net/en/news-archive/details/ (read 22 Oct 2026)Apostille Convention in force for Thailand 28 Feb 2027
Reviewed by the Thai Visa Pre-Check team
We check documents; we are not a law firm and not the Thai government. We read each embassy page named in the sources on the date shown.
We sell a document check. We do not apply for you, and only the embassy decides your visa.
- Last checked
- First published
What changed
- first published. Added a paper-or-electronic decision, a step-by-step order plan, a timeline and a cost table. The apostille fee moved out of the summary into this list.
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