In short
The criminal record certificate is issued by the Puerto Rico Police and states whether you appear with convictions in their records. It is the same document many people call a “good conduct certificate”. You can request it online through the government portal or in person at a police station that handles it. Note: the fingerprint-based background check run through the Department of Justice is a separate procedure.
This information may have changed. Check the current requirements with the official agency.
What is it?
It is an official certification from the Puerto Rico Police stating whether a person has convictions recorded in their systems. It is used constantly: for job applications, for renting, for licensing processes and for agency procedures. Although its official name is “certificado de antecedentes penales”, in everyday speech almost everyone calls it a “certificado de buena conducta” (good conduct certificate), and many employers ask for it by that name. They are the same document; you do not need to hunt for two different certifications.
Who can do it?
You request it about yourself. If someone requests it on another person’s behalf, an authorization is normally required, and for a minor a parent or legal guardian handles it. The identification and authorization requirements are set by the Police, so confirm them before going in person or paying online.
Requirements
- Request the certificate about yourself, or have authorization to request it on someone else’s behalf.
- Have current photo identification that the Police accept.
- Be able to provide your personal information exactly as it appears on your identification, with no abbreviations or incomplete surnames.
- Confirm whether the party requesting it accepts the online version or requires a physically stamped copy.
- Verify whether what you are actually being asked for is the Department of Justice fingerprint check, which is a different procedure.
Documents you need
Cost
Step by step
Step 1: Confirm which certification you are being asked for
If you are asked for a “certificado de buena conducta”, that is this same Police document. But if you are asked for a fingerprint-based background check, that is handled separately through the Department of Justice. Ask before you start: many people pay for the wrong procedure and end up doing it twice.
Step 2: Go to the official government portal
The online request is made from the Puerto Rico government portal. Avoid third-party sites that show up in search results offering to “handle it for you”: they charge on top and they are not the agency.
Step 3: Enter your information exactly as it appears on your ID
The system searches by name and personal information, so an incomplete surname or a differently spelled name can return a mismatched result or get the request rejected. The agency’s own official form may ask you for identifying information; you fill that in on the government site, never on PRFácil.
Step 4: Decide between applying online or in person
The online option saves you the line. Applying in person at a station that handles this still exists and is sometimes the way out when the system cannot find your record or when the requesting party demands a stamped document. The official site indicates which options are available.
Step 5: Save the certificate and a copy
Download or save the issued document and keep a copy for yourself. If it was requested for a job or another procedure, hand over the copy and keep the original.
Where to do it
Online through Puerto Rico’s official government portal, or in person at a Police station equipped to issue it. The official site keeps the current list of options and locations.
How long it takes
What to do if something goes wrong
If the system cannot find your record, it is almost always how your information was entered: incomplete surnames, a middle name you left out, or an ID that does not match what the system has. Check that first and try again. If the result that comes back does not match your history, do not let it slide: contact the Puerto Rico Police directly, because corrections are made by the agency, not by the portal. And if whoever requested the document rejects it, ask exactly which certification they need, because it may be the fingerprint one.
Common mistakes
- Believing that the “certificado de buena conducta” and the criminal record certificate are two different documents and requesting both.
- Requesting this certificate when what the employer requires is the Department of Justice fingerprint-based background check.
- Entering an incomplete name or leaving off the second surname, which makes the search fail to find the record.
- Using third-party sites that charge extra for something you can do directly with the government.
- Assuming the certificate is still acceptable months later: whoever requests it usually imposes their own rule about how recent it must be.
Frequently asked questions
Is the “certificado de buena conducta” the same as the criminal record certificate?
Yes. It is the same Puerto Rico Police document; “certificado de buena conducta” is simply the common name for it. If an employer asks for it using that name, this is the procedure you need.
Then what is the fingerprint-based background check?
It is a different procedure, handled through the Department of Justice at applicantservices.pr.gov. Many jobs, especially those working with minors or vulnerable populations, require that check rather than the Police certificate. Ask which one is being requested before you pay.
How long is the certificate valid?
PRFácil does not publish a validity period it has not verified with the agency. In practice, whoever asks you for the document usually imposes their own rule about how recent it must be, so ask that party and confirm with the Police.
Can I request it from outside Puerto Rico?
The online request exists, but if you need a stamped copy or the system cannot find your record, an in-person step or an authorization for someone else may be required. Confirm your case with the Police before assuming you can complete it remotely.
Can I request someone else’s certificate?
A written authorization from that person is normally required, and for a minor it is handled by a parent or guardian with proof of that relationship. The exact requirements are set by the Police.
Official sources
These are the government pages this guide is based on.
- Policía de Puerto Rico
Policía de PR
www.pr.gov
- Puerto Rico Police — official site
Policía de Puerto Rico
www.policia.pr.gov
- Fingerprint-based background check (Department of Justice)
Departamento de Justicia
applicantservices.pr.gov
- PR.gov — government services portal
PR.gov
www.pr.gov
Last verified
Pending official verification
MiPRFácil is an independent informational website and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the Government of Puerto Rico or any government agency.
MiPRFácil does not submit applications on your behalf.
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