Criminal Record Certificate Services

Criminal Record Certificates — Apostille, Translation & More

Updated: March 2026 · Reviewed by specialist

From FBI background checks to Latin American certificates and Spanish translations — we handle the full authentication chain for your Spain visa, residency application, or international immigration process.

  • US FBI check + federal apostille
  • Certificates from 30+ countries
  • Certified Spanish translation included
  • Free document review
Laura Chen
Reviewed byLaura ChenLegal Document Expert

What criminal record service do you need?

Step 1 of 4

Where were you living when the records were generated?

What is a criminal record certificate?

A criminal record certificate — also known as a background check, certificate of good conduct, or police clearance certificate — is an official government document confirming whether a person has any registered criminal convictions in that country's legal system.

It is one of the most commonly required documents for:

  • Immigration and visa applications — Spain and most EU countries require them for all long-term visa types
  • Residency and permanent residence — required to demonstrate good conduct in all countries of prior residence
  • Work permits and professional licensing — especially for regulated professions or positions involving minors
  • International adoptions — required documentation in most jurisdictions
  • Academic programs and scholarships — some international programs require background checks

Most immigration processes require you to present certificates from every country where you have resided for 5 or more years, each with an apostille and certified translation in the language of the destination country.

Who needs this service?

🇪🇸 Spain visa and residency applicants

Non-lucrative visa, golden visa, student visa, family reunification, or work permit — Spain requires a criminal record certificate from every country where you have resided for 5 or more years, with an apostille and certified Spanish translation.

🌍 International job and immigration applicants

Many countries require a background check certificate from your country of origin or previous residence. We handle the full authentication chain — from obtaining the certificate to apostille and certified translation.

📋 2026 regularización extraordinaria applicants

Spain's 2026 extraordinary regularization program requires apostilled criminal record certificates from every country of residence for the last 5 years. If you lived in the US, the FBI check is mandatory alongside certificates from other countries.

🎓 Employment and professional licensing

Employers, professional boards, and licensing authorities in many countries require background check certificates from foreign applicants. We obtain, apostille, and translate certificates from the US, Latin America, and Europe.

Criminal record certificate services we offer

🇺🇸 FBI Background Check for Spain The most requested service. FBI Identity History Summary + federal apostille (US State Dept.) + certified Spanish translation. Covers your complete US residence history regardless of which states you lived in. Learn more about this service →
🇪🇸 Spain Criminal Record Certificate Obtain your certificado de antecedentes penales from Spain's Ministry of Justice — with certified translation into English or other languages if needed. Spain criminal record →
🌎 Latin American Criminal Records Criminal record certificates from Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Venezuela, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Dominican Republic, and more — with apostille and certified translation for Spain or other destinations. Request a quote →
🔗 Multi-country packages Spain visa applicants often need certificates from 2–3 countries simultaneously. We coordinate all documents in parallel and deliver a complete apostilled and translated package — ready to submit. Start multi-country order →

The authentication chain: certificate → apostille → translation

Most immigration authorities require all three elements. Missing any one of them causes your application to be rejected or returned:

📄 Step 1 — Original certificate Issued by the competent national authority. For the US: FBI CJIS Division. For Spain: Ministry of Justice. For most Latin American countries: a national police, judiciary, or interior ministry body.
🔏 Step 2 — Apostille An authentication certificate attached by the competent authority of the issuing country, confirming the document is genuine. For the US, FBI documents require the US Department of State apostille — not a state apostille.
🌐 Step 3 — Certified translation A sworn or certified translation into the language of the destination country. Spain requires translation into Spanish by a sworn translator recognized by Spanish authorities. The translation is prepared after the apostille is attached.

Why Spain visa applicants need multiple certificates

Spanish law requires that you submit a criminal record certificate from every country where you have resided legally for 5 or more years during the last 5 years. For many applicants, this means providing certificates from 2, 3, or even more countries:

  • A Venezuelan applicant who spent 4 years in the US and lived in Colombia before that needs: US FBI check + Venezuelan certificate + Colombian certificate — each apostilled and translated
  • A Mexican applicant living in the US for 8 years needs at minimum a US FBI check, and possibly also a Mexican criminal record certificate
  • An Argentinian who lived partly in Spain needs both an Argentine certificate and a Spanish certificate

We specialize in multi-country packages and can manage your entire documentation simultaneously — not sequentially. Contact us for a multi-country assessment →

Real client cases

DM
Democratic Memory Law – Name Typo

from USA to Spain

Apostille
The problem was…

An applicant for Spanish citizenship under the Democratic Memory Law had their mother's 40-year-old US Naturalization Certificate rejected because of a minor spelling error in her first name.

We solved it…

The applicant had to petition USCIS for a formal name correction, which carried a 6-month processing delay, requiring them to request an extension from the Spanish consulate.

Result

Name corrected. Spanish citizenship application resumed.

DM
Deferred Master's – Expired FBI Check

from USA to Spain

Apostille
The problem was…

A student deferred their Spanish master's program for a year and tried to reuse their previously apostilled FBI background check for the new visa application.

We solved it…

The consulate rejected it because the underlying criminal record check is only valid for 5 to 6 months from its original date of issuance.

Result

New FBI check obtained. Student visa approved for following year.

FF
FBI Fingerprint Card – Translation Required

from USA to Spain

Apostille
The problem was…

An applicant submitted an apostilled and translated FBI background check to the Spanish consulate, but it was rejected for missing a translation of the physical fingerprint card itself.

We solved it…

The applicant had to hire a sworn translator to translate the English text on the standard FBI FD-258 fingerprint card to get the visa approved.

Result

Visa approved after adding translation of fingerprint card.

View all cases →

Official sources & authorities

Information on this page is based on procedures from recognized government and intergovernmental bodies — not third-party estimates.

FBI CJIS Division — Identity History Summary Checks Official FBI source for requesting a federal criminal background check. Required for all US residents applying for Spanish visas. View source →
U.S. Dept. of State — Office of Authentications The sole US federal authority for apostilling FBI documents. State-level apostilles are not valid for FBI records. View source →
Spain Ministry of Justice — Criminal Record Certificate Official Spanish authority for the certificado de antecedentes penales. Spain is a Hague Convention member — apostilles are required, not consular legalization. View source →
Hague Apostille Convention (HCCH) The 1961 Hague Convention treaty governing apostille authentication. Member countries accept apostilles instead of full consular legalization chains. View source →

Related guides

Guide
How to get an FBI background check from abroad in 2026Laura Chen · March 2026
→Guide
Spain's 2026 extraordinary regularization: document checklistLaura Chen · March 2026
→

Related services

🇪🇸Criminal record for Spain (FBI)FBI background check with federal apostille and certified Spanish translation for Spain visas🔏Apostille servicesHague Convention certification for all document types and countries🌐Certified translationSworn certified translations accepted by authorities worldwide

Criminal record certificate by country

Spain United States (FBI) Mexico Colombia Argentina Venezuela Peru Ecuador
Laura Chen

Reviewed by

Laura Chen

Legal Document Expert

Specialist in documents for the English-speaking market with a focus on fast and secure processing.

View full profile →

Frequently asked questions

What is a criminal record certificate and when is it required?

A criminal record certificate (also called a background check or certificate of good conduct) is an official document issued by a government authority confirming whether a person has any recorded criminal convictions. It is required for immigration applications, long-term visas, work permits, professional licensing, international adoptions, and certain employment processes.

Which countries require a criminal record certificate for visa applications?

Spain requires criminal record certificates for all long-term visa and residency applications, including non-lucrative visas, golden visas, work permits, student visas, and the 2026 extraordinary regularization. You must provide certificates from every country where you have legally resided for 5 or more years. Most EU, North American, and Oceanic countries have similar requirements.

Do I need an apostille on my criminal record certificate?

If you are submitting your certificate to a country that is a member of the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention (which includes Spain, most EU countries, the US, most of Latin America, Australia, and many others), an apostille is required instead of consular legalization. For non-member countries, a full consular legalization chain is needed instead.

What is the difference between an FBI check and a state-level background check?

The FBI Identity History Summary covers your entire criminal history across all US states, based on fingerprint records submitted to the national database. A state-level background check only covers records in that specific state. For Spain visa purposes, the FBI federal check is required and must be apostilled by the US Department of State — not by a state Secretary of State.

Do I need a certified translation of my criminal record certificate?

Yes, Spain and most immigration authorities require certified translations into their official language. The translation must be performed by a sworn translator whose credentials are recognized by the target country. We only use translators whose qualifications are accepted by Spanish immigration authorities.

How long does the process take?

Timeline varies by country of origin. For US FBI background checks: 15–21 business days standard, 10–12 expedited. For most Latin American countries: 5–15 business days for certificate + apostille + translation. We provide exact timelines for your specific case during the free consultation.

Can I get criminal record certificates from multiple countries at once?

Yes. Many Spain visa applicants need certificates from multiple countries — for example, both a US FBI check and a certificate from their home country in Latin America. We coordinate multi-country cases and deliver all documents together.

Laura Chen
Laura Chen Legal Document Expert
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