Criminal Record Certificate for Mexico

Mexican Criminal Record Certificate — USA, Canada & International

Updated: March 2026 · Reviewed by specialist

Federal CFAP from the SSPC for US immigration, Canadian PR, and international use. Apostille from the SRE and certified translation included. 100% remote — free consultation.

  • Federal CFAP (SSPC) covered
  • SRE apostille included
  • Certified translation available
  • Free document review
Laura Chen
Reviewed byLaura ChenLegal Document Expert

What type of Mexican criminal record certificate do you need?

Step 1 of 4

What is the certificate for?

Mexican criminal record certificates explained

Mexico issues criminal record certificates at two levels:

  1. Federal CFAP — the Carta de Antecedentes No Penales issued by the SSPC (Secretaría de Seguridad y Protección Ciudadana). This is the standard certificate required for most visa, immigration, and employment applications. Available online and valid for 90 days.
  2. State-level certificate — issued by individual state governments. Some specific employers or legal proceedings require a certificate from the state where the events occurred. Processing times and procedures vary by state.

For international use, Mexico's apostille is issued by the Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores (SRE) — the foreign ministry. Mexico has been a member of the Hague Apostille Convention since 1995.

Who needs this service?

🇺🇸 Mexicans applying for US or Canadian immigration

Applying for a US green card, USCIS benefit, or Canadian permanent residency? Authorities typically require a Mexican CFAP certificate with an apostille and a certified English translation. We handle the complete chain remotely.

💼 Professionals seeking employment

Many Mexican and multinational companies require background checks for new hires, especially for positions involving finance, security, or sensitive data. We obtain the correct federal or state certificate quickly.

🏫 Students & scholarship applicants

Universities and scholarship programs abroad often require a clean criminal record certificate from your home country, apostilled and translated. We ensure your documents meet the exact requirements of your destination institution.

Required documents

DocumentIssuing authorityEstimated timeNotes
Carta de Antecedentes No Penales (CFAP) SSPC — Secretaría de Seguridad y Protección Ciudadana 3–5 business days online Federal certificate issued through the SSPC portal. Valid for 90 days. Required for most official and international purposes.
State-level criminal certificate (if required) State government (varies by state) 5–10 business days Some employers or state-specific proceedings require a certificate from the relevant state, in addition to the federal CFAP.
Official ID (INE/IFE or passport) Applicant Current Required to apply for the CFAP. The name on the ID must match all documentation.
Apostille (for international use) Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores (SRE) 5–15 business days Mexico is a Hague Convention member. The SRE issues apostilles on federal documents. Appointments required in most states.
Certified translation (if required by destination) Sworn / certified translator 1–2 business days after apostille Required when submitting to non-Spanish-speaking countries. We provide translations in English, Portuguese, French, and more.

How the process works

1

Tell us where you are and why you need the certificate — employment, visa, residency, or international use. We confirm whether you need the federal CFAP, a state certificate, or both, and advise on apostille and translation requirements.

2

We guide you through or manage the SSPC online portal application for the federal CFAP. For state certificates, we identify the correct authority and coordinate the request on your behalf.

3

If your certificate is going to a Hague Convention country, we submit it to the Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores for the official apostille. We book appointments and track progress.

4

We arrange a certified translation if required and deliver your complete document package by tracked international courier — ready for submission to foreign authorities.

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.

SSPC — Carta de Antecedentes No Penales Official portal of the Secretaría de Seguridad y Protección Ciudadana for the federal CFAP (Certificado Federal de Antecedentes Penales). View source →
SRE — Apostilla de documentos Official information from the Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores on apostille procedures for Mexican official documents. View source →
Hague Apostille Convention (HCCH) Mexico is a Hague Convention member. Apostille is the correct authentication for Mexican documents destined for other member countries. View source →

Related guides

Guide
How to get a Mexican CFAP from abroad in 2026Laura Chen · March 2026
→Guide
Mexican CFAP for US immigration: USCIS requirements 2026Laura Chen · March 2026
→

Related services

🇺🇸FBI background check (USA)FBI check for USCIS, employment, and international use📋All criminal record servicesHub for criminal record certificates from all countries🔏Apostille servicesHague Convention authentication for all document types🌐Certified translationSworn certified translations for all major languages

Criminal record certificates by destination country

USA Spain Canada Colombia Argentina UK Brazil Chile
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.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the CFAP and how is it different from a state certificate?

The CFAP (Carta de Antecedentes No Penales) is the federal Mexican criminal record certificate issued by the SSPC. It covers federal-level criminal records across Mexico. Some states also maintain their own criminal records databases, and certain employers or proceedings require a state-level certificate from the relevant state in addition to the federal CFAP.

Can I apply for a Mexican CFAP from outside Mexico?

Yes. The SSPC portal allows online applications and the certificate can be issued digitally. For state-level certificates, we manage the process with the relevant state authority on your behalf. We have experience coordinating requests for Mexicans living in the US, Spain, Canada, and other countries.

Does Mexico issue apostilles on criminal record certificates?

Yes. Mexico is a member of the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention. The Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores (SRE) issues apostilles on official Mexican documents, including the CFAP. An apostille makes the document valid in any other Hague member country without further legalization.

How long is the Mexican CFAP valid?

The federal CFAP issued by the SSPC is typically valid for 90 days from the date of issue. Most foreign consulates and immigration offices require the certificate to have been issued within the last 3–6 months of the application date. We time the request to your specific deadline.

Is the apostille different for each Mexican state?

For the federal CFAP, the apostille is issued by the SRE (federal authority). For state-level criminal certificates, the apostille is issued by the government of the corresponding state. We confirm the correct authority for your specific document.

Do I need a certified translation of my Mexican certificate?

Only if the destination country requires it. English-speaking countries (USA, Canada, UK, Australia) typically require a certified English translation. Non-Spanish-speaking countries in general will need a translation into their official language. We provide certified translations in English, Portuguese, French, and other languages.

How long does the full process take?

The federal CFAP is typically issued within 3–5 business days online. The SRE apostille takes 5–15 business days. A certified translation adds 1–2 business days. Total end-to-end time is typically 10–20 business days. We offer expedited options for urgent cases.

Laura Chen
Laura Chen Legal Document Expert
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