Get your criminal record certificate from any country apostilled and translated for Spain visas, residency, and the 2026 regularización. Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, Argentina, and more. Free consultation.
Step 1 of 4
Where were you living when the records were generated?
Spain is a member of the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention. For any official document from the United States — including criminal background checks — Spain requires a federal apostille issued by the U.S. Department of State, not consular legalization.
For visa and residency applications (non-lucrative, golden visa, work permit, student visa, family reunification, or the 2026 extraordinary regularization), Spanish authorities specifically require:
We handle all three steps in a single coordinated service — no need to manage multiple providers or navigate government procedures alone.
Applying for a non-lucrative visa, golden visa, or long-term residency in Spain? Spanish authorities require an FBI background check with a federal apostille — and a certified Spanish translation. We handle the full chain, remotely.
Spain's 2026 extraordinary regularization program requires a criminal record certificate with apostille from every country of residence for the last 5 years. If you lived in the US, the FBI check is mandatory.
Whether you're from Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, Argentina, or any other country and have spent time in the US, you likely need both a US FBI check and your home country's certificate — apostilled and translated.
Every country, certificate authority, apostille authority, time, translation needs, and difficulty level.
| Country | Certificate | Apostille authority | Total time | Translation | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇲🇽 Mexico | CFAP / SSPC | SEGOB TAD | 5–10 days | No | ✅ Fast |
| 🇨🇴 Colombia | Policía Nacional | Cancillería | 1–5 days | No | ✅ Fastest |
| 🇨🇱 Chile | Registro Civil | MINREL | 1–3 days | No | ✅ Fastest |
| 🇵🇪 Peru | Poder Judicial | MRE | 3–7 days | No | ✅ Fast |
| 🇩🇴 Dominican Rep. | Procuraduría | MIREX | 2–5 days | No | ✅ Fast |
| 🇪🇨 Ecuador | Min. Interior | MREMH | 1–4 days | No | ✅ Fast |
| 🇧🇷 Brazil | Polícia Federal | CNJ / Cartório | 7–14 days | Yes (PT→ES) | 🟡 Medium |
| 🇧🇴 Bolivia | REJAP / OJ | Cancillería | 7–14 days | No | 🟡 Medium |
| 🇦🇷 Argentina | RNR | Cancillería TAD | 14–28 days | No | 🟡 Medium |
| 🇺🇸 USA / FBI | FBI CJIS | US Dept. State | 28–56 days | Yes (EN→ES) | 🟠 Slow |
| 🇻🇪 Venezuela | MPPRIJP | MPPRE SLAE | 21–90+ days | No | 🔴 Critical |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | RCMP | Global Affairs CA | 56–105 days | Yes (EN→ES) | 🔴 Critical |
All information verified from official government sources. Last updated: April 2026.
The clock starts on the issuance date — not the apostille date, not the translation date.
⚡ Pro tip: Submit to Extranjería as soon as the full document package is ready — do not wait until near day 90.
⚠️ Warning: Many applicants lose months of work because the certificate expires while waiting for apostille or translation. Start early.
We review your documents before submission to catch every one of these errors before they cause a rejection.
All packages include free document review, status updates throughout, and international tracked delivery. Additional copies available. Contact us for an exact quote →
| Document | Issuing authority | Estimated time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| FBI Identity History Summary (background check) | FBI CJIS Division | 10–14 business days | Must be the original result — not a photocopy. Valid 3–6 months for Spain visa purposes. |
| Completed fingerprint card (Form FD-258) | Applicant via US Post Office or law enforcement | Before FBI submission | Required to initiate the FBI check. We provide detailed fingerprinting instructions. |
| Federal Apostille (U.S. Dept. of State) | U.S. Department of State Office of Authentications | 4–8 weeks standard / 5–7 days expedited | FBI documents are federal, so only the US State Dept. — not state offices — can apostille them. |
| Certified Spanish translation | Sworn / certified translator | 1–2 business days after apostille | Spain requires a certified translation by a sworn translator accepted by Spanish authorities. |
| Copy of valid passport or government ID | Applicant | Current | Must match exactly the name used on the FBI background check request. |
Most rejections are caused by avoidable errors. Our pre-submission review catches every one of these:
Send us your visa or residency requirement details. We confirm exactly which certificate is needed (federal FBI check or state-level), explain fingerprinting, and quote a firm price and timeline.
We guide you to a fingerprinting location or mail you a fingerprint card. Once complete, we submit your request to the FBI CJIS Division on your behalf and track every status update.
As soon as your FBI certificate arrives, we submit it to the U.S. Department of State Office of Authentications for the federal apostille — the only valid apostille for FBI documents.
Your apostilled FBI certificate is translated by a sworn translator and returned to you by express international courier, ready to submit to Spanish authorities.
"They handled my FBI apostille for my Spain visa — the whole process was remote, clear, and faster than I expected. I was approved without any document issues."
— Maria G., Miami · Non-lucrative visa applicant
Information on this page is based on procedures from recognized government and intergovernmental bodies — not third-party estimates.
Reviewed by
Laura ChenLegal Document Expert
Specialist in documents for the English-speaking market with a focus on fast and secure processing.
No. The FBI accepts fingerprint cards submitted by mail from anywhere in the world. We guide you through the fingerprinting process at a local provider in your country (or at a US embassy) and handle all submission logistics remotely.
Yes. Spain is a member of the 1961 Hague Convention, so a US federal apostille is the correct — and required — form of authentication for FBI documents used in Spanish visa and residency proceedings. No consular legalization is needed.
Yes, Spanish immigration authorities require a certified translation into Spanish from a sworn translator. We include this in our full package. The translation is prepared after the apostille is attached so it covers the complete apostilled document.
Standard timeline is 15–21 business days: FBI processing (10–14 days) + federal apostille (4–6 days) + certified translation (1–2 days). With our expedited service, total time is typically 10–12 business days.
Yes. If you already have a valid FBI Identity History Summary, we can submit it directly for the federal apostille at the US State Department and add the certified translation. Share a scan with us and we'll confirm eligibility.
The FBI federal check covers your entire US history regardless of which states you lived in — it pulls from the national database. You only need one FBI check, not separate state checks, for Spain visa purposes.
Most Spanish consulates and immigration offices accept certificates issued within the last 3–6 months of your application date. We recommend starting your order as soon as you have a confirmed application date to avoid expiry.
Our FBI check + federal apostille + certified Spanish translation package starts at $249. Rush processing is available. Contact us for an exact quote based on your timeline and whether you need single or multiple copies.
Message us today for a free document review and guidance.