The complete guide to getting your US criminal record apostilled for Spain visas and residency. Understand why only the US State Department can apostille FBI documents — and how we handle the full process remotely.
Step 1 of 4
Are you currently in the US or abroad?
The FBI Identity History Summary (IHS) — commonly called a federal background check or FBI rap sheet — is a compiled record of all criminal history information that has been submitted to the FBI's national fingerprint database from law enforcement agencies across the United States.
Unlike state background checks, which only cover records within a single state, the FBI IHS is a national compilation that includes:
For Spain immigration purposes, this is the document Spanish authorities require. A state background check from California, Texas, or any other individual state is not a substitute for the FBI federal check.
This is the most misunderstood aspect of the FBI apostille process — and the most common cause of expensive delays:
The FBI CJIS Division is a federal government body. Its output documents are federal documents. Apostille jurisdiction is federal. There is no workaround or exception. We always submit FBI documents directly to the US State Department Office of Authentications.
US citizens relocating to Spain for retirement, work, or lifestyle reasons must provide an FBI Identity History Summary with a federal apostille and certified Spanish translation for all long-term visa types.
If you were born in Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, Argentina, or elsewhere but lived in the US for 5+ years, Spain's visa rules require a US FBI check alongside your home country's certificate. We handle both.
Spain's 2026 extraordinary regularization requires criminal record certificates from every country of residence for the past 5 years. US residence always means an FBI federal check — no state check is a substitute.
Regulated professions in Spain — healthcare, education, law enforcement, finance — may require an FBI background check as part of credential recognition and work authorization. We handle the full chain.
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.
Every FBI IHS request requires fingerprint submission. Here are your options depending on where you are located:
| Document | Issuing authority | Estimated time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| FBI Identity History Summary (IHS) | FBI CJIS Division — Criminal Justice Information Services | 10–14 business days (standard) / 5–7 business days (expedited via channeler) | Must be the original printed result letter from the FBI, not a photocopy or electronic copy. The FBI no longer issues IHS results on letterhead with a wet signature — the printed result letter is the accepted format. Valid 3–6 months for Spain visa purposes. |
| Fingerprint card — Form FD-258 or electronic scan | Applicant, submitted via US Post Office, law enforcement, or approved fingerprint channeler | Completed before FBI submission | The FBI requires rolled fingerprint impressions for IHS requests. Cards must be properly filled out: full legal name, date of birth, and reason for submission. Smudged or incomplete cards are rejected and add 2–4 weeks to the process. We review your card before submission. |
| Federal Apostille — U.S. Apostille Certificate | U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications, Washington DC | 4–8 weeks (standard mail) / 5–7 business days (expedited) | Critical: FBI documents are federal government records. Only the U.S. Department of State has apostille jurisdiction over federal documents. If you submit an FBI document to a state Secretary of State office, it will be returned without apostille — causing weeks of delay. We only use the correct federal channel. |
| Certified Spanish translation | Sworn translator recognized by Spanish immigration authorities | 1–2 business days after apostille is received | The translation must cover the entire apostilled document including the apostille certificate text itself. Spain requires sworn (jurada) or otherwise certified translations. We use translators whose credentials are accepted by all Spanish consulates and the Ministry of Interior. |
| Passport copy (legible, current) | Applicant | Current — must not be expired | Your name on the FBI request must exactly match your passport. If your legal name includes accents, compound surnames, or differs from how you entered it in the US, this must be resolved before submitting to the FBI. Discrepancies cause rejection. |
Go to a US Post Office, law enforcement agency, or certified fingerprinting provider. Must be rolled ink on cardstock — digital scans not accepted by FBI.
Mail Form FD-258 + payment to FBI CJIS Division in Clarksburg, WV. Or use an FBI-approved channeler for faster processing.
FBI documents are federal. ONLY the US Department of State Office of Authentications in Washington D.C. can apostille them. State Secretary of State offices cannot.
Certified translation of the complete apostilled document (including the apostille stamp text) by a MAEC-recognized perito traductor.
The 90-day clock starts from the FBI certificate issuance date. With 4–8 weeks just for the apostille, plan carefully.
⚠️ Remember: the 90-day clock starts from Step 1 issuance date — not when you submit to Spain.
We review your specific Spain visa requirement, confirm whether a federal FBI check (vs. a state-level check) is needed, and check whether any previous fingerprint submissions are on file with the FBI. We provide a firm quote and exact timeline before you commit.
You can be fingerprinted at a US post office, law enforcement agency, approved channeler, or US embassy/consulate abroad. We send you a pre-filled FD-258 card with instructions, review your completed card before submission, and confirm all fields are correct.
We submit your fingerprint card to the FBI CJIS Division (or use an approved channeler for faster processing) and monitor your request throughout. We notify you the same day your Identity History Summary result is received.
Immediately upon receiving your FBI result letter, we submit it to the U.S. Department of State Office of Authentications in Washington DC for the federal apostille. This is the only valid apostille authority for FBI documents — state offices cannot process them.
Once the apostilled document is returned from the State Department, a sworn translator prepares a certified Spanish translation that covers the full apostilled document — including the apostille text. This is what Spanish authorities will read.
Your complete package — original FBI result, federal apostille, and certified translation — is sent by tracked international express courier (DHL or FedEx) to your address anywhere in the world, ready to submit to the Spanish consulate or immigration office.
We review your documents before submission to catch every one of these errors before they cause a rejection.
Latin American who lived in the US and now needs FBI check for Spain regularización.
American planning to move to Spain on savings income.
Needs both Venezuelan (MPPRIJP) and US FBI records for Spain residency application.
Timelines are based on current government processing speeds as of March 2026. The FBI and US State Department processing times are subject to change. We monitor current wait times and update our estimates accordingly. Contact us for current processing times →
All packages include free document review, name discrepancy check, status updates, and international tracked delivery. Additional copies quoted on request. Get an exact quote for your case →
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.
The FBI Identity History Summary (also called a rap sheet or background check) is a compiled record of criminal history information submitted to the FBI's national fingerprint database — formally known as the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS). It contains arrest and conviction records submitted by US law enforcement agencies across all 50 states, DC, and federal agencies. For immigration purposes, it is the definitive US criminal history record.
State Secretary of State offices only have apostille authority over documents issued by state-level bodies — courts, vital records offices, notaries, and state agencies. The FBI is a federal government agency. Federal documents — including the FBI Identity History Summary — fall under federal apostille jurisdiction, which belongs exclusively to the U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications. Submitting an FBI document to a state apostille office will result in refusal and loss of time.
A state background check only covers criminal records within that specific state. The FBI Identity History Summary is a national compilation of all records submitted to the FBI database from law enforcement agencies across every US state, US territory, and federal jurisdiction. For Spain visa purposes, the FBI national check is what Spanish authorities require — not a state-level check from any individual state.
Yes. The FBI processes IHS requests from individuals worldwide regardless of current residence. You can submit a fingerprint card by mail from any country. We can also direct you to approved fingerprint channelers with international reach, or advise on fingerprinting at a US embassy or consulate near you. Your current address does not affect eligibility.
No. The FBI processes Identity History Summary requests for any person who has ever been fingerprinted in the US — regardless of nationality or immigration status. If you lived or worked in the US, studied there, or were ever fingerprinted by a US law enforcement agency, you are eligible to request your IHS.
Standard FBI mail-in processing takes 10–14 business days from receipt of a valid fingerprint card. Using an approved FBI channeler typically reduces this to 5–7 business days. Add international mail transit time for the fingerprint card (5–10 days from many countries). The subsequent US State Dept. apostille adds 4–8 weeks (standard) or 5–7 business days (expedited). We use expedited options whenever available.
Yes, and it is one of the most common rejection causes. If your legal name includes accents (ñ, á, é, etc.), compound surnames, or was recorded differently in US records (e.g., without accents), this must be reconciled before submission. We review your name across all documents before initiating the FBI request and advise on the correct approach for your specific situation.
The presence of a criminal record doesn't automatically disqualify a Spain visa application. Spanish authorities evaluate the nature, severity, and recency of offenses. Minor or old offenses are often accepted. We strongly recommend consulting an immigration attorney if your FBI check shows any records. We handle the document chain — apostille and translation — regardless of the result.
The apostille certificate itself does not expire. However, Spanish consulates and immigration offices require that the underlying FBI background check be issued within the last 3–6 months at the time of your visa application. The apostille validity is tied to the currency of the original document. Plan your timeline accordingly — we help you coordinate this.
The FBI now delivers some IHS results electronically. However, the U.S. Department of State requires a physical document for apostille processing — an electronically delivered PDF cannot be apostilled. If your IHS was delivered electronically, we will advise on obtaining a printed, physically deliverable copy that meets the State Department's requirements.
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