How to obtain a Spanish Certificado de Antecedentes Penales and what foreign police certificates Spain requires.
Overview
Spain's national criminal records register is the Registro Central de Penados, maintained by the Ministry of Justice (Ministerio de Justicia). The Certificado de Antecedentes Penales (Spanish Police Clearance Certificate) is available online via Cl@ve digital ID at the Ministry of Justice website — free for personal use. For visa, residence, and naturalisation applications, you typically need both a Spanish Certificado de Antecedentes Penales (if you've been resident in Spain) AND foreign police clearance certificates from any country where you've resided as an adult. Foreign certificates must be apostilled (Hague members) or legalised (non-Hague), and translated into Spanish by a traductor jurado. The validity window is typically 3-6 months — start the process well before your Spanish application. This guide covers both routes, verified against mjusticia.gob.es and exteriores.gob.es.
Spanish Certificado de Antecedentes Penales
- Free for personal use: No fee when ordered online with Cl@ve identification.
- Online order: Via sede.mjusticia.gob.es. Requires Cl@ve (digital ID for Spanish residents) or in-person at Madrid or via Spanish embassies abroad.
- In-person order: Ministry of Justice (Madrid) or any Subdelegación del Gobierno (Provincial Office). Bring passport or NIE/TIE.
- Online via Spanish embassy abroad: For Spanish residents living abroad temporarily.
- Processing time: Online with Cl@ve: instant download. In-person: 1-5 days. By post: 10-20 days.
- Contents: Adult criminal convictions still on the register. Spanish criminal records have cancellation periods (cancelación) — varying by offence severity (typically 2-15 years after sentence completion).
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See Paid Plans →Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a Spanish police clearance certificate?
Order online at sede.mjusticia.gob.es with Cl@ve digital ID — free for personal use, instant download. Alternative: in-person at any Subdelegación del Gobierno (Provincial Office) or Ministry of Justice in Madrid; bring passport or NIE/TIE. Order from abroad via Spanish embassies/consulates. Processing: instant online; 1-5 days in-person; 10-20 days by post.
Is the Spanish police clearance certificate free?
Yes when ordered online for personal use with Cl@ve digital ID. There's no fee. The substantive cost is only if you need apostille for use abroad (free from Ministry of Justice) or sworn translation for use in non-Spanish-speaking countries (EUR 30-80 per page via traductor jurado).
Do I need foreign police clearance for the Spanish NLV?
Yes — police clearance from your country of citizenship and any country where you've resided 5+ years. Must be apostilled in the home country and sworn-translated into Spanish. Maximum 3-6 months old at the visa application. Plan to order foreign certificates 4-6 weeks before your Spanish application to allow time for apostille and translation.
How much does an apostilled FBI background check cost for Spanish use?
FBI Identity History Summary: USD 18 digital or USD 50 via Channeler. State Department apostille: USD 8 per document, 4-6 weeks by mail (faster via private apostille services for additional fee). Spanish traductor jurado for sworn translation: EUR 30-80 per page (typically 1-3 pages). Total realistic cost: USD 75 + EUR 60-100 = approximately USD 145-180 + 4-8 weeks total.
Do I need to translate my foreign police clearance into Spanish?
Yes for almost all Spanish procedures. The translation must be by a traductor jurado registered with the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAEC) — find the official list at exteriores.gob.es. Cost: EUR 30-80 per page. Translations from other countries' sworn translators may not be accepted. Have the apostille from the country of origin attached to the original, then commission a Spanish traductor jurado to translate both.
What if I lived in a country without a formal police clearance system?
Spain accepts alternative documentation: notarised affidavit from yourself stating no criminal record, reference letters from professional sources, embassy/consulate confirmation that no national system exists. Discuss with the Spanish consulate before your application. Each case is evaluated individually.
How recent must my foreign police clearance be for a Spanish visa?
Typically no more than 3-6 months old at the time of Spanish application submission. Spanish consulates and ISA apply this strictly — older certificates may be rejected. Order foreign certificates in the immediate run-up to your Spanish application. Combined timeline for ordering + apostille + sworn translation: 8-12 weeks for the US, UK, India, and several other countries.
How long are Spanish criminal records kept on the register?
Spanish criminal records have cancellation periods (cancelación) varying by offence severity — typically 2-15 years after sentence completion. Lighter offences cancel sooner; more serious offences (organised crime, terrorism, serious violence) remain longer. Once cancelled, a conviction is removed from the public certificate (Certificado de Antecedentes Penales). Pending criminal proceedings appear on the certificate. You can request correction or removal if you believe a record is wrongly maintained.