Get your Certificado de Antecedentes Judiciales (Policía Nacional) apostilled by the Cancillería and (certified translation only if needed) for Spain visas, residency and other current procedures. 100% remote — free consultation.
📋 Regularización Extraordinaria 2026
This criminal record document was required for the process; the application period closed on June 30, 2026. Processing times depend on the issuing authority, document type and any required authentication or translation; request a case-specific estimate.
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What format of Colombian criminal record does Spain require for you?
Spain is a member of the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention, and Colombia joined the Convention in 2000; it has been in force for Colombia since 2001. This means your Colombian criminal record certificate does not need consular legalization — only an apostille issued by the Cancillería (Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores).
For visa and residency applications — non-lucrative, digital nomad, work permit, family reunification, or other current procedures — Spanish authorities require:
We coordinate every step in a single service — no need to navigate the Policía Nacional portal, the Cancillería, and a translator independently.
Applying for a non-lucrative visa, digital nomad visa, or long-term residency in Spain? Spanish consulates require your Colombian Certificado de Antecedentes Judiciales apostilled by the Cancillería (certified translation only if needed). We handle everything remotely.
The application period for Spain's 2026 extraordinary regularization closed on 30 June 2026, so this applies only to pending cases or later document requests. The programme required a criminal record certificate with apostille for the countries of residence required by the current rules of the program. Colombian nationals must present the Certificado de Antecedentes Judiciales apostilled by the Cancillería.
Whether joining family or starting a new career in Spain, Spanish visa and consular procedures typically require the Certificado de Antecedentes Judiciales apostilled by the Cancillería (certified translation only if the receiving office requires one). The requirements are set by the Spanish authorities for each procedure — we confirm them for your case. Our fully remote service handles every step from anywhere in Colombia.
Example only — applies only if the consular post or office handling your case sets a 90-day certificate-age limit. It does not guarantee acceptance.
There is no universal three-to-six-month window: verified Spanish consular checklists include limits of three, five and six months, generally counted from the issuance date of the certificate. Check the current official checklist of the consular post processing your application. Where a limit applies, it counts from the issuance date — not the apostille date, not the translation date.
⚡ Pro tip: Submit as soon as the full document package is ready — do not wait until near the end of your procedure's limit.
⚠️ Warning: Some applicants lose months of work because the certificate is no longer accepted by the time the apostille or translation is ready. Start early.
| Document | Issuing authority | Estimated time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificado de Antecedentes Judiciales | Policía Nacional de Colombia (web portal) | Immediate to same day (online) | Available 24/7 via the Policía Nacional online portal; the certificate is generated there and can be used digitally or as a printed copy. Which format is accepted is decided by the Spanish office handling your procedure. Many procedures ask for it to be issued within the last 90 days; confirm your procedure's limit. |
| Apostille of the certificate | Cancillería (Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores) | Per the timeframe of your specific Cancillería application (official online or in-person channel) | Colombia is a Hague Convention member (since 2001). The Cancillería is the competent authority for apostilling most Colombian public documents, including police certificates. The Cancillería operates the apostille service, including online requests. |
| Certified Spanish translation (only if needed) | Sworn / certified translator recognized in Spain | 1–2 business days after apostille | Not needed if the certificate is already in Spanish. Only if the document (or part of it) is in another language, or if the receiving office specifically asks; then it must be done by an official translation accepted in Spain (e.g. a traductor jurado). |
| Copy of valid Colombian passport (or cédula + passport) | Applicant | Current | The name on the certificate must match your passport exactly, including any second surnames. |
Request it online on the Policía Nacional portal (the consultation is free). The "migration purposes" selection belongs to the Cancillería apostille workflow, not to the certificate download — confirm before you start which format your Spanish procedure and the Cancillería apostille channel require.
Submit the certificate to the Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores (Cancillería) for apostille; the Cancillería processes applications through its official channels, including online.
Not needed if the certificate is already in Spanish. Only if the document (or part of it) is in another language, or if the receiving office specifically asks.
Where a 90-day limit applies, it starts from the certificate issuance date in Step 1.
⚠️ Remember: where a 90-day limit applies, it counts from the Step 1 issuance date — not from when you submit. Check your procedure's checklist.
Share your Spain visa or residency type and timeline with us. We confirm the exact certificate format Spain requires, whether a physical or digital copy is acceptable, and provide a firm price and timeline quote.
We assist you in downloading the official certificate from the Policía Nacional de Colombia portal — it is generated online (free consultation) and can be used digitally or as a printed copy. There is no separately produced "physical original" product; we confirm the format your Spanish procedure requires.
We submit the certificate to the Cancillería for apostille — through the Cancillería's apostille service (online or in person). We track every step and notify you of the result.
If you need one, the apostilled certificate is translated by a certified translator recognized in Spain; it is then delivered to you by express international courier — ready to submit to your Spanish consulate or immigration office.
We review your documents before submission to catch every one of these errors before they cause a rejection.
Illustrative examples based on common situations; names and details are changed.
Colombian citizen applying for a Non-Lucrative Visa to live in Spain with savings.
Two Colombian adults applying for family reunification with a Spanish resident.
Illustrative examples based on common situations; names and details are changed.
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.
Yes. Spanish consulates and immigration offices typically ask for the Certificado de Antecedentes Judiciales issued by Colombia's Policía Nacional — confirm the specific office's requirements, since acceptance is always decided by the receiving authority. It must carry an apostille from the Cancillería (Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores) as a Spanish-language certificate. A certified translation is only needed if the document is in another language.
Whether a digital certificate or a printed/physical copy is accepted is decided by the Spanish office handling your procedure; we do not assume either. Confirm its requirement before you start, and we will arrange the format it asks for.
The Cancillería (Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores) is Colombia's competent authority under the Hague Convention for apostilling public documents, including criminal record certificates from the Policía Nacional. We coordinate the submission on your behalf.
If your certificate is already in Spanish, you do not need a sworn translation to use it in Spain. A sworn translation is only needed if the document (or part of it) is in another language, or if the receiving office specifically asks. If you do need one, it must be done by a sworn translator recognized in Spain, and we can arrange it.
The police certificate and the apostille are separate steps. Colombia's Cancillería operates the apostille service, including online requests; quote the timeframe for that specific application, separating private agency logistics from the police certificate, the official apostille processing and delivery. The certificate is generated on the Policía Nacional online portal — there is no separately produced physical original; confirm the format (digital or printed copy) that your Spanish office requires.
Yes. The Certificado de Antecedentes Judiciales is available online from the Policía Nacional portal. Cancillería apostilles can be processed remotely. Our service is 100% remote — you don't need to visit any government office in person.
There is no universal three-to-six-month window: verified Spanish consular checklists include limits of three, five and six months, generally counted from the issuance date of the certificate. Check the current official checklist of the consular post processing your application. We coordinate timing with your application deadline to ensure the certificate is within validity.
If you hold dual nationality, the certificate must be requested using the identification document corresponding to your Colombian identity. The name and ID number must match your Colombian documentation exactly. Contact us to confirm the correct approach for your case.
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