Antecedentes Penales for Spain
Apostille Your Antecedentes Penales for Spain — Fast
Criminal record certificate (antecedentes penales) with apostille and certified Spanish translation for Spain visa, residency, and regularization applications. US, Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, and more.
What are antecedentes penales — and why Spain requires them
"Antecedentes penales" is the Spanish term for a criminal record certificate — a document issued by official authorities confirming whether an individual has any criminal convictions or pending charges.
Spain requires antecedentes penales from all foreign nationals applying for:
- Long-stay visas (non-lucrative, digital nomad)
- Residency permits (initial and renewal)
- The 2026 extraordinary regularization program (applications closed 30 June 2026)
- Work and student visas
- Family reunification
- Spanish nationality applications
The antecedentes penales typically must be apostilled (certified by the Hague Apostille) and translated into Spanish by a certified translator — confirm with the receiving office, since some qualifying EU documents are exempt (Regulation 2016/1191). We handle both.
Antecedentes penales by country — what you need
Need a country not listed? Contact us — we process antecedentes penales from 40+ countries.
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FAQ — antecedentes penales for Spain
¿Qué son los antecedentes penales y por qué los pide España?
Antecedentes penales is the criminal record certificate showing your criminal history (or lack thereof). Spain requires it for all foreign nationals applying for visas, residency permits, or regularization — as part of standard background verification.
Do I need to apostille my antecedentes penales for Spain?
Usually yes for documents from non-EU countries. Spain is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, and a criminal record certificate is normally required with an apostille from the competent authority in the issuing country before it is accepted; qualifying public documents from other EU Member States can be exempt under Regulation 2016/1191.
Do I need a certified translation into Spanish?
Only if your document is not in Spanish. In that case Spanish immigration authorities require an official translation (usually by a sworn translator, traductor jurado); plain translations are not accepted.
I lived in the US — do I need the FBI certificate or a state certificate?
For Spain immigration purposes, you need the FBI Identity History Summary — the federal-level certificate. It covers your entire US residence history. State criminal records are not sufficient for Spain.
My country is not on the Hague Convention list. What do I do?
Most Latin American countries are Hague Convention members, so apostille applies. If your country is not a member, a consular legalization chain is needed instead. We handle both — contact us to confirm.
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Reviewed by
Laura ChenLegal Document Expert
Specialist in documents for the English-speaking market with a focus on fast and secure processing.