Apostille & Translation Package for Spain Residency Visas
We help prepare the documents, apostilles and translations for your specific visa type and consular district using the current official checklist: apostilled criminal records (FBI, ACRO, RCMP), apostilled birth certificates, and certified Spanish translations by MAEUEC-accredited sworn translators. The consular office may request additional evidence and determines the application outcome.
- FBI federal apostille handled
- MAEUEC-accredited sworn translations
- Checklist per visa type and consular district
- Consulate-ready package delivered
What Spain visa or residency are you applying for?
Step 1 of 4
What type of Spain residency or visa are you applying for?
Spain residency visas: what documents you need apostilled
Apostille requirements for Spain depend on the visa category and consular post — check the current official checklist of the consular post processing your application. The key rule: documents must be apostilled by the correct authority in the country that issued them — not by a Spanish authority.
Required documents
| Document | Issuing authority | Estimated time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Criminal record certificate — apostilled | FBI (USA), RCMP (Canada), or national police authority | Age limit set per visa and consular post (verified examples: 3, 5 or 6 months) | Certificate age and the countries requiring police records depend on the visa and consular post. The verified examples are Buenos Aires (3 months for the specified visa), Toronto (5 months for self-employed work) and Ottawa (6 months for self-employed work, with its own prior-residence threshold). FBI records need a federal apostille from the US State Dept. — not a state Secretary of State. |
| Birth certificate — apostilled | Vital records authority of issuing country | Valid — no expiry on apostille | Required for most long-stay visa categories. Must be apostilled by the competent authority of the issuing country — a US birth certificate gets a state apostille from the Secretary of State of the state where it was issued. |
| Proof of financial means | Bank or financial institution | Last 3–6 months | Bank statements showing sufficient funds. For non-lucrative visa: typically €25,000–€30,000 per year per applicant. If statements are in English, check whether your consulate requires an official Spanish translation. |
| Certified Spanish translation (for English-language documents) | Sworn translator accredited by Spain MAEUEC | 1–2 business days per document | Translation requirements depend on the visa and consular post. Check the actual visa checklist; Ottawa explicitly states that the RCMP apostille itself need not be translated. |
How the process works
Apostille requirements for Spain depend on the visa category and consular post. We review your specific visa type (non-lucrative, digital nomad, work permit) and check the current official checklist of the consular post processing your application to identify exactly which documents require apostille and which need certified Spanish translation.
Each document is apostilled by the correct authority in its country of origin. FBI background checks go to the US State Dept. (federal apostille). Birth certificates go to the Secretary of State of the issuing state. UK documents go to the FCDO. We manage submissions in all major countries.
Translation requirements depend on the visa and consular post. Check the actual visa checklist before ordering; Ottawa explicitly states that the RCMP apostille itself need not be translated. Where an official translation is required, it covers the full document.
We deliver the complete package: apostilled originals + certified translations. We include a checklist structured to match the Spanish consulate requirements for your specific visa type and the consulate you are using.
Official sources & authorities
Information on this page is based on procedures from recognized government and intergovernmental bodies — not third-party estimates.
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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.
Frequently asked questions
What documents does Spain require for a non-lucrative residence visa?
The non-lucrative visa requires: criminal record certificate (apostilled), birth certificate (apostilled), proof of financial means, private health insurance, and completed application forms. Which countries require police records, the certificate age limit and which documents need certified Spanish translation depend on the visa category and consular post — always use the current official checklist of the consular office processing your application.
Does my FBI background check need a federal or state apostille for Spain?
Federal apostille from the U.S. Department of State Office of Authentications — not a state Secretary of State. FBI records are federal documents and only the U.S. State Dept. has authority to apostille them. State offices cannot apostille federal documents. This is the most common (and costly) mistake applicants make.
Do my US bank statements need certified Spanish translation for a Spain visa?
Not automatically. Whether a document in English needs an official Spanish translation depends on the consular post and the visa checklist. Documents already in Spanish do not automatically need translation, and legal exemptions may apply. Confirm the types of official translation accepted by the consulate processing your file before ordering.
How far in advance should I start the apostille process for a Spain visa?
At least 6–8 weeks before your consulate appointment. The federal apostille for the FBI check follows the US State Dept.'s published processing times (mail currently within five weeks from receipt; the seven-business-day in-person option applies only to specific eligibility criteria). Add time for obtaining the FBI check itself — the FBI does not expedite, though electronic submissions are generally handled faster. Start early — consulate appointments for popular categories fill up fast.
Can I use the same apostilled FBI check for multiple Spain visa applications?
There is no single Spain-wide age limit: the freshness rule is set by each consular post and visa category (verified examples: three, five and six months). The applicable date is generally the certificate's issuance date, not the apostille date. If your certificate is older than your post's limit, you need a new one — check the current official checklist of the consular post processing your application.
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