How long does it take to get a criminal record certificate for a Spain visa?

Allow 6–12 weeks for the complete process: 2–6 weeks for the certificate itself, 2–4 weeks for the apostille, and 1–2 weeks for the sworn Spanish translation. Start this process as soon as you have confirmed your study place.

What is the Hague Apostille and why do I need it?

The Hague Apostille is an international authentication stamp that certifies a document's authenticity for use in another country. For the Spain student visa, your criminal record certificate must carry an apostille from the competent authority in your home country (e.g. the FCDO in the UK, your state's Secretary of State in the USA). Without it, the certificate is not accepted.

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Criminal Record Certificate
for Spain Student Visa

Q: Do I need criminal record certificates from every country I have lived in?

Some Spanish consulates require certificates from every country you have lived in during the past 5 years. Check with your specific consulate when you book your appointment.

Q: What happens if my criminal record certificate has expired by the time of my appointment?

If your certificate has passed its validity date, it will be rejected and you will need to restart the entire process — certificate, apostille, and sworn translation.

Q: What is the ACRO certificate and do UK applicants need it?

ACRO issues the official police certificate for UK applicants. The ACRO Police Certificate is the correct document for the Spain student visa — not a DBS check. It must then be apostilled by the FCDO and accompanied by a sworn Spanish translation.

Q: Can I send my criminal record certificate to Spain before getting the apostille?

No. The certificate must be apostilled before submission to the Spanish consulate. Always complete the full sequence: certificate, apostille, then sworn translation.

Which authority issues it, how to get the Hague Apostille, how long the whole process takes, and what to watch out for — by country.

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The Requirement

What the Spain Student Visa Requires

Every Spain student visa applicant must submit a criminal record certificate — also called a police clearance certificate — from their home country. It is used to confirm that you have no serious criminal convictions that would make you inadmissible under Spanish immigration law. This is the single most time-consuming document in the application, and should be started immediately after you confirm your study place.

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Step 1: Get the Certificate

Apply to your national police authority. Processing: 2–6 weeks.

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Step 2: Get the Apostille

Send to the apostilling authority in your country. Processing: 2–4 weeks.

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Step 3: Sworn Translation

Send to a certified Spanish translator. Processing: 1–2 weeks.

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Total time: 6–12 weeks — Start Immediately

The complete process — certificate, apostille, and sworn translation — takes 6–12 weeks. Start this the moment you have confirmed your study place. In peak visa season (June–September), delays compound with full consulate appointment books. There is no shortcut.

Step by Step

The Complete Process

Follow these steps in order. Each step must be completed before the next can begin.

Apply for Your National Criminal Record Certificate

Apply to the central (national-level) police authority in your country — not local police. For most applications, this needs to cover your entire adult history. If you have lived in more than one country in the last 5 years, check whether your consulate requires certificates from multiple countries. See the country table below for specific authorities.

2–6 weeks processing

Receive the Original Certificate

Once received, check: your full legal name matches your passport exactly; the certificate has a wet signature and/or official stamp from the issuing authority; and the date of issue is clearly visible. The certificate must be issued within 3–6 months of your consulate appointment.

Check immediately on receipt

Send for the Hague Apostille

Post or deliver the original certificate to the apostilling authority in your country. Do not laminate the document before or after apostilling. Include a return prepaid envelope if applying by post. Keep a photocopy before sending.

2–4 weeks for apostille

Get a Sworn Spanish Translation

Once the apostilled certificate is returned, send it to a translator officially certified by Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. They will produce a sworn translation carrying their stamp and a declaration of accuracy. This translation is attached to (not a replacement for) the original certificate.

1–2 weeks for translation

Submit at Your Consulate Appointment

Present the original apostilled certificate together with its sworn translation. Bring the original plus one photocopy of both. Present them together — the translation should be immediately behind the original in your folder. Do not separate them.

At appointment

By Country

Where to Get Your Certificate — Country by Country

The issuing authority, apostilling authority, and typical processing times vary by country. Here are the details for the most common nationalities applying for Spanish student visas.

Country	Certificate Authority	Apostille Authority	Est. Total Time
🇬🇧 United Kingdom	ACRO Criminal Records Office (ACRO Police Certificate) or DBS Enhanced	FCDO Legalisation Office (Postal or counter service)	6–10 weeks
🇺🇸 United States	FBI Identity History Summary (Identity History Summary Request)	US Secretary of State (state level) or US Dept of State (federal)	8–14 weeks
🇨🇦 Canada	Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) — National Repository	Global Affairs Canada or provincial authorities	8–12 weeks
🇦🇺 Australia	Australian Federal Police (AFP) National Police Check	DFAT (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade)	6–10 weeks
🇿🇦 South Africa	South African Police Service (SAPS) Police Clearance Certificate	Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO)	8–14 weeks
🇮🇪 Ireland	An Garda Síochána — Garda National Vetting Bureau or ACRO (if also UK resident)	Department of Foreign Affairs	6–10 weeks
🇳🇿 New Zealand	New Zealand Police Vetting Service (Criminal History Check)	Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT)	6–10 weeks
🇵🇭 Philippines	National Bureau of Investigation (NBI Clearance)	DFA — Department of Foreign Affairs	4–8 weeks
🇮🇳 India	Ministry of Home Affairs or State Police — Police Clearance Certificate	Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) — e-Apostille portal	6–12 weeks
🇧🇷 Brazil	Polícia Federal — Antecedentes Criminais (Federal)	Secretaria de Estado das Relações Exteriores	4–8 weeks

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Multiple Countries of Residence

If you have lived in more than one country in the past 5 years, your Spanish consulate may require a criminal record certificate from each of those countries. Check with your specific consulate when booking your appointment. Our lawyers will confirm exactly what is required based on your residence history.

Key Rules

Important Rules and Common Mistakes

Rules to Follow

Certificate must be issued within 3–6 months of your consulate appointment date
Do not laminate the document at any stage — the apostille must be inspectable
Name on certificate must match passport exactly (including middle names)
Keep a photocopy before sending for apostille — the original may be lost in post
Use tracked, insured postage when sending to the apostilling authority
Sworn translation must be from a Spain Ministry certified translator
Present certificate and translation together at appointment

Common Mistakes

Requesting a local police check instead of the national certificate
Certificate expired before appointment due to long consulate wait
Apostille from the wrong authority (e.g. county-level instead of national)
Laminating the document before getting the apostille
Using a non-certified translator for the sworn translation
Submitting the certificate without the sworn translation
Waiting until the last minute — no time for a replacement if the certificate is rejected

Common Questions

Criminal Record Certificate FAQs

What criminal record certificate do I need for a Spain student visa?

You need a national-level police clearance certificate from your home country's central authority — for example, ACRO in the UK, the FBI in the USA, or the NBI in the Philippines. It must be recent (issued within 3–6 months), carry a Hague Apostille, and be accompanied by a sworn Spanish translation if not in Spanish.

How long does it take to get the criminal record certificate for a Spain visa?

Allow 6–12 weeks for the complete process: 2–6 weeks for the certificate, 2–4 weeks for the Hague Apostille, and 1–2 weeks for the sworn Spanish translation. Start this process immediately after confirming your study place — it is the longest-lead-time document in the application.

What is the Hague Apostille and where do I get it?

The Hague Apostille is an international authentication stamp that certifies a document's authenticity for use abroad. In the UK it is issued by the FCDO Legalisation Office; in the USA by your state's Secretary of State or the US Department of State; in Australia by DFAT. You send your criminal record certificate to this authority, and they affix the apostille stamp. The certificate is then accepted by Spanish consulates as authentic.

What if I have a criminal record — can I still get a Spain student visa?

Having a criminal record does not automatically disqualify you from a Spain student visa — it depends entirely on the nature and severity of the offence, when it occurred, and whether it falls within Spain's defined inadmissibility categories. Minor offences or offences for which a conviction was spent may not be a barrier. We recommend a legal consultation if you have any criminal history to assess your specific situation before applying.

Do I need criminal record certificates from every country I have lived in?

Some Spanish consulates require a criminal record certificate from every country you have lived in during the past 5 years, not just your home country. This is particularly relevant if you have lived or worked in a different country from your nationality. Check with your specific consulate when you book your appointment. Our lawyers will advise you on exactly what is needed based on your residence history.

Can I laminate my criminal record certificate?

No. You must not laminate your criminal record certificate at any stage of the process — before getting the apostille, after getting the apostille, or before the consulate appointment. Laminating the document makes the apostille impossible to inspect and will result in the document being rejected. Keep the certificate flat and unlaminated throughout the entire process.

How recent does my criminal record certificate need to be?

Your criminal record certificate must be issued within 3–6 months of your consulate appointment date. The exact window varies by consulate — most require it to be no older than 3 months, though some allow up to 6 months. Given the time needed to obtain the certificate, apostille, and sworn translation, plan carefully to ensure it is still within date on your appointment day.

What happens if my criminal record certificate has expired by the time of my appointment?

If your criminal record certificate has passed its validity date before your consulate appointment, it will be rejected and you will need to start the entire process again — certificate, apostille, and sworn translation. This is why we always advise starting as early as possible and keeping close track of your appointment date relative to the certificate issue date.

What is the ACRO certificate and do UK applicants need it?

ACRO (the National Police Chiefs' Council Criminal Records Office) issues the official police certificate for UK applicants. The ACRO Police Certificate is the correct document for the Spain student visa — not a DBS check, which is only for UK employment purposes. The ACRO certificate must then be apostilled by the FCDO Legalisation Office and accompanied by a sworn Spanish translation.

Can I send my criminal record certificate to Spain before getting the apostille?

No. The certificate must be apostilled before it is submitted to the Spanish consulate. Sending or presenting a non-apostilled certificate is a guaranteed rejection. Always complete the full sequence: obtain the certificate, send for apostille, receive the apostilled certificate, then send for sworn translation.

Is a local police check the same as a national criminal record certificate?

No — these are completely different. A local police check only covers your local area or region and does not show your full national criminal history. The Spain student visa requires a national-level certificate from your country's central police authority (such as ACRO in the UK or the FBI in the USA). A local police check will be rejected.

What if my name on the criminal record certificate doesn't match my passport?

The name on your criminal record certificate must exactly match the name in your passport — including middle names. If your certificate shows a different name variant, a maiden name, or is missing middle names that appear in your passport, it may be rejected. When applying for the certificate, use your full legal name exactly as it appears in your passport.

Criminal Record Certificatefor Spain Student Visa