Criminal Record Check for Your NLV
Country-by-country guide to obtaining criminal record certificates for the NLV: UK ACRO, US FBI, Canada RCMP, Australia AFP, South Africa SAPS, Ireland Garda. Apostille, translation, timelines, and requirements.
10 min read
Criminal Records: A Global Requirement
Every NLV applicant must provide criminal record certificates from every country where they've lived as an adult for more than 6 months. This is non-negotiable. The Spanish consulate needs to verify you have no convictions that would bar you from Spanish residency. This guide walks through the exact process for each major English-speaking country, including how to request, apostille, translate, and submit.
The good news: if you have a clean record, this is straightforward. The bad news: the process varies significantly by country, and getting it wrong—wrong format, missing apostille, poor translation—can delay or deny your application.
General Requirements
Every criminal record certificate you submit must have three things:
- Original or certified copy from the issuing authority (not a photocopy from you)
- Apostille (certification of authenticity) from the Hague Apostille Convention
- Spanish translation by a certified translator (traductor jurado)
The timeline: Request certificates 6-8 weeks before your planned submission date. This gives you time to get them, have them apostilled, and translated.
Country-by-Country Guide
United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland)
Authority: ACRO (Applied Crime Records Office)
How to Request: Apply online at the ACRO website or by post
Cost: £13 (approximately €15)
Timeline: 7-10 business days (online application is faster)
What you'll get: Certificate of Good Conduct (if clean record) or detailed record (if any convictions)
Apostille: ACRO will add the apostille for a small additional fee (included in processing). It's part of the standard certificate.
Translation: Get the certificate translated to Spanish by a certified Spanish translator (€30-50)
Pro tip: ACRO allows online applications using GOV.UK Verify, which is the fastest option. If you don't have UK residency (or your address is outdated), you can request through ACRO by mail. Request enhanced disclosure for a more comprehensive record.
United States (FBI)
Authority: FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) Criminal History Background Checks
How to Request: Online through IdentoGO (preferred), by mail, or through local police department
Cost: $18 USD (check, money order, or credit card)
Timeline: 11-15 business days (online is faster; mail is slower)
What you'll get: FBI Identity History Summary (if clean) or detailed record with fingerprints and charges
Apostille: Not automatically included. After receiving your FBI record, you must request an apostille from the US State Department or the issuing state's Secretary of State office. This adds another 2-4 weeks and costs $20-30.
Translation: Get FBI record apostilled FIRST, then translated to Spanish by a certified translator (€30-50)
Important: The FBI certificate should be a fingerprint-based background check (not a name-based search), as consulates require official documents. This ensures accuracy.
Canada (RCMP)
Authority: RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) Criminal Record Checks
How to Request: Through local police service or online through some provinces
Cost: $75-100 CAD depending on province
Timeline: 15-30 business days
What you'll get: Police Record Check or Criminal Record Search result
Apostille: Request apostille from the provincial government (usually Attorney General office). Most can add it to your certificate for a small fee, or issue a separate apostille document.
Translation: Apostille first, then translate to Spanish (€30-50)
Note: Some provinces offer expedited processing. If applying for residency soon, pay for expedited option. Some provinces can issue documents online (faster) or require mail-in requests (slower).
Australia (AFP)
Authority: AFP (Australian Federal Police) National Police Certificates
How to Request: Online through the NPC (National Police Certificates) website
Cost: $39.10 AUD
Timeline: 5-10 business days
What you'll get: National Police Certificate (if clean) or statement of recorded criminal history
Apostille: AFP automatically includes apostille on most certificates. Verify this when requesting. If not included, contact the Australian Secretary of State office.
Translation: Apostille included, then translate to Spanish (€30-50)
Advantage: Australia is typically the fastest turnaround. Online application is straightforward.
South Africa (SAPS)
Authority: SAPS (South African Police Service) Criminal Record Bureau
How to Request: By mail to the Criminal Records Bureau or in-person at SAPS offices
Cost: R100-150 ZAR (approximately €6-9)
Timeline: 7-14 business days (mail can be slower)
What you'll get: Certified Record Extract or clear statement (if no record)
Apostille: Apply to the High Court in Pretoria for apostille. This can add 2-3 weeks. Some applicants use an agency in South Africa to handle this (costs extra but faster).
Translation: Apostille first, then Spanish translation (€30-50)
Challenge: South Africa's bureaucracy can be slow. If applying soon, consider using a South African agency that handles document retrieval and apostille for a fee (€50-100 total). It's faster than doing it yourself.
Ireland (Garda)
Authority: An Garda Síochána (Irish Police) Criminal Records Bureau
How to Request: By mail or in-person at Garda offices
Cost: €4-10
Timeline: 5-10 business days
What you'll get: Garda Vetting Certificate or statement of no convictions
Apostille: Request from the Department of Justice office in Dublin. Usually provided with the certificate or separately. Add 1-2 weeks if separate.
Translation: Apostille included or separate, then translate to Spanish (€30-50)
Note: Ireland's process is relatively straightforward. Online or mail request options exist.
The Apostille Process Explained
What is an apostille? An apostille is an official certification that a document's signature, seal, or stamp is authentic. It's part of the Hague Apostille Convention (which Spain and all major English-speaking countries are signatories to).
Why it matters: Spanish consulates require apostilles to verify documents are legitimate and haven't been altered. Without an apostille, your criminal record certificate won't be accepted.
How to get one: The issuing authority (FBI, ACRO, etc.) can add an apostille for a small fee. If not automatic, contact the appropriate government office (State Department, Secretary of State, etc.) and request an apostille on your document.
Cost: Usually €5-20 depending on country
Timeline: Usually 1-3 weeks additional, sometimes included with the original request
Translation to Spanish
Your criminal record certificate (once apostilled) must be translated to Spanish by a traductor jurado (court-certified translator).
Why certified translation? Spanish consulates don't accept regular translations or machine translations. The translator must be certified by the Spanish court system.
How to find a certified translator:
- In Spain: Contact your local Colegio de Traductores e Intérpretes (Professional Translators Association)
- Remotely: Search "traductor jurado" online plus your region (e.g., "traductor jurado Madrid"). Many work remotely and accept documents via email.
- Cost: €30-80 depending on document length and translator
- Timeline: 3-10 business days
What you'll receive: The original document with the certified translation attached (or on the back). Both original and translation are stamped and signed by the translator.
Do not use Google Translate or online translators: Machine translations will be rejected. Only use certified human translators. This is non-negotiable.
Timeline Planning
Here's a realistic timeline for getting everything ready:
Week 1-2: Request criminal record from your country (online applications are fastest)
Week 2-3: Receive record certificate. If apostille not included, request it immediately.
Week 3-5: Receive apostille (or apostille is included with certificate)
Week 5-6: Send apostilled document to certified translator
Week 6-7: Receive certified Spanish translation
Week 7-8: Submit to consulate with your NLV application
Total time: 6-8 weeks minimum. Plan accordingly and start early.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Not getting an apostille: Certificate will be rejected without it
- Not translating to Spanish: Certificate in English will be rejected
- Using a non-certified translator: Translation must be by a "traductor jurado"
- Certificate expired: If more than 6 months old, get a new one
- Wrong issuing authority: Make sure you're getting records from the national authority, not local police
- Photocopies: Consulate needs originals or certified copies, not photocopies
Plan Your Document Preparation
Criminal records are just one piece of your NLV application. Start gathering all required documents 8-10 weeks before your planned submission.
View Full Document ChecklistFrequently Asked Questions
Do I need a criminal record certificate for the NLV?
Yes. All applicants must provide a clean criminal record certificate from every country where they've lived for more than 6 months as an adult. Consulates verify you have no convictions that would bar Spanish residency.
How do I get a criminal record certificate for my country?
Process varies: UK (ACRO, online), US (FBI, online or mail), Canada (RCMP, by province), Australia (AFP, online), South Africa (SAPS, by mail), Ireland (Garda, by mail). Most offer online requests now, which are faster.
Does my criminal record certificate need to be apostilled?
Yes. All certificates must be apostilled (certified authentic) under the Hague Apostille Convention. The issuing authority can add it for a small fee, or you request it separately from the government.
Does my criminal record certificate need to be translated?
Yes. It must be translated to Spanish by a certified translator (traductor jurado). Machine or amateur translations will be rejected.
How long is a criminal record certificate valid?
Most are valid for 3-6 months from issue date. Request it 6-8 weeks before submitting your application to ensure it's current when the consulate reviews it.
How long does it take to get a criminal record certificate?
UK: 7-10 days (online). US FBI: 11-15 days. Canada: 15-30 days. Australia: 5-10 days. South Africa: 7-14 days. Ireland: 5-10 days. Timelines vary; online is always faster than mail.
Key Takeaways
- Criminal record certificate required from every country lived in for 6+ months as adult
- Must be official document from national authority (not local police)
- Certificate must be apostilled under Hague Convention
- Must be translated to Spanish by certified translator (traductor jurado)
- Allow 6-8 weeks total for request, apostille, translation
- Valid for 3-6 months; request at least 6-8 weeks before application
- Online requests are faster than mail-in applications
- Typical costs: €15-100 per country depending on issuing authority
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