We handle the last step: a sworn translation (traducción jurada) into Spanish by a MAEC-appointed translator. A certificate usually takes 24–48 hours, from €29. That is a starting price: you approve our written quotation before work starts.
In this guide
- Does a Spain visa need an FBI background check?
- What is an FBI Identity History Summary?
- How do Americans in Spain get fingerprinted for an FBI check?
- Can I use an FBI-approved channeler from Spain?
- How do I get the federal apostille on my FBI check?
- How long is an FBI background check valid for Spain?
- Who can translate the FBI check into Spanish?
- How long does the whole FBI check process take?
Federal apostille already on your FBI check? A MAEC-appointed sworn translator can translate the report and apostille together, usually in 24–48 hours. See our US documents sworn translation for Spain.
Does a Spain visa need an FBI background check?
Usually yes, for adults. Spanish long-stay visas and residence permits ask for a criminal record certificate from each country you lived in, often for the last 5 years. For the United States, that is the FBI Identity History Summary, with a federal apostille and a sworn translation.
Spanish offices call it a certificado de antecedentes penales. Where it appears:
| Procedure | What is asked | Our page |
|---|---|---|
| Non-lucrative visa | Criminal records for the last 5 years of residence | non-lucrative visa sworn translation |
| Digital nomad visa or permit | No record in the last 5 years; inside Spain, certificates for 2 years plus a declaration | digital nomad visa sworn translation |
| Student visa (adult, over 6 months) | Criminal records for the last 5 years | Spain student visa sworn translation |
| Spanish nationality | Certificate from your country of origin | Spanish nationality sworn translation |
The digital nomad rule comes from the UGE document guide. Some consulates, such as Houston, ask for all 5 years. Visa details sit in our guides to digital nomad visa requirements and non-lucrative visa requirements.
Example: David has lived in Valencia for years on residence permits. He now applies for Spanish nationality. RD 1004/2015, art. 5 asks for a certificate from his country of origin. So he needs a fresh FBI check from Spain.
What is an FBI Identity History Summary?
It is the FBI's record of your arrests, if any, taken from fingerprint submissions. It is often called a "rap sheet". If there is no record, the FBI sends a letter saying so. Spanish offices accept this federal check as the US criminal record certificate.
Key facts from the FBI:
- Fee: $18 per person by mail. Channelers and fingerprinting may cost extra.
- How to ask: online at edo.cjis.gov, or by mail to the FBI CJIS Division in Clarksburg, West Virginia.
- Fingerprints: a standard FD-1164 card, rolled and flat prints of all 10 fingers.
- Result: for mail requests, a response by first-class mail on standard white paper.
The FBI authenticates results with its watermark and an official's signature (travel.state.gov). That signature is what the US Department of State apostilles.
Common mistake: ordering the check too early. The validity clock starts on the FBI's issue date.
How do Americans in Spain get fingerprinted for an FBI check?
You need a set of prints on an FD-1164 card, taken in Spain. US embassies and consulates abroad do not provide fingerprinting services, according to travel.state.gov. It adds that you can often get fingerprint cards done by local police. Then you mail the card to the FBI.
Steps from Spain:
- Print the FD-1164 card on standard white paper, from the FBI website.
- Ask a local police station whether it takes fingerprints for this purpose. Practice varies, so call ahead.
- Fill in your name, date of birth and signature on the card. Avoid red or purple ink.
- Apply online at edo.cjis.gov, then mail the card with your confirmation email.
- Wait about 10 days after the FBI receives the card (FBI estimate).
The US Embassy in Madrid publishes a page on FBI criminal records and fingerprint requests. Check it for current local guidance before you book anything.
Tip: illegible prints are rejected, which costs weeks. Ask for clear rolled impressions, and check every box is filled.
Can I use an FBI-approved channeler from Spain?
Usually not. The FBI says channelers can only process requests for a US citizen or lawful permanent resident located in the US or its territories. So an American living in Spain cannot use one from here. If you visit the US, a channeler or a US Post Office can take your prints.
| Route | Who can use it | Speed (FBI estimates) |
|---|---|---|
| Online + Post Office prints | Applicants in the US | Within 48 hours of the Post Office visit |
| Online + mailed FD-1164 card | Anyone, including from Spain | About 10 days after the card arrives |
| Mail request | Anyone | Up to 15 days, plus mail time |
| FBI-approved channeler | US citizens or permanent residents in the US | Electronic result, extra fee |
Example: Laura lives in Seville and visits Ohio in May. She uses Post Office prints during the trip.
How do I get the federal apostille on my FBI check?
Send the FBI check to the US Department of State Office of Authentications with form DS-4194. It costs $20 per document and takes about four weeks by mail. A state Secretary of State apostille on an FBI check is rejected, because it is a federal document.
What to send, per the request page:
- Form DS-4194, naming Spain as the country of use;
- the FBI check with its signature;
- the $20 fee per document;
- a self-addressed, prepaid USPS or UPS return envelope.
Living in Spain? The return envelope must be USPS or UPS, so you may need a US address or a helper there. Fee and time: Office of Authentications (source: travel.state.gov, 12 October 2026). Its newer request page says mail requests are processed within 5 weeks, so plan for 4 to 5.
The apostille confirms the FBI signature, not the content. For the concept, read apostille before or after sworn translation. Birth and marriage certificates take a different route: the state apostille. See birth certificate sworn translation into Spanish and marriage certificate sworn translation into Spanish.
How long is an FBI background check valid for Spain?
There is no single national rule. Validity is set by each office, commonly 3 to 6 months from the issue date. For nationality, the Ministry of Justice treats a certificate with no stated validity as valid for 6 months. The apostille and translation do not restart the clock.
FBI processing, the federal apostille and the post can use half the window. Start the FBI check last, but not too late.
The Ministry of Justice nationality FAQ sets the 6-month rule for nationality. For visas, check your consulate's checklist. The sworn translation itself does not expire; see does a sworn translation expire.
Who can translate the FBI check into Spanish?
A sworn translator appointed by Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAEC). In Spain, an "official" or "certified" translation means a sworn translation (traducción jurada) by a MAEC-appointed translator. A certified translation made in the US is not a sworn translation, and most Spanish offices won't accept it.
The Miami consulate asks for a traducción jurada of the FBI report. Some US consulates accept other official translations for the visa stage, so check your checklist. Once you file inside Spain, Extranjería's Hoja 61 names the MAEC sworn translator as the main route.
The FBI check is in English, so you need an English to Spanish sworn translation. Every translator we work with is MAEC-appointed and seals every page. You can verify a Spanish sworn translator on the official list. For the wider difference, read sworn vs certified translation.
How long does the whole FBI check process take?
From Spain, allow about 10 days for the FBI after it receives your card, plus postage. Then about four to five weeks for the federal apostille, plus mail both ways. The sworn translation usually takes 24–48 hours. In total, plan roughly two months.
Work back from your appointment or filing date:
- Week 1: fingerprints at a local police station; card posted to the FBI.
- Weeks 2–4: FBI result arrives by post.
- Weeks 4–9: federal apostille at the US Department of State, mail both ways.
- Day after arrival: send us a scan; the sworn translation usually takes 24–48 hours.
If Extranjería later sends a correction notice (requerimiento), you have 10 working days (días hábiles) to reply under Ley 39/2015, art. 68. For tight dates, see urgent sworn translation. If several US documents still need apostilles, see apostille and sworn translation.
FBI check back from Washington? Scan the report and apostille the day they arrive. A standard certificate is usually translated in 24–48 hours.
What should your FBI check packet include before filing?
Tick each item:
- The FBI Identity History Summary, with the FBI signature.
- The US Department of State apostille, not a state one.
- An issue date inside your office's window on the filing date.
- Your name exactly as on your passport.
- The sworn translation of the report and the apostille.
- A translator listed on the official MAEC register.
Also in your file? See police clearance certificate sworn translation and bank statement sworn translation into Spanish. Your British partner needs a UK record? Read our guide on whether Spain accepts the ACRO police certificate and the UK documents sworn translation for Spain page.
What if the consulate questions your FBI translation?
An FBI check takes weeks to replace, so each risk deserves a clear answer.
- Is the translator real? Every page of your translation carries the sworn translator's official seal and signature. Any office, or you, can check it against the official MAEC list.
- What if the office rejects it? Free, prioritised re-issue if rejected on formal grounds. See our re-issue policy.
- Is my FBI record safe? Your files are deleted within 7 days of delivery. Read our privacy policy.
- Is your consulate or Extranjería date close? Give us the date with your scan, and we plan delivery around it.
What clients say
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“I needed my birth certificate translated for my Spanish nationality paperwork and wasn't really sure where to start. I sent an enquiry first, and the team explained the process without making it complicated. The communication was good, and I felt more confident about getting the documents ready.”
“We had to translate our marriage certificate for a family reunification procedure. I was worried about getting the paperwork wrong, so I had quite a few questions. The team was patient and explained the translation process clearly. That was genuinely helpful during an already stressful time.”
“I contacted them for documents needed for my long-term residence application. There were several things to organise, and I didn't want to leave the translation until the last minute. The replies were clear, and I appreciated knowing the process before confirming the order.”
“My nationality application involved documents from my home country, and I wasn't sure how to arrange the translations. I reached out with my questions and received a clear explanation of the process. It saved me from spending more time guessing what to do next.”
“I needed my passport and birth certificate translated for my application. The process was simple, and my questions were answered clearly. Thank you for the help.”
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“Muchas gracias por la ayuda 😊 I needed my marriage certificate translated for a family application here in Spain. Communication was good and the steps were easy to understand.”
Frequently asked questions
Can I get an FBI background check while living in Spain?
Yes. Apply online at edo.cjis.gov and mail an FD-1164 fingerprint card taken in Spain. US embassies and consulates abroad do not take fingerprints, so ask a local police station.
Can a state Secretary of State apostille my FBI check?
No. The FBI check is a federal document, so only the US Department of State can apostille it. A state apostille on an FBI check is rejected.
How much does the FBI check apostille cost?
$20 per document at the US Department of State, sent with form DS-4194. Add the FBI's $18 fee by mail and postage both ways.
Do I need an FBI check for Spanish nationality?
Usually yes, if the US is your country of origin. Nationality files need a criminal record certificate from your country of origin, legalised and translated. The Ministry of Justice treats it as valid for 6 months unless it states otherwise.
Can I translate the FBI check before the apostille arrives?
No. The sworn translation includes a stamped copy of the document as it was. Get the federal apostille first, then translate both together.
Is a US certified translation of my FBI check accepted in Spain?
Usually not. A US certified translation is not a sworn translation, and most Spanish offices won't accept it. Some US consulates accept other translations for the visa stage, so check yours.
Do minors need an FBI background check for Spain?
Usually not. Checklists ask adults for criminal record certificates, for example the student visa rule for adults staying over 6 months. Check your own checklist.
Sources: FBI Identity History Summary checks · travel.state.gov: criminal records abroad · Office of Authentications · Request authentication services · RD 1004/2015 (BOE) · Ministry of Justice nationality FAQ · UGE documents · MAEC sworn translator search. Last checked: 12 October 2026.
How do I order a sworn translation of my apostilled FBI check?
Scan the FBI report and its federal apostille, and tell us your office and date. Then ask for a fixed quote on your FBI check translation. You get one fixed total and a delivery date before you pay; see our sworn translation prices. Prices start from €29 per certificate. These are starting prices. For your final price, send your details through the quote form. We email you a written quotation, and work starts only after you approve it. A standard certificate is usually ready in 24–48 hours.
What happens next
- 1We confirm the apostille is federal and the date fits your filing, then quote.
- 2You approve a draft with your names, date of birth and the FBI details.
- 3Your signed PDF arrives by email; paper with a handwritten seal can follow by courier.
About this guide: Written by our editorial team and checked against official sources. We coordinate translations by MAEC-appointed sworn translators and are not affiliated with the FBI, the US Department of State or any Spanish authority. We only translate. We never sell appointments. Read our editorial policy and more guides on sworn translation in Spain.