Guide
FBI Background Check for Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa
Spanish consulates in the U.S. ask every adult applicant for an FBI certificate with the federal apostille and a certified translation.
Quick answer
Yes. The Consulates General of Spain in Boston and Chicago require applicants over 18 to submit an FBI certificate legalized with the federal Hague apostille from the U.S. Department of State — a local state apostille is not valid. It needs a certified Spanish translation and can’t be older than 6 months. Accompanying family members must submit one too.
Key takeaways
- Every applicant over 18 needs an FBI certificate, including accompanying family members.
- It needs the federal apostille; a state apostille is not valid.
- A certified Spanish translation is required.
- It can’t be older than 6 months from the issue date.
- If you spent six months or more in another country in the last 5 years, you need that country’s record too.
What the Spanish consulates ask for
The telework visa pages of the Consulates General of Spain in Boston and Chicago list:
| Who | Applicants over 18, including accompanying family members |
|---|---|
| Document | FBI certificate — original and a photocopy |
| Authentication | Federal Apostille of the Hague Convention from the U.S. Department of State. A local state apostille is not valid. |
| Translation | Certified translation into Spanish |
| Age | No older than 6 months from the issue date |
| Other countries | Records from countries of residence in the last 5 years; anyone who spent six months or more in another country needs that country’s record, apostilled and translated |
The FBI report needs the federal apostille from the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC. A state apostille on a notarized copy or on a state police check won’t work. See what an FBI report needs before it can be apostilled.
Each consulate publishes its own list. Use the one for your jurisdiction.
Getting the FBI report ready
We handle the federal side. If you already have your FBI report, mail it to us for the FBI background check apostille — $299, about 10–12 business days. If you still need the report, the FBI check + apostille bundle is $399, about 12–14 business days, starting with an in-person appointment at our West Palm Beach or Miami office. You get back the original FBI report, issued by the FBI with its seal and signature, with the U.S. Department of State apostille attached. We review every document before we submit it.
If more than one adult is applying, order every FBI report at the same time so they stay within the 6-month window together. Our bundle takes about 12–14 business days. Check your dates with the processing time estimator.
Need the translation too? See certified translation.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Spain digital nomad visa need an FBI background check?
Yes, for every applicant over 18, including family members. It needs the federal apostille, a certified Spanish translation, and must be under 6 months old.
Do family members need their own FBI check?
Yes. The Spanish consulates in Boston and Chicago require it for accompanying family members over 18.
Is a state apostille accepted?
No. The consulates say a local state apostille is not valid; you need the federal apostille from the U.S. Department of State.
Official sources: Consulate General of Spain in Boston — Telework visa · Consulate General of Spain in Chicago — Telework visa · U.S. Department of State — Criminal Record Checks. Federal Apostille USA is a private service, not a government agency.
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