Guide
FBI Background Check for Spain’s Non-Lucrative Visa
The Spanish consulate is specific: an FBI certificate, a federal apostille, a certified Spanish translation, and no more than 6 months old.
Quick answer
Yes. The Consulate General of Spain in Los Angeles requires applicants over 18 to submit an FBI criminal record certificate with the federal Hague apostille issued by the U.S. Department of State — a local apostille is not valid. It must be translated into Spanish by a certified translator and can’t be older than 6 months from its issue date.
Key takeaways
- Applicants over 18 need an FBI criminal record certificate, original and copy.
- It needs the federal apostille from the U.S. Department of State; a state apostille is not valid.
- A certified Spanish translation is required.
- The certificate can’t be older than 6 months from its issue date.
- If you lived in other countries in the last 5 years, you need their records too.
What the Spanish consulate asks for
The Consulate General of Spain in Los Angeles lists the criminal record requirement for the non-lucrative residence visa as follows:
| Who | Applicants over 18 |
|---|---|
| Document | Criminal record check certificate issued by the FBI — original and a copy |
| Authentication | Federal Apostille of the Hague Convention, issued by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC. A local apostille is not valid. |
| Translation | Into Spanish by a certified translator |
| Age | No older than 6 months from the issue date |
| Other countries | Criminal record certificates from your countries of residence for the past 5 years |
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.
Requirements can differ slightly between Spanish consulates. Check the page of the consulate that covers where you live.
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.
The 6-month clock starts on the date the FBI issues the report, not the date of the apostille. Our bundle takes about 12–14 business days, which leaves time for translation and your appointment. Check your dates with the processing time estimator.
Need the translation too? See certified translation.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Spain non-lucrative visa need an FBI background check?
Yes, for applicants over 18. The Consulate General of Spain in Los Angeles asks for an FBI criminal record certificate with the federal apostille, a certified Spanish translation, issued within the last 6 months.
Can I use a state apostille for Spain?
No. The consulate states that a local apostille is not valid. The FBI report needs the federal apostille from the U.S. Department of State.
How old can the FBI report be for Spain?
No more than 6 months from the date the FBI issued it.
Does the translation need to be certified?
Yes. The consulate asks for a translation into Spanish by a certified translator.
Official sources: Consulate General of Spain in Los Angeles — Non-lucrative residence visa · U.S. Department of State — Criminal Record Checks. Federal Apostille USA is a private service, not a government agency.
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