NLV Requirement 2026
Criminal Record Certificate for Spain's NLV — Country-by-Country Guide
A criminal record certificate is a mandatory document for every NLV application — and one of the most frequently misunderstood. UK applicants need an ACRO Police Certificate (not a DBS). US applicants need an FBI Identity History Summary. It must be apostilled, translated, and — critically — issued within 3 months of your consulate appointment. This guide covers every country, every step, and every timing trap.
Why It's Required
Why Spain Requires a Criminal Record Certificate for the NLV
Spain's Non-Lucrative Visa — like all Spanish long-stay visas — requires applicants to demonstrate that they have no criminal convictions in their home country (and in any country where they have resided for 5 or more years in the past 10 years). This is a standard requirement under Spanish immigration law and is stipulated in Royal Decree 557/2011 and related regulations. It is a mandatory requirement — without a valid, apostilled, and translated criminal record certificate, your application will be rejected.
The certificate must be recent (issued within 3 months of your consulate appointment date), apostilled under the Hague Convention, and accompanied by a certified Spanish translation. These three requirements are non-negotiable.
Criminal Record Certificate — Key Facts
- Validity: Must be issued within 3 months of your consulate appointment date
- Countries required: Your home country + any country where you have lived 5+ years in the past 10 years
- Apostille: Required — the document must be apostilled under the Hague Convention
- Translation: Certified Spanish translation required (unless the certificate is already in Spanish)
- Common UK mistake: DBS checks are NOT accepted — you need an ACRO Police Certificate
- Lead time: Allow 4–10 weeks total for certificate + apostille + translation
Country-by-Country Guide
How to Get Your Criminal Record Certificate by Country
The correct certificate, the right issuing authority, and the correct apostille process all depend on your country of residence. Here is the definitive guide for each major nationality group applying for Spain's NLV.
United Kingdom — ACRO Police Certificate
NOT DBS — ACRO only. The ACRO (the National Police Chiefs' Council's Criminal Records Office) issues the Police Certificate accepted by Spanish consulates. Apply online at acro.police.uk. Standard processing takes 10 working days; an urgent service (5 working days) is available for approximately £55 vs the standard £45. The certificate is then apostilled by the FCDO Legalisation Office — send the original ACRO certificate by post to the FCDO in Milton Keynes. Allow 3–4 weeks for the full ACRO + FCDO apostille process on the standard service.
United States — FBI Identity History Summary
The FBI Identity History Summary (FBI background check) is the required certificate for US nationals applying for Spain's NLV. Apply at fbi.gov or use an approved FBI Channeler for faster processing (1–3 weeks vs 3–7 weeks through direct submission). The certificate must then be apostilled through the US Department of State Authentications Office. If you have lived in multiple US states for significant periods, some consulates may also require a state-level background check — confirm with your specific consulate or case manager.
Canada — RCMP Certified Criminal Record Check
Canadian nationals need an RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) Certified Criminal Record Check, specifically the fingerprint-based check which is more comprehensive and more acceptable to foreign visa authorities than the name-based check. Apply through your local police service or directly through RCMP Criminal Record services. Processing takes 3–8 weeks. The certificate must be apostilled — in Canada, apostilles are issued by provincial or territorial governments, not the federal government, so the process varies by province. Our case managers advise on the correct provincial apostille process for your province of residence.
Australia — AFP National Police Check
Australian nationals need a National Police Check issued by the Australian Federal Police (AFP). Apply at afp.gov.au. Processing takes approximately 15 business days from receipt of application. The AFP National Police Check must then be apostilled by DFAT (the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) — the Australia Post network offers an DFAT apostille service at many branches. Allow 4–6 weeks total for AFP check plus DFAT apostille.
South Africa — SAPS Police Clearance Certificate
South African nationals need a Police Clearance Certificate from SAPS (South African Police Service). The application is made in person at a local police station (fingerprints are taken), or through VFS Global for applicants already overseas. Processing can take 4–12 weeks, making this one of the longer lead-time certificates. Apostille is issued by the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO). Given the processing time, South African applicants should begin this process as early as possible — ideally immediately after starting their NLV application.
New Zealand — NZ Police Criminal Record Check
New Zealand nationals apply for a Criminal Record Check through the New Zealand Police — either a vetting check or a formal criminal record check for immigration purposes. Apply online via the NZ Police website. Processing typically takes 5–15 working days. Apostille is obtained through MFAT (the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade). New Zealand's apostille process is relatively straightforward and can often be completed within 1–2 weeks. Both the NZ Police check and the MFAT apostille are available online, making this one of the faster processes.
Ireland — Garda Síochána Certificate
Irish nationals (who are non-EU citizens eligible for the NLV) can obtain a Garda Síochána criminal record certificate through their local Garda station, or through the Garda Central Vetting Unit for a formal vetting certificate. Processing takes 2–6 weeks. Apostille is obtained through the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin. Note that Irish citizens who are also EU citizens are generally not eligible for the NLV, as EU citizens have the right of free movement in Spain. If you hold Irish citizenship and another non-EU nationality, confirm your eligibility with an immigration specialist.
Other Countries
If your home country is not listed above, the principle is the same: obtain the official criminal record certificate from the relevant national police or justice authority, apostille it through your country's designated apostille authority, and obtain a certified Spanish translation. Spain is a signatory to the Hague Convention, so the apostille process is the same worldwide. If your country is not a Hague Convention signatory, the certificate may need to be legalised through a different process — contact us at hello@myspanishnlv.com for guidance.
The Apostille Explained
What Is an Apostille and Why Your Criminal Record Certificate Needs One
An apostille is an official authentication certificate issued under the 1961 Hague Convention that verifies the authenticity of a public document for use in another Hague Convention country. Spain is a Hague Convention member, as are the UK, US, Australia, Canada, and most other countries from which NLV applicants come. The apostille tells the Spanish consulate: "This document is genuine and was issued by the authority it purports to come from."
Without an apostille, the Spanish consulate cannot verify that your criminal record certificate is authentic. An unapostilled certificate — even if entirely genuine — will be rejected.
How the Apostille Process Works
Step 1: Obtain your original criminal record certificate from the relevant authority (ACRO, FBI, AFP, etc.). Step 2: Send the original certificate to your country's designated apostille authority (FCDO for UK, US Department of State for US, DFAT for Australia, provincial authority for Canada). Step 3: The apostille authority attaches a signed, stamped apostille certificate — physically attached to or printed on the back of your document. Step 4: The apostilled original is returned to you and is now ready for use in your NLV application. You must keep the apostilled original safe — replacements require starting the process again.
Apostille Authorities by Country
- UK: FCDO Legalisation Office, Milton Keynes — gov.uk/get-document-legalised
- USA: US Department of State Office of Authentications, Washington DC
- Australia: DFAT — via Australia Post branches offering the service
- Canada: Provincial/territorial Ministries of Government Services (varies by province)
- South Africa: DIRCO — Department of International Relations and Cooperation
- New Zealand: MFAT — Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Translation Requirements
Criminal Record Certificate Translation for the NLV
Spain requires that all documents not in Spanish are accompanied by a certified Spanish translation. Your criminal record certificate and its apostille must both be translated — the certificate itself and the apostille cover page.
What Needs Translating
The certified Spanish translation must cover: (1) the criminal record certificate itself — including all text on the document, your personal details, and any entries or the confirmation of no entries; and (2) the apostille — the apostille certificate attached to the document must also be translated, as it is in the language of the issuing country. Some translators provide a combined translation covering both; others translate each separately. Both must be included in your application.
Certified vs Standard Translation
The translation must be certified — performed by a sworn translator (traductor jurado) recognised in Spain, or by a translator whose qualifications and certification are accepted by the Spanish consulate. A standard translation from an online service or a bilingual friend is not acceptable. Our application service includes up to €100 of certified translation costs, which covers the criminal record certificate and apostille translation for the majority of applicants. Our case managers arrange the translations through accredited translators once your apostilled certificate is confirmed.
Timing Is Critical
Order Early — The Criminal Record Certificate Is Often the Bottleneck
The criminal record certificate is almost always the longest-lead-time document in an NLV application. It must be issued within 3 months of your consulate appointment — but the full process (certificate + apostille + translation) often takes 6–10 weeks. This means:
Order the Certificate Immediately
As soon as you begin your NLV application, initiate the criminal record certificate request — even before your other documents are ready. For UK applicants, apply for the ACRO Police Certificate at the start of the process. For US applicants, start the FBI Identity History Summary immediately. For Australian applicants, apply to the AFP from day one. Do not wait until your other documents are assembled — the certificate is the critical path item.
Send for Apostille Immediately on Receipt
As soon as you receive your original certificate, send it for apostilling without delay. Do not wait. Keep track of the apostille submission date and expected return date. Some apostille services offer tracking. The FCDO in the UK has varying turnaround times — check the current estimated processing time at gov.uk/get-document-legalised before submitting.
Book Your Consulate Appointment After the Certificate is Issued
The 3-month validity window runs from the date of issue of the criminal record certificate, not from the date you book your appointment. Ideally, book your consulate appointment (or plan your application window) so that you can submit within 3 months of the certificate issue date — while also allowing enough time for apostilling and translation after the certificate is received. Our case managers help you sequence all documents so that nothing expires before your appointment.
If Your Certificate Expires — Order a Replacement Immediately
If your consulate appointment is delayed — which happens, particularly during busy periods — and your criminal record certificate passes the 3-month mark, you must order a replacement. This cannot be appealed or waived. Contact your case manager as soon as you think there is a risk of expiry so that a new certificate can be ordered with enough lead time. A second certificate order does not delay your overall application if managed proactively.
Common Questions
Criminal Record Certificate for the NLV — Frequently Asked Questions
Is a DBS check accepted for Spain's Non-Lucrative Visa?
No. A standard DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check is not accepted for Spain's NLV. Spain requires an ACRO Police Certificate — issued by the National Police Chiefs' Council's Criminal Records Office (ACRO) at acro.police.uk. The DBS is a UK domestic check used for employment vetting; the ACRO Police Certificate is the internationally recognised criminal record document for visa and immigration purposes. This is one of the most common mistakes made by UK applicants — do not order a DBS and assume it will be accepted.
How long is the criminal record certificate valid for the NLV?
The certificate must be issued within 3 months of your consulate appointment date. This is the single most critical timing rule for criminal record certificates — not the date you apply for the certificate, not the date you submit your application, but the date of your consulate appointment. Plan backwards from your expected appointment date to ensure your certificate is recent enough. Our case managers track all document expiry dates throughout your application.
Do I need certificates from every country I have lived in?
You need certificates from your home country and from any country in which you have resided for 5 or more years in the past 10 years. For most applicants this means one country only. If you lived in Australia for 7 years and then returned to the UK, you would need both an ACRO certificate and an AFP National Police Check. If you spent 3 years in Germany, that falls below the 5-year threshold. Your case manager confirms exactly which certificates you need based on your full residence history.
What if I have a minor conviction on my record?
The NLV does not require a completely clean record — it requires that you have no convictions that represent a risk to public order or public safety. Minor historical convictions (small fines, minor traffic offences, spent convictions) are generally not a bar to the NLV. Serious convictions — particularly those involving violence, drugs trafficking, or sentences of imprisonment — can lead to refusal. If you have any convictions on your record, disclose this to your case manager before the application is submitted so that it can be addressed proactively. Attempting to conceal convictions is grounds for permanent refusal.
How do I apostille a UK criminal record certificate from the FCDO?
Submit the original ACRO Police Certificate by post to the FCDO Legalisation Office in Milton Keynes. Include a covering letter specifying the apostille is needed for Spain, your return address, and the appropriate fee (£45 per document for the standard postal service). The FCDO will attach the apostille certificate and return the original document. Current turnaround times are listed on the FCDO legalisation pages at gov.uk. Apostille agents can expedite the process if you need it faster — typically within 5 working days at additional cost.
How long does the FBI Identity History Summary check take?
Direct submission to the FBI takes 3–7 weeks. Using an approved FBI Channeler (a faster, authorised third-party submission service) reduces this to approximately 1–3 weeks. After receiving the FBI check, you need to apostille it through the US Department of State Authentications Office, which adds further time. Plan for 8–12 weeks total from starting the FBI check to holding the apostilled certificate. US applicants should begin this process as early as possible in their NLV preparation.
Does the criminal record certificate need to be translated?
Yes. Both the criminal record certificate and the apostille must be accompanied by a certified Spanish translation if they are not in Spanish. The translation must be performed by a sworn translator (traductor jurado) recognised for Spanish visa purposes. Our application service includes up to €100 of certified translation costs, which covers the criminal record certificate translation for most applicants. Our case managers arrange accredited translators once your apostilled certificate is received.
What if my certificate expires before my consulate appointment?
If your criminal record certificate is more than 3 months old at the time of your consulate appointment, it is no longer valid and you must obtain a new one. This cannot be appealed or waived. If your appointment is delayed and expiry becomes a risk, our case managers will alert you and coordinate a replacement certificate immediately. Starting your certificate process early — and proactively monitoring the timeline — is the best way to avoid this situation.
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