ACRO and Police Certificate Translation for Spain

Q: Does ACRO provide the apostille itself?

No. ACRO does not offer an apostille service and directs applicants to GOV.UK for legalisation.

Official sworn translation of your ACRO Police Certificate for visas, residency, nationality, pareja de hecho, and other official procedures in Spain. If your certificate has already been apostilled, the apostille should be translated too.

€37 per page standard rate
€55 per page 12-hour rush service
Typical turnaround: 24–72 hours
Pay after delivery
Digitally signed and stamped PDF
Personally handled by Alba Fernández Carrasco

Request My ACRO Translation See Pricing & Process

What Is an ACRO Police Certificate?

An ACRO Police Certificate is the UK criminal record certificate commonly used when a person needs to show whether they have a criminal record in the United Kingdom for use abroad. ACRO describes it as a certificate that shows whether you have a criminal record in the UK and notes that it may be required as part of a stay in another country.

For Spain-related procedures, this is often the correct UK criminal record document for British applicants, former UK residents, and other applicants who previously lived in the UK. GOV.UK guidance for Spain specifically directs people who need a UK criminal record check certificate to ACRO.

Some international clients use the term certified translation, but for Spain the relevant requirement is usually a sworn translation. See the explanation of certified vs sworn translation for Spain if you want to confirm the terminology before you order.

Why This Document Matters

This is one of the documents Spanish authorities are likely to review closely in visa, residency, and other administrative procedures. If the wrong UK record is ordered, if the apostille is missing where required, or if the document set is incomplete, it can create unnecessary delays and resubmission requests.

This page is for people who already know they need an ACRO certificate translated for Spain and want a clear, document-specific service rather than a generic flow.

What To Send

Please send a clear PDF or scan of:

The ACRO Police Certificate
The apostille, if already issued
Any attached official pages that form part of the final document set

If your certificate has already been legalised, the apostille should be translated together with the certificate so the final Spanish submission reflects the complete official package.

How To Obtain Your ACRO Police Certificate

You can apply directly through the official ACRO Police Certificate service. ACRO’s guidance indicates that applicants need to specify the country the certificate is for and that the application requires a completed form, copies of the applicant’s passport or travel document, a colour passport-style photo, and payment.

Official ACRO Police Certificate application page →

ACRO Processing Times

ACRO states that its standard service can take up to 20 working days and that its premium service takes 2 working days to process the certificate. That processing time is separate from any apostille step and separate from translation turnaround, so it helps to plan ahead if your Spain deadline is tight.

Do You Need an Apostille for an ACRO Certificate?

In many Spain-related procedures, yes. GOV.UK explains that UK documents can be legalised by the Legalisation Office, which confirms the signature, stamp, or seal and attaches an apostille. The same GOV.UK guidance also states that ACRO police certificates for England and Wales are not eligible for an e-Apostille, which means they must use the paper-based apostille route.

ACRO itself says it does not offer an apostille service and directs applicants to GOV.UK for legalisation.

Official GOV.UK legalisation guidance →

Which Pages Need To Be Translated?

For this service, the ACRO certificate itself should be translated. If the certificate has already been apostilled, the apostille should be translated too so the full document set is ready for use in Spain.

This keeps the translation aligned with the official package that will actually be reviewed as part of the application.

Applying From Spain or From Outside the UK

You do not need to be physically in the UK to deal with this document. GOV.UK’s Spain guidance expressly says that if you are a British national resident overseas, or of another nationality but previously resided in the UK, you should use ACRO for a UK criminal record check certificate.

That makes this a very common document for people preparing a Spain visa or residency file while already living in Spain or elsewhere abroad.

Note: British consulates in Spain do not translate documents and do not legalise UK documents with the Hague Apostille. UK public documents must be legalised through GOV.UK’s Legalisation Office.

ACRO translations prepared by Alba are accepted at Spanish consulates in the UK and at Spanish administrative authorities including immigration offices, civil registries, and regional government departments in Spain. The sworn translation format is standardised under Spanish law, so the same translation meets requirements whether you are submitting to a consulate or to an office inside Spain.

Documents Commonly Sent Together With an ACRO Certificate

Depending on the procedure, clients often send their ACRO certificate alongside:

Birth certificate
Marriage certificate
Medical certificate
Apostille attached to the ACRO certificate
Visa-specific supporting documents

How It Works

Send your ACRO document set

Upload a clear PDF or scan of the ACRO certificate and the apostille, if already issued. In most cases, no physical mail is required.

Your sworn translation is prepared personally by Alba

You work directly with Alba rather than through a call centre or agency handoff. Your translation is prepared for official use in Spain.

Receive a digitally signed PDF

Your sworn translation is delivered as a digitally signed and stamped PDF accepted for official use in Spain.

Pay after delivery

Pricing is fixed per page and payment is made after delivery.

Request My ACRO Translation See Pricing & Process

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an ACRO Police Certificate?

It is the UK police certificate issued through ACRO for people who need to show whether they have a criminal record in the United Kingdom, often for use in another country.

Is an ACRO certificate the right UK criminal record document for Spain?

Often yes. GOV.UK’s Spain guidance directs people who need a UK criminal record check certificate to ACRO.

Can I apply for an ACRO certificate from outside the UK?

Yes. GOV.UK’s Spain guidance specifically addresses British nationals resident overseas and other nationals who previously lived in the UK and directs them to ACRO for this certificate.

How long does the ACRO process take?

ACRO states that standard service can take up to 20 working days and premium service takes 2 working days to process the certificate.

Does the apostille need translation too?

Yes. If the ACRO certificate has been apostilled for Spain, the apostille should be translated together with the certificate so the final submission reflects the full official package.

Can I get an electronic apostille for an ACRO certificate?

No. GOV.UK states that ACRO police certificates for England and Wales are not eligible for an e-Apostille, so they must use the paper-based apostille route.

Does ACRO provide the apostille itself?

No. ACRO says it does not offer an apostille service and directs applicants to GOV.UK for legalisation.

Can I send a scan or PDF for translation?

Yes. Scanned files and digital PDFs are normally enough and physical originals usually do not need to be mailed.

Can British consulates in Spain translate or legalise this document?

No. GOV.UK’s Spain guidance says British consulates in Spain do not translate documents and do not legalise UK documents with the Hague Apostille. UK public documents must be legalised by the Legalisation Office.

Can you also translate the other documents in my Spain file?

Yes. Many clients send their ACRO certificate together with civil, medical, and visa-related documents so the full set can be prepared for Spain in one process.

Is a UK certified translation enough for Spain?

No. A general certified translation from a UK translation company is not the same as a sworn translation for Spain. Spanish authorities require a sworn translation prepared by a sworn translator officially appointed in Spain. The two are not interchangeable in the Spanish administrative context. See the certified translation vs sworn translation page.