FBI Background Check Translation for Spain

Official sworn translation of your FBI Identity History Summary for visas, residency, nationality, NALCAP, and other official procedures in Spain. If your FBI package already includes the apostille, that should be translated too. The cover page does not normally need translation when it only contains the applicant’s name and address.

€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

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What Is an FBI Background Check for Spain?

Searching for a certified translation of your FBI background check? If you are in the US, that is often the phrase people use. For official use in Spain, what you usually need is a sworn translation prepared by a MAEC-certified translator. Learn the difference →

For U.S. applicants, the document most commonly used as a criminal record certificate for Spain is the FBI Identity History Summary. This is the federal background check issued by the FBI and is often required for Spanish visa, residency, nationality, and other official procedures.

The FBI describes this record as an Identity History Summary and notes that people often use it to satisfy a requirement to live, work, or travel in a foreign country. It is commonly referred to as a criminal history record, police background clearance, police/good conduct certificate, or rap sheet.

Why This Document Matters

This is one of the documents Spanish authorities tend to review closely. It is a formal criminal record document, and if it is incomplete, missing pages, or missing the apostille where required, it can create avoidable delays and confusion.

That is why this service is handled with a document-specific approach. The goal is to make sure the substantive FBI pages are translated properly, the apostille is included when it has already been issued, and the final sworn translation is ready for official use in Spain.

What To Send

Please send a clear PDF or scan of:

The FBI Identity History Summary pages
The apostille page, if already issued
Any official attached pages that form part of the document set

If the cover page only contains the applicant’s name and address, it does not normally need translation. The pages that should be translated are the actual FBI summary pages and the apostille. The FBI also states that responses are issued on standard white paper and electronic responses may be printed as needed, which is why a clear PDF usually works well for review.

How To Obtain Your FBI Background Check

You can request your FBI Identity History Summary directly through the official FBI process. The FBI offers both an electronic request option and a mail-based option. The FBI also states that electronic requests are generally processed faster once the completed fingerprint card is received.

Official FBI Identity History Summary request page →

If you prefer to review the FBI’s detailed instructions first, their guidance page explains the request methods, fingerprint requirements, response format, and mailing process.

How To Get Fingerprints Taken If You Are in Spain

If you are currently in Spain, you do not need to be in the United States to start this process. U.S. Embassy Spain guidance indicates that fingerprints for FBI criminal record purposes are taken by Policía Científica, and applicants should clarify at the police station that the fingerprints are not for extranjería.

Step 1: Start the FBI request

Begin with the official FBI request instructions to decide whether to use the electronic or mail-in route. The FBI accepts mailed fingerprint cards and says the electronic route is usually faster once the fingerprint card has been received.

Step 2: Arrange fingerprinting in Spain

Have your fingerprints taken locally. Embassy guidance points applicants to Policía Científica for FBI criminal record fingerprints.

Step 3: Make sure the fingerprints are current and legible

The FBI requires a current fingerprint card for each request. If fingerprints are repeatedly rejected, it recommends having multiple sets taken, preferably by a fingerprinting technician.

Step 4: Submit the fingerprint card to the FBI

Mail the completed fingerprint card with the rest of your FBI request, or follow the electronic request flow if that is the route you chose.

Step 5: Request the apostille after the FBI check is issued

For use in Spain, the FBI result usually needs a U.S. apostille. Federal apostilles are issued through the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Authentications.

Do You Need an Apostille for an FBI Background Check?

In most Spain-related procedures, yes. The FBI does not issue apostilles itself. Instead, documents authenticated by the FBI may then be sent to the U.S. Department of State to obtain an apostille. The U.S. Department of State’s Office of Authentications is the authority that issues apostille certificates for U.S. federal documents used in Hague Convention countries.

If you prefer not to handle the federal apostille process yourself, Monument Visa is a practical third-party option many applicants find useful for FBI apostille handling.

Which Pages Need To Be Translated?

For this service, the translation should cover the substantive FBI summary pages and the apostille. If the cover page contains only the applicant’s name and address, it does not normally need translation.

The goal is to translate the parts of the official package that Spanish authorities will actually review as part of the record, not just the first page in isolation.

Documents Commonly Sent Together With an FBI Check

Depending on the procedure, clients often send their FBI check alongside:

How It Works

Send your FBI document set

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

Your sworn translation is prepared personally by Alba

Your translation is handled directly by Alba and prepared for official use in Spain.

Receive a digitally signed PDF

You receive the sworn translation in digital format, ready to print and use as needed.

Pay after delivery

You only pay once the translation has been delivered. Payment options include credit card, bank transfer, Wise, and Zelle.

Request My FBI Translation See Pricing & Process

Frequently Asked Questions

Is an FBI background check the same as an FBI Identity History Summary?

Yes. The FBI uses the term Identity History Summary for this record. It is also commonly referred to as an FBI background check, criminal history record, police background clearance, or police/good conduct certificate.

Can I request my FBI background check online?

Yes. The FBI offers an electronic request route as well as a mail-based route. The FBI states that the electronic route is generally faster once your completed fingerprint card has been received.

Can I get fingerprints taken in Spain?

Yes. U.S. Embassy Spain guidance indicates that fingerprints for FBI criminal record purposes are taken by Policía Científica. Applicants should clarify that the fingerprints are not for extranjería.

Does the apostille need translation too?

Yes. If the apostille is part of the document set you will submit in Spain, it should be translated together with the FBI record. Your translation should reflect the full official package.

Does the cover page need translation?

Not usually. If it only contains the applicant’s name and address, it does not normally need translation. The pages that matter are the substantive FBI summary pages and the apostille.

Can I send a downloaded PDF from the FBI?

Yes. The FBI states that responses may be issued electronically and printed as needed. A clear PDF is generally the easiest format to review and translate.

Do I need the apostille before ordering the translation?

For the final version you plan to submit in Spain, it is best to have the apostille already attached so it can be translated together with the FBI record in one complete package.

Does the FBI expedite requests?

The FBI states it does not expedite Identity History Summary requests, but also says that direct electronic requests are generally processed faster than mail once the fingerprint card is received.

What if my fingerprints are rejected?

The FBI recommends having multiple sets of fingerprints taken, preferably by a fingerprinting technician, and mailing all fingerprint cards with your request if needed.

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

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

Do I need a certified translation or a sworn translation for my FBI background check for Spain?

If you are applying from the U.S., you may be searching with U.S. terminology. For official use in Spain, what Spanish consulates and immigration authorities require is a sworn translation — not a general certified translation from a U.S. company. See the full explanation of certified vs sworn translation for Spain before you order your translation.

Can I use a certified translation of my FBI background check for Spain?

No. A general certified translation from a US translation company is not the same as a sworn translation for Spain. Spanish consulates and immigration authorities require a sworn translation prepared by a sworn translator officially appointed in Spain — not a self-certified translation. See the certified translation vs sworn translation page for more detail.

Is a scanned FBI check enough to get started?

Yes. A clear PDF or scan is all you need to submit. There is no need to mail physical originals. The finished sworn translation is delivered as a digitally signed PDF prepared for official use in Spain.