Police Certificate Translation for Spain
Official sworn translation of police certificates for Spain from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, South Africa, and other countries. If you need to submit a criminal record certificate for a visa, residency, nationality, pareja de hecho, or another official procedure in Spain, the exact document name may vary by country — but the goal is the same.
- €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
Which Police Certificate Is Usually the Right One?
Not every country calls this document the same thing. Depending on where you lived, it may be called a criminal record check, police certificate, national police certificate, police clearance certificate, or criminal conviction history. That difference in naming is one of the main reasons people get confused about which document Spain actually wants.
The safest approach is to identify the correct country-specific criminal record document first, then translate the complete official set you will actually submit in Spain.
This page is for applicants who lived in a country other than the United States or the United Kingdom. If your document is an FBI background check or an ACRO Police Certificate, use the dedicated pages for those specific documents.
Why This Matters for Spain
For Spain, the issue is usually not whether you need a criminal record document at all. It is whether you have the right one, whether it is complete, whether it has been legalised or apostilled when needed, and whether the Spanish translation reflects the actual submission package.
Spanish visa guidance commonly states that applicants of legal age must submit criminal record certificate(s) from the country or countries where they have resided during the relevant period, and that foreign documents must be legalised or apostilled and, when necessary, officially translated into Spanish.
Country-by-Country Guide
Canada
For Canada, the document is typically a criminal record check connected to the RCMP process. Government of Canada guidance states that fingerprints must be submitted electronically to CCRTIS, and that electronic fingerprint submission to the RCMP is not currently available from outside Canada. Applicants abroad must use an accredited company within Canada that can digitise ink fingerprints and submit them electronically.
Usually the right document: Criminal record check / RCMP-based criminal record check
How to obtain and translate your Canadian criminal record check →
Australia
For Australia, the document is usually the National Police Certificate (NPC) issued through the Australian Federal Police. The AFP describes it as a summary of your offender history in Australia and says it is sometimes called a national police check. Applications can be made online or by post. Most digital certificates arrive within a few days if applying online, though fingerprint checks take at least 15 working days. Applicants must state the purpose of the check in the application.
Usually the right document: AFP National Police Certificate
How to obtain and translate your Australian police certificate →
New Zealand
For New Zealand, the document is usually your criminal record check or criminal conviction history through the Ministry of Justice. The Ministry states that you can request your own criminal record check online, that you need valid identification and a signed Authority to Release Information Form, and that the request is free. It aims to respond within 20 working days and around 90% of requests are answered in less than one week.
Usually the right document: Ministry of Justice criminal record check / criminal conviction history
How to obtain and translate your New Zealand criminal record documents →
Ireland
For Ireland, the correct document is generally the Police Certificate issued through An Garda Síochána, not Garda Vetting. Garda guidance says the certificate is used for foreign consular authorities and foreign visas, that it is free of charge, and that it takes approximately three weeks. Garda also makes clear that a Police Certificate cannot be construed as Garda Vetting, a security clearance, or a character reference.
Usually the right document: Garda Police Certificate
How to obtain and translate your Irish police certificate →
South Africa
For South Africa, the document is the Police Clearance Certificate (PCC). South African government guidance says it confirms whether you have a criminal record and that applicants apply at a police station where fingerprints are taken. If you are outside South Africa, you may apply at a police station in that country or at the South African Embassy. Only the Criminal Record Centre in Pretoria issues police clearance certificates, and the average issuance time is about 14 working days once a complete application is received.
Usually the right document: SAPS Police Clearance Certificate
How to obtain and translate your South African police clearance →
Lived Somewhere Else?
If you lived in another country and the document has a different name, that does not automatically mean it is the wrong one. What matters is whether it is the official criminal record certificate used for immigration, visa, or foreign consular purposes in that country. If you are unsure, send what you have and Alba can review it before moving forward.
If You Lived in More Than One Country
This is one of the biggest sources of confusion. Spanish visa guidance commonly says that applicants of legal age must submit criminal record certificate(s) from the country or countries where they resided during the relevant lookback period.
That means you may need:
- One certificate from your current or main country of residence
- One or more additional certificates from other countries where you lived during the relevant period
- Apostille or legalisation for each non-EU foreign document where required
- An official Spanish translation for each document you will submit
If you already know you need multiple police certificates, it is often easier to send the full set together so everything can be reviewed as one Spain-facing package.
What To Send
Please send a clear PDF or scan of:
- The police certificate itself
- The apostille or legalisation page, if already issued
- Any attached official pages that form part of the document set
If the certificate has already been apostilled or legalised for Spain, send the complete official package so it can be translated together.
Do You Need an Apostille?
In many Spain procedures, foreign criminal record certificates must be legalised or apostilled. Spanish visa guidance commonly states that foreign criminal record documents must be legalised or apostilled and translated into Spanish when required.
For most applicants using certificates from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, the United States, or the United Kingdom, apostille or legalisation is usually part of the process. If your certificate already has the apostille attached, send it together with the certificate so the full official set can be translated.
How It Works
Send your police certificate
Upload a clear PDF or scan of the certificate and the apostille or legalisation page, if already issued. In most cases, no physical mail is required.
Your sworn translation is prepared personally by Alba
You work directly with Alba and receive a sworn translation prepared for official use in Spain.
Receive a digitally signed PDF
The final translation is delivered digitally, ready to print and submit as needed.
Pay after delivery
Pricing is fixed per page and payment is made after delivery.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I am not sure which police certificate my country issues?
Different countries use different names for the equivalent document, including criminal record check, police certificate, national police certificate, police clearance certificate, and criminal conviction history. If you are unsure, send what you have and Alba can review it.
Do I need one police certificate or several?
It depends on the Spain procedure and your residence history. Spanish visa guidance often refers to certificate(s) from the country or countries of residence during the relevant period.
Does the apostille need translation too?
If the apostille or legalisation page is part of the final set you are submitting in Spain, it should be translated together with the certificate.
Is Garda Vetting the same as an Irish Police Certificate?
No. Garda explicitly says a Police Certificate cannot be construed as Garda Vetting, a security clearance, or a character reference.
What is the usual police certificate for Australia?
Usually the AFP National Police Certificate. The AFP describes it as a summary of your offender history and says it is sometimes called a national police check.
What is the usual police certificate for New Zealand?
Usually a Ministry of Justice criminal record check, also called a criminal conviction history.
What is the usual police certificate for South Africa?
Usually the SAPS Police Clearance Certificate. South African guidance says it confirms whether you have a criminal record and is used for emigration or work abroad.
Can I apply for a South African police clearance from abroad?
Yes. South African guidance says you may apply at a police station in the country where you are located or at a South African Embassy.
Can I apply for a Canadian criminal record check from outside Canada?
Yes, but the process is more specific. Government of Canada guidance says electronic fingerprint submissions to the RCMP are not available from outside Canada, so you must use an accredited company in Canada that can digitise ink fingerprints and submit them electronically.
Can I send a scan or PDF for translation?
Yes. A clear digital copy is usually the easiest format for review and translation.