Antecedentes penales

ACRO Police Certificate Translation into Spanish

Your ACRO police certificate (certificado de antecedentes penales) translated into Spanish and signed by a traductor jurado, for residence visas, residence permits and nationality applications.

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An ACRO police certificate translation into Spanish is a traducción jurada of the certificate issued by ACRO Criminal Records Office, signed by a traductor jurado appointed by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Spanish consulates ask adult applicants for this certificate, apostilled and translated, for most long-stay residence visas.

We translate the certificate and its apostille at £48.00 per page within 2 working days. Most applicants send it alongside sworn bank statement translations for the financial means requirement and, for families, a translated marriage certificate. The sworn Spanish translation page explains how sworn translation works.

Price, delivery and where it’s accepted

Spain

Sworn translation into Spanish

Price: £48.00 per page
Same-day rush: Not available — a translator reviews and signs every page
Delivery: Up to 2 working days
Translated into: Spanish
Signed by: A sworn translator
Revisions: 2 free revisions per document

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Do I need an ACRO certificate for a Spanish visa?

Yes, for most long-stay residence visas. The Spanish consulate in London asks applicants aged 18 or over for a criminal record certificate from every country they have lived in during the previous five years, and for UK records it asks for the ACRO police certificate.

The requirement appears on the London consulate's checklists for the non-lucrative visa and other residence visas, including the visa for international remote work (the digital nomad visa). If you've lived in another country in the last five years, you'll need that country's certificate too, each with its own legalisation and translation. We translate certificates from other countries into Spanish as well, so you can upload them in the same order.

Each adult applicant needs their own certificate. Applicants under 18 aren't asked for one.

How recent must an ACRO certificate be for a Spanish visa?

The London consulate says the certificate can't be more than 3 months old when you apply, unless the certificate itself states a longer validity. Plan the ACRO application, the apostille and the translation so all three fit inside that window.

Three months passes quickly when three steps happen in sequence: ACRO processes the application, the FCDO adds the apostille, and then the translation is done. Our part takes up to 2 working days, so it's rarely the slow step, but there's no rush option to make up for a delay earlier in the chain.

A sensible order is to book your consulate appointment, work backwards, apply to ACRO, and send us the apostilled certificate as soon as it arrives. If the date on your certificate is already close to the limit, check with the consulate before paying for a translation.

Does the ACRO certificate need an apostille for Spain?

Yes. The consulate asks for the ACRO certificate to carry a Hague apostille, issued by the FCDO Legalisation Office, as well as a sworn translation into Spanish. Get the apostille first, then the translation.

The consulate is specific about one detail: the apostille must legalise the signature of the person who issued the certificate, not that of a solicitor or notary who certified a copy of it. An apostille on a solicitor's certified photocopy doesn't meet that requirement.

We don't issue apostilles. Once yours is attached, send us the certificate and apostille together. The consulate notes that an apostille which already includes Spanish doesn't need translating; otherwise it's translated with the certificate. Our apostille translation page explains how the two are handled.

When else do Spanish authorities ask for a UK police certificate?

Commonly for residence and work authorisations processed inside Spain, Spanish nationality by residence, and some jobs involving children. Requirements differ by office, so confirm with the authority first.

Each of these has its own validity and legalisation rules. A certificate translated for a visa last year will usually be too old for the next application, so expect to request a new certificate, and a new translation, each time.

Residence visas at Spanish consulates, including the non-lucrative and digital nomad visas
Residence and work authorisations processed in Spain, for example through the extranjería office
Spanish nationality by residence, which asks for a certificate from your country of origin
Roles in Spain involving regular contact with children, where foreign nationals may be asked for a certificate from their home country

How much does a sworn translation of an ACRO certificate cost?

£48.00 per page, charged in pounds sterling, delivered within 2 working days. Pages are counted across the certificate and its apostille.

The price covers the translation, the traductor jurado's signature, a quality check and 2 free revisions. A clear scan or photo of every page, including the apostille, is enough to start. Upload it on the online quote form and tell us it's for a Spanish visa so we can check nothing is missing.

Frequently Asked Questions About ACRO Police Certificate Translation into Spanish

What is a certificado de antecedentes penales?

It's the Spanish term for a criminal record certificate. For UK records, the Spanish consulate in London asks for the ACRO police certificate.

Can I use a DBS check instead of an ACRO certificate for Spain?

The Spanish consulate in London asks for the ACRO certificate for UK criminal records. If you have a different certificate, check with the consulate before having it translated.

How old can the certificate be?

The London consulate accepts certificates up to 3 months old at the time of application, unless the certificate states a longer validity.

Does the apostille need translating too?

Usually. The London consulate says an apostille that already includes Spanish doesn't need translating; otherwise it's translated with the certificate.

Who signs the translation?

A traductor-intérprete jurado appointed by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation. The consulate asks for sworn translators registered in Spain.