Hello all,

Is a Criminal Background Check from the U.S. needed for a residency VISA in Spain?  According to the Spanish Embassy website the answer is “yes” but I was wondering if in fact, it were true.  I have been unable to contact the Embassy directly.  If so, how soon before my departure (now November 3, 2012) should I get this?

I would appreciate anyone’s help.

Thank you.

Mike Rutledge

Criminal Background is done at you loacl police station , just ask if you have any out standing problems , parking tickets , many want to pay them now ... that is included aswell ,
very easy to get ... had to do myself from Usa to EU job few years ago ... Ask a cop that you know aswell

Jurdy

That’s actually incorrect. You cannot use a police background check obtained in a municipal station in the US for use in applying for Spanish residency. A background check is absolutely required, but it must be from either the state police department of the state in which you reside (State Police often have a background check service available by mail) or at a federal level from the FBI (you might need to go to some location to get fingerprinted if you choose this route). Give it about a month to process either way.

Of couse, if you managed to pull it off with a local municipal record, that’s great. But the official stance is that such a record is not allowed.

Thanks for the info.  As I dug deeper into the Spanish Embassy website it clearly states that the background check MUST be from the State or FBI.  I chose the FBI and my fingerprints and application were sent out today for overnight/return receipt delivery.

Thanks again for your input.

Mike

Hey rut42 I’m in the process of obtaining my residency card and need to get the background check.  You said you found it stated on the embassy webpage that a state or federal (FBI) background check would work, could you direct me to where you found that? I can’t find it after searching the Washington embassy page.  I’m hoping to avoid an FBI check because of a misdemeanor in another state, would be great if I could just use the state background check.  thanks in advance!