OTHER SERVICES

U.S. Police Clearance- Evidence of No Criminal Record in the U.S.

Some individuals may be requested to obtain proof from Federal or State Authorities stating that they do not have a criminal record. Neither the Consulate General nor the Embassy can provide individuals with a U.S. police clearance document.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT PREFERENCES: Spanish authorities generally require legalized State Clearances, while Andorran authorities prefer a Federal Clearance for most procedures. Please verify with the requesting office which clearance is required.
 
State Clearance

To obtain police clearance from your state or states of residence, you must contact the proper issuing agent in that State. This is usually the state’s Department of Public Safety, State Police, Attorney General, or state’s Division of Criminal Investigations.

When contacting the appropriate state office, please ask that the signature of the record be notarized in order to be legalized, a mandatory requirement for the criminal records to be accepted by Spanish authorities. Officials in the issuing state will legalize the document by stamping or attaching an Apostille to it. Visit State's Treaty Information page for information on where and how to obtain an Apostille certificate for a documents issued in the United States. Procedures vary from state to state.

Federal Clearance

To obtain a Federal clearance, you must contact the FBI. For additional information visit FBI Identification Record Request page. (Note: FBI clearances are not signed by an official and therefore cannot be legalized with an Apostille.)
 
In some instances, fingerprints may be required to obtain a police record. This office can provide American Citizens with an introduction letter for the police requesting that the fingerprints be taken. This office charges a $30 fee for the letter.