How a Florida fdle background check is used in Spain
Be careful here: for Spain, an FDLE record is often the wrong document. The Spanish consulate in New York's checklist for the non-lucrative residence visa says FBI records are valid for the U.S. and that local and state police checks are not accepted. Consulates set their own lists, so check the one that serves you, but don't assume a Florida record will do. FDLE still comes up occasionally, for a Spanish employer or volunteer program that names a state check. In that case, it must be notarized when FDLE issues it.
Translation for Spain
Our general rule is a translation certified by the translator, notarized by a different notary and apostilled in Florida. Spain may instead require a traducción jurada by a sworn translator appointed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which publishes a searchable list. For nationality files, the Ministry of Justice also accepts translations done or checked at Spanish consulates abroad. Translate after the apostille and include the apostille page.
What your FDLE criminal history check must look like
Order the certified, notarized criminal history from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement — the version FDLE notarizes at issuance. An online instant check or a printout without FDLE's notarial certificate cannot be apostilled. The notarized FDLE result is a Florida document, so it receives a Florida apostille; an FBI identity history summary is a federal document that goes to the U.S. Department of State instead and is not something we handle. If the receiving office asks for a "state police certificate", the notarized FDLE check is what they mean.
Step by step: FDLE background check apostille for Spain
- Order online — pick "FDLE background check" and "Spain" on the order form; $220 per document, $380 for two, $160 each for three or more.
- Send a photo — reply to the confirmation email with a picture of the document. We check the certification before anything ships, so a defect is caught before it costs you a round trip.
- Drop it at FedEx — after approval, FedEx emails you a prepaid QR code; show it at any FedEx Office or Ship Center, no printer or label needed.
- Filed in person in Tallahassee — we walk the document into the Florida Department of State and ship the apostilled original back by FedEx within 5–7 business days of receipt — to your U.S. address, or to Spain with international return shipping (+$100).
One Florida apostille is all the U.S. side needs for Spain. Whatever the office there asks for after that — a translation, a filing deadline — is covered above.