If you are applying for any Spanish visa or residence permit from the UK, you will almost certainly be required to submit a criminal record check certificate covering the past five years.
For applicants connected to the UK, Spanish authorities are explicit:
Spain requires a UK ACRO Police Certificate.
DBS certificates are not accepted for visa or residence applications.
This applies across study, work, family, digital nomad, residence, and regularisation routes, including Spain’s newly announced undocumented migrant legalisation programme.
This guide explains who needs ACRO, which Spanish visas require it, how the apostille requirement works, and how to avoid the most common and costly mistakes.
Who Needs a UK ACRO Police Certificate for Spain?
You will need a UK ACRO Police Certificate if any of the following apply:
- You hold a UK or British passport
- You have lived in the UK for any part of the past five years
- You are applying for a Spanish visa or residence permit from the UK
- You are a non-UK national whose recent residence history is UK-based
Spain assesses place of residence, not only nationality.
If the UK appears in your five-year residence history, ACRO is mandatory.
ACRO vs DBS: Why Spain Rejects DBS Certificates
This is one of the most common reasons Spanish visa applications are delayed or rejected.
| Certificate | Accepted for Spain visas | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| ACRO Police Certificate | Yes | Issued specifically for overseas immigration use |
| DBS Certificate | No | Intended only for UK employment and safeguarding |
Spanish consulates and immigration offices require a criminal record certificate issued for international use, covering all countries of residence during the last five years.
For the UK, ACRO is the only recognised authority.
Spanish Visas That Require a Criminal Record Certificate
Applicants of legal age must submit criminal record certificates for the past five years for the following Spanish visa and residence categories.
Study and Academic Visas
- Study visa
- Researcher visa
- Internship visa
Work and Professional Visas
- Residence and employment work visa (TRA)
- Residence visa with work permit exemption (TRE – more than 90 days)
- Self-employed work visa
- Visa for highly qualified workers
- Intra-company transfer visa
- Working visa for professionals in the audiovisual sector
Mobility, Lifestyle, and Investment Routes
- Digital nomad visa
- Entrepreneur visa
- Non-working residence visa
Family and Long-Term Residence
- General family reunification visa
- Visa for family members of Spanish citizens living in Spain
- Residence authorisation and visa for family of Spanish citizens living in the UK
- Long-term residence or EU long-term residence recovery
Legal Requirement for Criminal Record Certificates
Spanish immigration rules require that:
- Applicants submit original criminal record certificates
- Certificates must cover all countries of residence for the past five years
- Foreign certificates must be legalised or apostilled
- UK certificates must be:
- ACRO Police Certificates
- Apostilled by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)
Failure to meet any of these requirements typically results in:
- application suspension
- formal request for re-submission
- or refusal
Spain’s 2026 Undocumented Migrant Regularisation: What Has Been Announced
Spain has announced its first large-scale migrant regularisation in over two decades, expected to benefit at least 500,000 undocumented migrants.
Key Announced Criteria
- Applicants must not have a criminal record
- Proof of residence in Spain for at least five months prior to 31 December 2025
- Applications expected to open April–June
- Initial one-year residence permit, renewable
- Implemented by royal decree, without parliamentary approval
Criminal background checks remain a core eligibility requirement.
Applicants with UK residence history will be required to provide ACRO certificates, properly apostilled.
Political opposition has indicated legal challenges, but documentation standards are unlikely to be relaxed.
UK ACRO Police Certificate and Apostille: Correct Process
For Spanish visa applications, order matters.
The fastest and safest approach is:
Apply for the Apostille first → obtain the FCDO reference number → then apply for ACRO and instruct ACRO to send the certificate directly to the FCDO
Reversing this order is the most common cause of delay.
Typical DIY Timeline
- ACRO Police Certificate (priority): approximately 2 working days
- FCDO Apostille (standard): approximately 15 working days
- Total realistic timeframe: 3–4 weeks
When deadlines are fixed or urgent, express apostille processing can reduce the total timeframe to 5–7 working days.
Common Mistakes That Delay Spanish Visa Applications
- Submitting a DBS certificate instead of ACRO
- Applying for ACRO before starting the apostille process
- Gaps or inconsistencies in address history
- Missing apostille on UK documents
- Assuming Spain accepts the same documents as other EU countries
How Ginkgo Advisory Can Assist
Ginkgo Advisory supports UK-based applicants applying for Spanish visas and residence permits by providing:
- ACRO Police Certificate guidance
- UK FCDO Apostille (standard and express)
- Document sequence verification
- Urgent deadline coordination
Applicants may choose a DIY route or request time-critical support where delays would have material consequences.
Contact Us
Address
167-169 Great Portland Street, 5/F, London
English 
Chinese