How to Get a Police Certificate – Spain (including the Canary Islands)

Do I need to provide a Police Certificate with my Application for Permanent Residence? Yes

How to get a Police Certificate:

Name of document(s) to get: Criminal Record Certificate

If you are a citizen of Spain:

If you live in Spain:

You must complete a Model 790 application from the Criminal Record Certificate page (or see Information and documents you need for locations that offer the application free of charge) and submit to the Central Office of Citizen Services at the Ministry of Justice. You can also apply online at the Justice website for a digital certificate.

If you live outside of Spain:

You must complete and mail a Model 790 application from the Criminal Record Certificate page, along with all supporting documentation (see Information or documents you need), to the Central Office of Citizen Services at the Ministry of Justice.

If you are not a citizen of Spain:

If you live in Spain:

You must complete a Model 790 application from the Criminal Record Certificate page (or see Information and documents you need for locations that offer the application free of charge) and submit to the Central Office of Citizen Services at the Ministry of Justice. You can also apply online at the Justice website for a digital certificate.

If you live outside of Spain:

You must complete and mail a Model 790 application from the Criminal Record Certificate page, along with all supporting documentation (see Information or documents you need), to the Central Office of Citizen Services at the Ministry of Justice.

Information and documents you need:

Spanish citizens: Original valid National Identification Card (DNI)

Non-Spanish citizens: Original valid Residency Card, passport, with a valid visa where applicable, or EU identification document

If applying through a representative, you must provide:

• Spanish citizens: Original or certified true photocopy of a valid National Identification Card
• Non-Spanish citizens: Original or certified true photocopy of a valid Residency Card, passport, with a valid where applicable, or EU identification document or equivalent.
• Everyone: Original or certified true photocopy of the document that provides proof of representation by any means deemed valid under the law that provides a reliable record of same (public document authorized by a notary, private document with signatures authorized by a notary or private document, granted when the interested party appears in person before a public employee who will record this incident using a legal measure).

All applicants: pay applicable fees (Please refer to the Justice website for detailed instructions)

IMPORTANT: Special care should be taken that the correct amount of the fee is paid, as the financial entity is not able to refund mistaken amounts paid; requests for reimbursement will require that the interested party initiates a procedure for the refund of undue payment.

Central Office of Citizen Services at the Ministry of Justice

Oficina Central de Atención al Ciudadano del Ministerio de Justicia
Sección de certificados de penales
Calle de la Bolsa 8, 28012 Madrid

The Criminal Record Certificate page is available at the following locations:

• The Regional Offices of the Ministry of Justice.
• In Madrid, in the Central Office of Citizen Services

IMPORTANT: Digital certificates obtained online at the Justice website must be legalized to be considered valid in Canada. Information about this can be found on the same website.

Special notes and considerations