How long is an FBI background check valid in Spain?

Last reviewed: 2026-09-28

The FBI background check itself has no expiry date. What matters is the rule of the office that receives it, and in Spain many offices only accept a certificate issued within the last 90 days.

Why timing matters

If you request your FBI check too early, it can be too old by the time you file your application, and you will have to start again. Too late, and you may miss your appointment.

Plan backwards from your filing date

1. Find your appointment or filing date, and check which issue date the office counts from.
2. Count back 90 days (or the period your office uses): that is the earliest safe date for your FBI result.
3. Allow time for the apostille and the sworn translation after the FBI result.
4. Book your fingerprints so that the whole process ends before the filing date.

Use the calculator

Enter your filing date in the 90-day calculator below to see the window in which your certificate should be issued.

Questions

Does the FBI check expire?

Not on its own. The office receiving it decides how recent it must be, and many offices in Spain ask for one issued within the last 90 days.

My application is delayed. Do I need a new check?

If your certificate will be older than your office accepts on the new date, yes. Ask the office first; if you need a new one, we can start again from the fingerprints.

General information, not legal advice. Requirements change: always check the current list of the office handling your application.