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Roadmap · stage 2 of 12

Documents, certificates, apostille, sworn translation

You will put together the file for your basis: passport, criminal record certificates, apostilles, sworn translations, proof of income and insurance.

This stage was prepared by the ReloVictory team from primary sources; it has not yet been checked by a lawyer, and each item is marked with the date it was verified.

In brief

  • The passport must be valid for at least one year on the date of the visa application (Article 38 of RD 1155/2024)
  • Criminal record certificate: DNV covers 2 years plus a declaration for 5 years; no lucrativa, employment, family and arraigo cover 5 years
  • Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Ukraine are parties to the Hague Convention: you need an apostille, not legalisation
  • A sworn translation is done by a traductor jurado from the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs list; there is no set tariff, the translator sets the price
Edit profile

Item 21

How long must a passport be valid for a Spanish residence visa?

For a residence visa, Article 38 of RD 1155/2024 requires a passport valid for at least one year [1]; the same condition appears in hoja 6 for no lucrativa and in hoja 1 for study [2][3]. The Moscow consulate adds two blank pages and an issue date no more than ten years before the application [4]. If the validity is shorter, replace the passport before collecting certificates, otherwise the details in the translations will not match.

  • In person
  • Free
Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe
Documents
  • international passport
  • for Russian citizens: internal passport, original and full copy
Cost
free

In detail: full article

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

Item 22

Which passport copies do you need for a residence permit application?

For a DNV, the UGE asks for a legible copy of the whole passport, every page, citing Articles 62.3 a and 74 quinquies of Ley 14/2013 [1]. For no lucrativa, study and employment, the Moscow consulate requires the original and a copy of the biometric data page, a full copy of all valid international passports and, for Russian citizens, the original and a full copy of the internal passport [2]. Make the copies after the apostilles and translations.

  • In person
  • Online
  • Free
Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe
Documents
  • copy of every page of your international passport
  • copies of all valid passports
  • for Russian citizens: copy of the internal passport
Cost
free

In detail: full article

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

Item 23

How do you order a Russian criminal record certificate for a Spanish residence permit?

In Russia, the certificate of criminal record (or its absence) is issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) and its regional offices; you apply through Gosuslugi [1]. The standard processing time is up to 30 calendar days from registration of the application, extendable by another 30 days if needed; documents are sent within 3 working days after signing [1]. The service page does not state a cost. For Spain you need a paper certificate with an MVD apostille and a sworn translation [2].

  • Online
  • In person
  • Lawyer needed
Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe
Where
Gosuslugi; issued at a regional MVD office or electronically
How to book
application in your Gosuslugi account
Documents
  • passport
  • details of previous surnames and registered addresses
Cost
the Gosuslugi page does not state a cost; check when you order
Period
up to 30 calendar days, possibly extended by another 30

In detail: full article

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

Item 24

What period must the criminal record certificate cover for each type of permit?

The certificate window depends on the rule. DNV: certificates from the countries of residence for the last two years and a declaration of no criminal record for five years (Article 62.3 c of Ley 14/2013) [1]. Residence visa for no lucrativa, employment, family: countries of residence for the last five years (Article 38 e of RD 1155/2024) [2]. Study: a certificate for five years if the stay is longer than six months (hoja 1) [3]. Arraigo: five years before entering Spain (Article 130.2) [2].

  • Online
  • Free
Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe
Documents
  • certificates from each country of residence for the window
  • for a DNV: declaración responsable for five years
Cost
free

In detail: full article · route card: DNV · route card: no lucrativa · route card: study · route card: work · route card: family · route card: arraigo

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

Item 25

Do I need criminal record certificates from other countries where I have lived?

Yes. Article 38 e of RD 1155/2024 refers to the countries where the applicant has lived in the last five years, not only the country of citizenship [1]; for a DNV the window is two years (Article 62.3 c of Ley 14/2013) [2]. Each certificate is legalised under the rules of the issuing country: an apostille if the country is party to the Hague Convention, otherwise legalisation through that country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Spanish consulate [3]. Deadlines and fees are set by the issuing authority.

  • Online
  • In person
Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe
Where
authorities of the country of residence; procedure and fee under its rules
Documents
  • a certificate from each country of residence in the period
  • apostille or legalisation
  • sworn translation
Cost
fee under the rules of the issuing country
Period
under the issuing country’s rules; order it before the other certificates

In detail: full article

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

Item 26

Who apostilles a Russian criminal record certificate?

In Russia, the apostille on certificates of criminal record (or no criminal record) is issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, as stated in the list of competent authorities on the Ministry of Justice website [1]. The Spanish Consulate in Moscow requires a Hague Convention apostille on certificates issued in Russia, Belarus, Armenia and Uzbekistan; certificates from Turkmenistan are signed by a consular diplomat [2]. The apostille goes on the original certificate, before translation.

  • In person
Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe
Where
Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs (the office that issued the certificate)
Documents
  • original certificate
  • passport
  • receipt for the Russian state fee
Cost
Russian state fee; check the amount and processing time with the Ministry of Internal Affairs when you apply

More: full article · glossary term

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

Item 27

Where do you apostille Russian marriage and birth certificates?

Civil status records are apostilled by the executive authorities of the Russian regions that run the civil registry offices (ZAGS), according to the Ministry of Justice list [1]. The Moscow consulate accepts proof of family ties in the form of marriage and birth certificates from the registro civil, with a Spanish translation and an apostille [2]. According to the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a 1984 exchange of notes exempts certificaciones del Registro Civil of Spain and Russia from legalisation; the Moscow consulate still asks for an apostille, so ask the consulate whether the exemption applies to your document [3].

  • In person
Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe
Where
civil registry (ZAGS) authorities of the Russian region
Documents
  • original certificate
  • passport
  • receipt for the Russian state fee
Cost
Russian state fee; check the amount with the civil registry authority

More: full article · route card: family · glossary term

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

Item 28

Do documents from Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Ukraine need an apostille or consular legalisation?

According to the HCCH status table as of 30.06.2026, Russia and Belarus have been parties to the Apostille Convention since 31.05.1992, Kazakhstan since 30.01.2001, Ukraine since 22.12.2003 and Armenia since 14.08.1994 [1]. For documents from these countries an apostille is enough; legalisation through a Spanish consulate is needed only for countries outside the convention, such as Turkmenistan [2][3]. Hoja 61 of the Ministry of Inclusion describes both routes and the accepted translations [3].

  • Online
  • Free
Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe
Cost
free

More: full article · glossary term

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

Item 29

Do you need to apostille your degree for the DNV or for work in Spain?

For the teletrabajo visa, the Moscow consulate asks for the original and a copy of a grado or postgrado degree, an FP diploma or a business school diploma, and homologation for a regulated profession [1]. The UGE asks for a copy of the degree and, for a regulated profession, homologation or a notarised statement that you will not practise the profession in Spain; public documents not in Spanish need a sworn translation [2]. In Russia, education documents are apostilled by the regional state authorities listed by the Ministry of Justice [3].

  • In person
  • Online
Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe
Where
regional education authority in Russia; in other countries, the authority of the issuing country
Documents
  • original diploma and transcript
  • passport
  • state fee receipt
Cost
state fee of the issuing country; check the amount with the authority

More: full article · route card: DNV · route card: work

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

Item 30

How do you prove three years of experience for the DNV without a degree?

Article 74 bis.2 of Ley 14/2013 accepts at least three years of professional experience instead of a degree [1]. The Moscow consulate specifies experience in duties similar to the remote position, at a comparable level of qualification [2]. Contracts, employer letters stating the position and period, a Russian employment record book or a statement of employment history all work. As foreign private documents they go with a sworn translation; an apostille is only put on public documents [3].

  • Online
  • Free
Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe
Documents
  • contracts and employer letters
  • employment history statement
  • sworn translation
Cost
free

More: full article · route card: DNV

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

Item 31

What should you check in the original documents before the apostille?

The Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs legalises only originals or certified copies from the same authority with a handwritten signature; electronic signatures are not recognised [1]. An apostille certifies the signature and seal, not the content, so a mistake in a name or date cannot be fixed once the stamp is on: first the correction by the issuing authority, then the apostille, then the translation. Check the transliteration of your name against your international passport in every document [2].

  • In person
  • Lawyer needed
Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe
Where
the authority that issued the document
Documents
  • original with signature and seal
  • international passport to check the spelling of your name
Cost
under the issuing authority’s rules

In detail: full article

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

Item 32

Where do you find a sworn translator for residence permit documents in Spain?

Sworn translators (traductor jurado) are appointed by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the Oficina de Interpretación de Lenguas publishes a list with languages and a search tool, but does not broker orders or translate itself [1]. Their translations are official before courts and public administration [1]. There is no set rate: under article 16 of RD 724/2020, translators set their fees freely [2]. Translations into Catalan are done by translators on the Generalitat register [1].

  • Online
  • Costs
Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe
Where
exteriores.gob.es, buscador de traductores e intérpretes jurados
Documents
  • scans of the apostilled documents for a quote
Cost
at the translator’s rate; the law does not set fees
Period
timing agreed with the translator; ask them

In detail: full article

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

Item 33

What needs a sworn translation, and what can have a plain one?

Hoja 61 accepts translations into Spanish by a sworn translator appointed by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or translations made or checked by a Spanish consulate and then legalised at the Ministry [1]. For the DNV, the UGE requires a sworn translation of public documents but accepts the CV in a plain translation [2]. The Moscow consulate asks for a translation of all foreign-language documents and copies made after the translations are certified [3]. The apostille is translated together with the document.

  • Online
  • In person
  • Costs
Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe
Documents
  • original with apostille
  • sworn translation of the full set
  • CV in a plain translation (UGE)
Cost
at the translator’s rate

In detail: full article

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

Item 34

What company documents do you need for the DNV?

For the DNV the company provides three documents. A contract or contrato mercantil showing a relationship of at least three months on the filing date [1]. A letter (certificado) with your position, duties, express permission to work remotely from Spain and payment in euros [1][2]. A commercial register extract showing the company was set up at least a year earlier and its line of business [1][2]. A self-employed applicant needs the terms of the contrato mercantil instead of the letter [2].

  • Online
  • Free
Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe
Documents
  • contract
  • company letter
  • apostilled register extract
  • sworn translation
Cost
free
Period
relationship with the company of at least three months, company in business for at least a year on the filing date

More: full article · route card: DNV

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

Item 35

How do you prove income for the DNV: statements, payslips, invoices?

The UGE accepts nóminas or facturas for the three months before the filing date and a bank certificate in the applicant’s name for the same three months, signed or stamped by the bank, with the payments under the contract shown separately and matching the payslips or invoices [1]. If your income is below the threshold, you cover the difference for the whole permit period with savings certificates [1]. The Moscow consulate accepts any evidence that shows the funds are lawful and available [2].

  • Online
  • Free
  • Lawyer needed
Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe
Documents
  • nóminas or facturas for three months
  • bank certificate showing the payments separately
  • if short: savings certificate
Cost
free
Period
the three months before the filing date

More: full article · route card: DNV

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

Item 36

How do you sort out social security for the DNV?

The UGE’s answer is that alta in the Seguridad Social is compulsory when you work from Spain [1]. Employees: the foreign company registers with the Seguridad Social as a non-resident without work centres in Spain and undertakes to enrol the employee in the Régimen General once the permit is granted; the only alternative is a certificate of applicable legislation under an international agreement that expressly covers remote work from Spain [1][2]. Self-employed applicants undertake to register in RETA; they cannot carry over coverage from abroad [1].

  • Online
  • Free
Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe
Where
Tesorería General de la Seguridad Social; the social security authority of your home country for the certificate
Documents
  • proof of the company’s registration with the Seguridad Social and the alta commitment
  • or a certificate of applicable legislation
  • for the self-employed: a commitment to register (alta) in RETA
Cost
free
Period
paperwork before filing; alta after the permit and before you start working in Spain

More: full article · route card: DNV · glossary term

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

Item 37

Which proof of funds is accepted for the no lucrativa?

Article 62.3 of RD 1155/2024 accepts any evidence: property documents, certified cheques, credit cards with a bank certificate of the available limit [1]. For foreign accounts, the bank certificate must give the bank’s full name and address, the account details, the opening date, the balances at 31 December of the previous year and the average balance over the last year [1]. The Moscow consulate asks for the original and a copy, and hoja 6 repeats the list [2][3]. The European Commission FAQ describes the EU restrictions on deposits by Russian nationals [4].

  • In person
  • Online
  • Free
  • Lawyer needed
Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe
Where
the bank where the account is held
Documents
  • bank certificate with the details required by article 62.3
  • statements
  • documents on property or regular income
Cost
free

More: full article · route card: no lucrativa

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

Item 38

What health insurance do you need for a residence permit in Spain?

For the no lucrativa, the Moscow consulate asks for a certificate from an insurer authorised to operate in Spain covering all the risks of the public system; for studies, cover similar to the basic package of the Sistema Nacional de Salud for the length of the stay [1][2]. For the DNV, the UGE does not accept travel policies, reimbursement-only policies or policies with copago or carencia; you do not need insurance if you register with the Seguridad Social [3].

  • Online
  • Costs
Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe
Where
an insurer on the register of the Dirección General de Seguros y Fondos de Pensiones
Documents
  • insurer’s certificate for the whole period
  • translation if the policy is not in Spanish
Cost
at the insurer’s rate; this card does not recommend any company
Period
the policy runs from the date of entry for the whole permit period

More: full article · route card: DNV · route card: no lucrativa · route card: studies

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

Item 39

What medical certificate do you need for a Spanish residence visa?

Article 38 i of RD 1155/2024 requires, for a residence visa, a medical certificate stating that you have none of the diseases that can have serious public health implications under the 2005 Reglamento Sanitario Internacional [1]. The Moscow consulate accepts the original and a copy; a certificate not in Spanish needs a sworn translation or certification by the consulate [2]. The consulate asks for the same document for studies [3]. The law does not set a form for the doctor.

  • In person
  • Costs
Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe
Where
a doctor or clinic where you live
Documents
  • certificate with the doctor’s stamp and signature
  • sworn translation
Cost
at the clinic’s rate
Period
the consulate decides how recent the certificate must be; get it close to filing

More: full article · route card: no lucrativa · route card: studies · route card: work

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

Item 40

What documents from the school do you need for a student visa?

For the estudios visa, the Moscow consulate requires the original and a copy of the enrolment and matrícula payment documents from an authorised centre; the matrícula states the start and end dates, credits, year or level [1]. Exchange programmes need documents under DGGM criterion 8/2025, and volunteering needs an agreement with the organisation [1]. When you book the cita, attach the enrolment letter with the dates to the request [2].

  • Online
  • Costs
Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe
Where
university or school
Documents
  • enrolment letter with dates
  • proof of matrícula payment
  • translation if not in Spanish
Cost
tuition at the school’s rate
Period
apply for the visa no later than two months before your course starts

More: full article · route card: studies

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

Item 41

How do you prove marriage or partnership for a family residence permit in Spain?

Article 66 of RD 1155/2024 recognises a spouse and a partner: a union registered in an EU state register, or an unregistered couple who have lived together for at least twelve months in a row; with children in common no minimum period applies [1]. The Moscow consulate accepts marriage and birth certificates from the registro civil, a pareja de hecho registration certificate or other proof of the relationship, with translation and apostille [2].

  • In person
  • Lawyer needed
Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe
Where
civil registry, partnership register, municipality
Documents
  • marriage certificate or partnership registration certificate
  • for an unregistered couple: proof of 12 months living together
  • apostille and sworn translation
Cost
fee under the rules of the issuing country

More: full article · route card: family

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

Item 42

Do you need the other parent’s consent to move a child to Spain?

For the estudios visa, the Moscow consulate requires, for a minor in the care of a third person, authorisation from both parents or the sole guardian stating the school and the period, plus a copy of the guardian’s identity document and a certificate of no sexual offences [1]. A child’s application is signed by one of the parents or a representative (article 36 of RD 1155/2024) [2]. For other grounds, check the consent requirements with your consulate.

  • In person
  • Costs
  • Lawyer needed
Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe
Where
a notary in your country of residence
Documents
  • the other parent’s notarised consent
  • custody decision if there is only one parent
  • sworn translation and apostille
Cost
at the notary’s rate

More: full article · route card: family

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

Item 43

What housing report do you need for reagrupación familiar?

Hoja 8 requires an informe on adequate housing from the autonomous community or the local authority; if it is not issued within a month, any evidence describing the home is accepted together with a copy of the request [1]. The report and any substitute documents must be no older than six months on the filing date [1]. In Barcelona, the INF H application is filed at an OAC or through the Oficina Virtual de Tràmits; the report is signed by the Generalitat, the decision takes 30 working days and the report is valid for six months from the date it is signed [2].

  • Online
  • In person
  • Barcelona only
Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe
Where
Ajuntament de Barcelona (OAC, Servei d'Informes d'Habitatge) takes the application; the report is signed by the Generalitat de Catalunya
How to book
OAC or Oficina Virtual de Tràmits
Documents
  • form INF H
  • NIE and passport (certified copies)
  • rental contract or proof of ownership
Cost
check the report fee on the Ajuntament or Gencat page
Period
the Generalitat decides within 30 working days of registration; the report is valid for six months from the date it is signed

More: full article · route card: family

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

Item 44

How do you prove two years of residence in Spain for arraigo?

Article 126 b of RD 1155/2024 requires a continuous stay in Spain of at least two years before filing [1]. Hoja 28 asks for documents bearing your identification details, preferably issued or registered by the Spanish administration; without family ties, integration is assessed on a report from the autonomous community or the ayuntamiento, issued within a month [2]. Registration in the padró, medical records, school, contracts and statements cover the months one after another.

  • Online
  • In person
  • Free
  • Barcelona only
  • Lawyer needed
Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe
Where
Ajuntament (volant), CAP, school, bank
Documents
  • volant d'empadronament històric
  • medical and school records
  • contracts, receipts, statements
Cost
free
Period
two years before the filing date with no gaps

More: full article · route card: arraigo · glossary term

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

Item 45

How do you put the document set together before filing?

The UGE advises attaching an escrito explicativo, a note explaining the documents, especially if they do not match the list word for word, to speed up the review [1]. The Moscow consulate takes the original and a copy of each document; copies are made after the translations are certified and legalised [2]. An index numbered to the authority’s list and the order “original, apostille, translation” cut down the number of requests for more documents.

  • In person
  • Online
  • Free
Where, how to book, documents, cost, timeframe
Documents
  • index of the set
  • cover note
  • originals, copies, translations in the order of the list
Cost
free

In detail: full article

Checked against the source on 03.10.2026. This is guidance, not a legal opinion.

What you can do yourself and what we take on

You can complete every item of this stage on your own: each one says where to go, how to book and what to bring. Where going ahead without a lawyer is risky, there is a separate panel with options for help, including free ones. ReloVictory prepares the document set, accompanies the filing and handles the case: 15 minutes free, a full consultation €121 for 45 minutes, case handling priced by quote, fees and translations extra. Book a consultation

Frequently asked questions

Who apostilles a criminal record certificate in Russia?
The Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs, not the Ministry of Justice. According to the list of competent authorities on the Ministry of Justice website, the Ministry of Internal Affairs apostilles certificates of criminal record (or no criminal record), the regional civil registry (ZAGS) authorities apostille marriage and birth certificates, the regional authorities apostille education documents, and the Ministry of Justice apostilles other official documents. The certificate itself is ordered through Gosuslugi and takes up to 30 calendar days.
Do all documents for a residence permit in Spain need a sworn translation?
Public documents not in Spanish are translated by a traductor jurado appointed by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the alternative under hoja 61 is a translation by a Spanish consulate, legalised afterwards at the Ministry. For the DNV, the UGE accepts the CV in a plain translation. The original is translated together with the apostille so that the stamp is in Spanish too.
How many years should the criminal record certificate cover?
It depends on the grounds. For the DNV, article 62.3 c of Ley 14/2013: certificates from your countries of residence for the last two years plus a declaration of no criminal record for five years. For a residence visa (no lucrativa, employment, family), article 38 of RD 1155/2024: countries of residence for five years. For studies, the certificate is required for stays longer than six months. For arraigo: five years before entering Spain.
What insurance is accepted for a residence permit in Spain?
A policy from an insurer authorised to operate in Spain, covering the risks of the public health system: this is what the Moscow consulate requires for the no lucrativa and studies, and the UGE for the DNV. The UGE does not accept travel policies, reimbursement-only policies, or policies with copago or carencia. You do not need insurance if you register with the Seguridad Social.

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