Last Updated on April 18, 2026 by Bruno Bianchi
Question
I need to have my FBI check apostille…do I have to get it notarized first before sending it to Washington? Also, do you recommend using a service for this or doing it on my own?
Answers
These are the answers of Spainguru’s Spanish Non Lucrative Visa group members:
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Start the Moving to Spain Hub →“You can do it on your own. Don’t have it notarized. You can’t alter the document. Just send it to the Office of Authentications at the U.S. Dept of State with the correct form and a money order. We sent it with Next Day Delivery from USPS and placed a prepaid Next Day Delivery envelope inside to expedite its return.”
“Do not notarize (even though there are words to that effect).”
“Here you can find reliable Apostille services and recommended sworn translators:
SpainGuru Apostille Services in the US and the UK
SpainGuru Sworn Translations“
Conclusion
When obtaining an apostille for an FBI background check required for the Spain Non Lucrative Visa, it is not necessary to notarize the document before sending it to the Office of Authentications in Washington.
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Explore Cities →The process can be managed independently by sending the document along with the necessary form and a money order. Utilizing expedited shipping services and including a prepaid return envelope can help hasten the process.
For those seeking assistance, reliable service providers can be found through resources such as SpainGuru.
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