Criminal record certificate from Ecuador for a Spanish nationality file: who issues it and how long it stays valid
What the official pages of Ecuador and of Spain say about the criminal record certificate: who issues it, how to ask for it from Spain, cost and time where they are stated, and how long it counts for your file, with a source under every line. Reading this page is free.
Validity clock: your dates, worked out
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How we count
Months and years end on the same day number, or on the last day of the month if there is no such day; they start the day after the date you give. A deadline that ends on a weekend moves to the next working day. Document validity is not moved: the date shown is the last day it stays valid, even on a weekend. Days are working days unless a law says otherwise.
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In short
- Criminal record: The Ministry of the Interior issues the criminal record certificate online, free of charge; its page states 3 months of validity, but we found no page saying the certificate prints that period.
Each line sums up a section below. The sources are in that section.
Last checked: 19 October 2026. Check the official page: sede.mjusticia.gob.es.
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1. Criminal record certificate
The Ministry of the Interior's procedure page on the gob.ec portal says the Certificado de Antecedentes Penales is issued for natural persons and legal entities, directly or by the judicial route, over the internet through the Ministry's web portal.[1]
The same page says Ecuadorians use their ID card number and foreigners the number of their passport, free of charge over the internet.[2] It lists the procedure as having no cost.[3]
The Ecuadorian consulate in Valencia says the certificate can be obtained free of charge online through the corresponding official service.[4] It adds that if the certificate will be presented to an authority that requires its apostille, the apostille procedure must also be done.[5]
The same consulate says it is not necessary to bring the certificate printed, and that the consulate can print it to carry out the apostille procedure.[6] We could not open the Ministry's own portal to read its screens, so we found no official text on how a person living abroad is treated there beyond what these pages say.
Validity. The Ministry's procedure page says the criminal record certificate has a validity of 3 months.[7] We found no page saying whether the certificate itself prints that period. Spain's order says all documents must be in force when you apply, and that for certificates it looks at the validity stated on the document itself.[8][9] For criminal records with no stated validity, it says six months from issue.[10] Ask the registry which period it will apply.
Spain asks for the criminal record certificate of the country of origin, legalised and translated.[11]
Sources (11)
Next steps
When to see a lawyer
- A document is refused and you do not know why.
- Your names are spelled differently in your documents.
- A required document cannot be obtained.
- You are near a deadline.
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The nationality file, step by step
Years to Spanish nationality by country
Where is my Spanish nationality file? The official ways to check it
The Spanish nationality oath (jura): what to bring and where to do it
Years, exams and fee for Spanish nationality by country of origin: open data
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Explanation written with AI from the official source cited on this page.
CiviqPass is an independent service. Built from the texts linked beside each line; procedures change, so confirm on the official pages.