Documents from Guatemala for a Spanish nationality file: criminal record, birth certificate, apostille and validity

Where each document comes from, who issues the apostille, how long each one stays valid and what Spain's own texts say about legalisation and translation, with a source under every line. Free.

Validity clock: your dates, worked out

Type a date you already have and read the date it leads to, with the official rule beside it. Nothing is stored or sent: the calculation runs in your browser. Add a date to your calendar with a reminder.

Where is my file? With your application number, follow it on the Ministry's website: Ministry of Justice: nationality by residence

Payment received. The link to your File Pack is on its way to your email. Did not arrive? Ask for the link again

The payment was cancelled. Nothing was charged.

Last checked: 19 October 2026. Check the official page: sede.mjusticia.gob.es.

CiviqPass is an independent service.

• Criminal record
• Birth and marriage
• Apostille
• Translation
• Consulates
• Order
• Validity clock

1. Criminal record certificate

The Embassy of Guatemala in Spain has a page titled "Certificados que NO emite la Embajada" (certificates the Embassy does not issue).^[1] It lists the Certificado de Antecedentes Penales as a certificate of the Organismo Judicial (the judiciary).^[2] The page names the issuer only: it gives no route, cost or validity.

Criminal record certificate from Guatemala: who issues it and how long it stays valid

2. Birth certificate, and marriage certificate if you are married

The Embassy's page "Certificados que NO emite la Embajada" lists the birth certificate and the marriage certificate as certificates of the Registro Nacional de las Personas (RENAP, the national civil registry).^[1] Another Embassy page, titled "Certificado de Nacimiento", describes how to obtain a birth certificate at the Embassy: it says the procedure is personal and needs no appointment.^[2] It says you go to the Embassy's consular section with one of these: the DPI (identity document) or the passport, original or copy, or an old birth certificate.^[3] It prints a fee of 6.00 euros, in exact cash.^[4]

The RENAP tariff says that the fee for a birth certificate requested abroad, in mobile consulates, consular offices, consulates or embassies and by electronic means, is US$6.00.^[7][8] The Embassy page prints 6.00 euros,^[9] so the two pages name different currencies: ask the Embassy which applies. The tariff also says that when RENAP services are paid electronically with a debit or credit card, there is an additional charge of 25%.^[10] It does not say whether this applies to a birth certificate requested from abroad.

A RENAP bulletin dated 7 July 2020 says the birth certificate can be obtained on RENAP's digital platform, following steps it lists.^[11] One step is to pay by credit or debit card.^[12] It says the document is sent in digital form and can be printed on ordinary paper,^[13] and that it has the same validity as those processed at any RENAP office in the country.^[14] The bulletin was written during the COVID-19 emergency and does not say whether the steps still apply. It says nothing about an apostille, about Spain or about a time limit.

RENAP's page "Solicitud de certificación de inscripción vía electrónica" carries no date. It says that you enter the institutional page and click the button to obtain the certificate of inscription electronically, where the registry data and payment by credit or debit card are requested.^[15] It does not name the birth or the marriage certificate and does not say whether it can be used from abroad.

The Embassy also has a page titled "Certificado de Origen para nacionalidad".^[20] Among its requirements it lists a copy of the birth certificate issued by RENAP, recent, "que no exceda de 6 meses" (not exceeding 6 months).^[21] The page does not say which country's nationality it refers to or whether Spain asks for this certificate. It does not say whether the six months are a validity of the RENAP certificate or only a condition of that procedure. The clock below shows this date.

Spain asks for the birth certificate of the country of origin, legalised and translated where needed.^[22] If you are married, it also asks for the marriage certificate of the country where the marriage took place.^[23] The order says only "certificado de nacimiento"; we found no official Spanish text saying whether it wants an extract or a literal copy: ask the registry.

3. Apostille and legalisation

The HCCH status table lists Guatemala with an accession dated 19 January 2017 and entry into force on 18 September 2017.^[1] The Embassy's legalisation page says Guatemala has been part of the Convention since 18 September 2017.^[2] The HCCH page designates the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Department of Authentication of the Directorate of Legal Affairs, as the authority.^[3] It gives the portal https://apostilla.minex.gob.gt to request an e-Apostille.^[4] The Embassy's page of certificates it does not issue also ends with "Para apostillar:" followed by https://apostilla.minex.gob.gt/login.^[5]

The same HCCH page, last updated 6 February 2023, says the apostille is free of charge and that only a stamp tax of Q.10.00 must be covered.^[6] It prints only the symbol Q, which we read as the Guatemalan quetzal. A Guatemalan regulation dated 13 November 2023, listed on the Catálogo de Trámites page described below, concerns charges for apostille and legalisation certificates.^[7] We found no current page stating the apostille fee: check the live portal.

The Guatemalan government's Catálogo de Trámites has a page for the Foreign Ministry's "certificado de legalización de documentos" (its update date is printed as 4/7/2026). It says this certificate is used for documents issued or legalised by a Guatemalan mission abroad^[8] or that will take effect in a state that is not party to the Apostille Convention,^[9] or for documents to which the Convention itself says it does not apply.^[10] It names the Dirección de Asuntos Jurídicos (Autenticas) as the responsible office^[11] and says the document must carry the pase de ley of a Guatemalan mission abroad or the signature of the issuing authority registered in the Departamento de Auténticas.^[12] It prints a certificate fee of Q.75.00, which comes after a tax payment the page also mentions,^[13] and a response time of 4 days, without saying calendar or working days.^[14] These figures belong to the legalisation certificate: we found no catalogue page for the apostille itself.

Spain's Foreign Ministry says documents from countries that signed the Apostille Convention are not legalised.^[18] It also says, about its own diplomatic legalisation, that legalisation has no expiry date but, if the document has a validity period, legalisation does not extend it.^[19] We found no Spanish text saying the same of an apostille.

4. Translation into Spanish

We found no official Guatemalan or Spanish page saying, for a nationality file, that a document already in Spanish needs, or does not need, a translation. Spain's order says "traducido en su caso" for the birth certificate and "traducido" for the criminal record.^[1][2]

The Spanish Ministry of Justice warning says translation is done or checked at Spanish consular offices abroad or at the consular offices in Spain of the document's country of origin, and that the documents must then be legalised. It adds that a sworn translator-interpreter named by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs can do the translation or check.^[3][4]

5. Consulates in Spain

The Embassy's home page presents the Embassy as part of the foreign service of the Guatemalan Foreign Ministry.^[1] It gives the address C/ Velázquez, 114 1º Izquierdo, 28006, Madrid.^[2] The Embassy's birth certificate page says you go to its consular section.^[3] Its page "Doble Nacionalidad" says you must contact the Registro Civil of the place where you are registered as a resident (empadronado) and ask for the specific requirements for dual nationality, because they may ask for more documents.^[4]

The Embassy also has a page titled "Consulados honorarios de Guatemala en España" (honorary consulates).^[5] For Barcelona, it lists an entry with the address Calle Abadessa Dolzet, 9 bajo 1, 08034 Barcelona.^[6] The page does not say which services the honorary consulates provide.

6. Order of requests and validity

Spain's order says that all documents must be in force when you apply.^[1] For certificates, the validity stated on the certificate itself counts,^[2] and a criminal record certificate with no stated validity counts for six months from the day it was issued.^[3]

Legalisation does not make a document last longer. Spain's Foreign Ministry says legalisation has no expiry date but that, if the document has a validity period, legalisation does not extend it.^[4]

When you create the online application you have two months to complete and file it, or it is deleted.^[5]

1. Find out what validity, if any, each issuer prints on its certificate (the sections above say what we found).
2. Request first the documents that need an apostille and a sworn translation, since those steps come after issue.
3. Request the criminal record certificate when you can still finish its apostille and translation inside its validity.
4. Type its issue date in the clock below and file before the "valid until" date it shows.
5. Create the online application only when you are close to filing: from creation you have two months.

Next steps

The nationality file, step by step

Your file silent after a year

Years to Spanish nationality by country

Criminal record certificate from Guatemala: who issues it and how long it stays valid

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

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.