CiviqPass

Documents from Pakistan 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.

Sources (1)
Orden JUS/1625/2016, anexo, 4. Validez de los documentosOfficial wordingEn el caso de certificados de antecedentes penales en los que no conste plazo de validez, se entenderá que tienen una vigencia de seis meses a contar desde su expedición.
Sources (1)
sede.mjusticia.gob.es, página del trámiteOfficial wordingDispone de dos meses desde la fecha de creación para completar su solicitud, si pasado ese plazo no ha firmado y presentado su solicitud, se borrará de manera automática.
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.

Ley 39/2015, art. 30.4Official wordingéstos se computarán a partir del día siguiente a aquel en que tenga lugar la notificación o publicación del acto de que se trate
Ley 39/2015, art. 30.4Official wordingo desde el siguiente a aquel en que se produzca la estimación o desestimación por silencio administrativo.
Ley 39/2015, art. 30.2Official wordingSiempre que por Ley o en el Derecho de la Unión Europea no se exprese otro cómputo, cuando los plazos se señalen por días, se entiende que éstos son hábiles
Ley 39/2015, art. 30.2Official wordingexcluyéndose del cómputo los sábados, los domingos y los declarados festivos.
Ley 39/2015, art. 30.4Official wordingEl plazo concluirá el mismo día en que se produjo la notificación, publicación o silencio administrativo en el mes o el año de vencimiento.
Ley 39/2015, art. 30.4Official wordingSi en el mes de vencimiento no hubiera día equivalente a aquel en que comienza el cómputo, se entenderá que el plazo expira el último día del mes.
Ley 39/2015, art. 30.5Official wordingCuando el último día del plazo sea inhábil, se entenderá prorrogado al primer día hábil siguiente.

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

The File Pack: your file in one workspace

Your documents with their dates, the order to ask for them, every deadline in one calendar file, two letters already drafted and twenty-five checks before you file. It uses the same sourced rules as this page, organised for your own file.

  • A tracker for each document, with a check of whether it will still count on your filing day
  • The order to ask for each document, with the dates that can already be worked out
  • One calendar file with every date you fill in, and reminders
  • Two letters already drafted: asking for the state of your file and answering a requirement, with the last day to answer
  • Twenty-five checks before you file, and nine questions to ask before you pay a lawyer
  • In English, Spanish, French and Arabic. What you type stays in your browser.

€29.00, one payment. No subscription. Access for 800 days from payment.

You pay on Stripe. The link to your File Pack arrives by email.

Ask for a refund within 14 days of payment and you get your money back, no reason needed. Refund terms

You submit your file yourself on the Ministry's site; the File Pack shows each document and each step, with the official source beside it.

In short

  • Criminal record: The Foreign Ministry's checklist names the District Police Officer, or the Political Agent in tribal areas, and we found no national body; the Islamabad police FAQ says generally 6 months to 1 year depending on the receiving country or organisation, and Spain counts six months where none is stated.
  • Birth and marriage: We found no official Pakistani page we could read on ordering a birth certificate from abroad; the Embassy describes it as issued by Union Council and says Pakistani birth, marriage and educational documents must be pre-attested by the Foreign Ministry.
  • Apostille: The competent authority is the Foreign Ministry in Islamabad, and the Embassy in Madrid says that at the moment the apostille is only possible from Pakistan.
  • Translation: Spain asks for the criminal record certificate to be translated, and the birth certificate where needed; the Embassy of Pakistan requires a registered sworn translator in Spain for the marriage certificate only.
  • Order: Our arithmetic, not an official rule: request first the documents that need an apostille and a sworn translation, and the criminal record certificate when you can still finish both within its validity; the clock below gives the dates.

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.

CiviqPass is an independent service.

1. Criminal record certificate

The Pakistani Foreign Ministry's attestation checklist says a police character certificate is required to be issued by the local District Police Officer (DPO) or, in tribal areas, by the concerned Political Agent.[1]

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

Sources (1)
  1. apostille.mofa.gov.pk, Checklist for attestation, Police Character CertificatesOfficial wordingIt is required to be issued by local District Police Officer (DPO) or, in case of tribal areas, by the concerned Political Agent.

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

We found no official Pakistani page we could read on how to order a birth certificate from abroad: the NADRA site refused our requests. The Embassy's list of documents for a first-time CNIC asks for the original B-Form and a Pakistani birth certificate, and describes the certificate as issued by Union Council.[1]

The Foreign Ministry's apostille portal lists Birth Certificate / B Form[2] and Marriage Registration Certificate / Nikah Nama[3] among the documents it can attest. Its checklist refers to an original Nikkah Nama issued by the Nikkah Registrar, with the Marriage Registration Certificate (MRC).[4]

The Embassy in Madrid, in its guideline headed "Marriage, Birth & Educational Certificates", says Pakistani documents must be pre-attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Pakistan.[5] The guideline concerns marriage, birth and educational documents, not police certificates.

Spain asks for the birth certificate of the country of origin, legalised and translated where needed.[6] We found no official Spanish text saying whether an extract or a full copy is needed: ask the registry.

If you are married, Spain also asks for the marriage certificate of the country where the marriage took place.[7]

Sources (7)
  1. mofa.gov.pk, NADRA services, A. First-Time CNIC / CNIC via B-FormOfficial wordingOriginal B-Form & Pakistani Birth Certificate (issued by Union Council).
  2. apostille.mofa.gov.pk, List of attestable documents, Personal DocumentsOfficial wordingBirth Certificate / B Form
  3. apostille.mofa.gov.pk, List of attestable documents, Personal DocumentsOfficial wordingMarriage Registration Certificate / Nikah Nama
  4. apostille.mofa.gov.pk, Checklist, Normal Nikkah NamaOfficial wordingOriginal Nikkah Nama issued by Nikkah Registrar with his signature/stamp along with Marriage Registration Certificate (MRC)
  5. mofa.gov.pk, Guidelines, Marriage, Birth & Educational CertificatesOfficial wordingPakistani Documents: Must be pre-attested by MOFA Pakistan (Educational documents require prior HEC or IBCC attestation).
  6. Orden JUS/1625/2016, anexo 1.aOfficial wordingCertificado de nacimiento del país de origen debidamente legalizado y traducido en su caso, conforme los Convenios Internacionales.
  7. Orden JUS/1625/2016, anexo 1.aOfficial wordingEn el caso de personas casadas certificado de matrimonio del país de celebración, debidamente traducido y legalizado en su caso.

3. Apostille and legalisation

The HCCH status table lists Pakistan with accession on 8 July 2022 and entry into force on 9 March 2023.[1] HCCH's notifications page for Pakistan lists objections to the accession.[2] On the page as we read it, the list names Greece, Denmark, the Netherlands, Finland, Austria, Poland, the Czech Republic and Germany, and not Spain. The Germany entry, for example, says it raises an objection to the accession.[3] See the country finder on the "nationality file" page of this site.

HCCH's page on Pakistan's competent authority lists, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters in Islamabad, the Assistant Director (Consular) and the Assistant Director (Apostille).[4] It also lists the Foreign Affairs Liaison Offices in Karachi, Lahore, Quetta, Peshawar and Gujrat.[5]

The Ministry says it has started online apostille attestation, with a link to apply.[6] A notice on the portal asks applicants to visit the Ministry on their scheduled appointment date and time for apostille processing.[7]

The portal's list of attestable documents includes the Police Clearance Certificate (PCC).[8] Its list of countries accepting the apostille includes Spain.[9]

The portal's fee page lists Rs 3,000 for a personal document.[10] The HCCH page (last updated 27 May 2024) lists Rs 500 for ordinary documents.[11] The two figures differ and we do not know which applies today: check the portal. We found no processing time stated on these pages.

Embassy attestation and apostille. The Embassy of Pakistan in Madrid lists attestation of documents among its services[12] and says that at the moment the apostille is only possible from Pakistan.[13] We found no official page saying that an embassy attestation replaces the apostille for a Spanish file. The Spanish Embassy in Islamabad says documents apostilled by the authorities of the issuing country need no additional procedure at the Consular Office and may be presented directly in Spain.[14] The Spanish Ministry of Justice's warning calls legalisation of foreign documents an essential requirement.[15] Ask the registry or the Ministry before you rely on an attestation alone.

An apostille does not extend a certificate. The Spanish Embassy in Islamabad says the legalisation or apostille has no expiry date, but if the document has a time-limited validity, that of the apostille is equally limited.[16] The Spanish Foreign Ministry says the same of legalisation.[17]

Spain's Ministry of Justice says the Hague apostille is one stamp and signature on the document, and that it simplifies legalisation.[18]

Sources (18)
  1. hcch.net, Status table, Convention 12, PakistanOfficial wordingPakistan 8-VII-2022 A** 9-III-2023
  2. hcch.net, Pakistan, notifications of type ObjectionOfficial wordingType Objection** Objections:
  3. hcch.net, Pakistan, notifications of type ObjectionOfficial wordingthe Federal Republic of Germany raises an objection to the accession of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in accordance with Article 12(2) of the Convention.
  4. hcch.net, Pakistan - Competent Authority (Art. 6)Official wordingAt Ministry of Foreign Affairs Headquarters, Islamabad: Assistant Director (Consular), Ministry of Foreign Affairs Assistant Director (Apostille), Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  5. hcch.net, Pakistan - Competent Authority (Art. 6)Official wordingAt Foreign Affairs' Liaison OIIices in Karachi, Lahore, Quetta, Peshawar and Gujrat:
  6. apostille.mofa.gov.pk, Home pageOfficial wordingMinistry of Foreign Affairs has started online appostille attestion , please click on below link and apply.
  7. apostille.mofa.gov.pk, Important noticeOfficial wordingDear Applicants, please visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) on your scheduled appointment date and time for Apostille processing.
  8. apostille.mofa.gov.pk, List of attestable documents, Personal DocumentsOfficial wordingPolice Clearance Certificate (PCC)
  9. apostille.mofa.gov.pk, Apostille Country ListOfficial wordingSouth Korea (Republic of Korea) Spain Suriname
  10. apostille.mofa.gov.pk, Fee StructureOfficial wordingPersonal Document Rs 3,000
  11. hcch.net, Practical Information, PriceOfficial wordingPrice: Ordinary Documents Rs 500/- Power of Attorney Rs 700/- Commercial Documents Rs 3000/-
  12. mofa.gov.pk, Directory of core consular servicesOfficial wordingAttestation of Documents: Birth, Marriage, Police Character, and Educational Certificates.
  13. mofa.gov.pk, Madrid Consular AffairsOfficial wordingAt the moment, the Apostille is only possible from Pakistan. Please visit apostille.mofa.gov.pk for more information.
  14. exteriores.gob.es, Hague Apostille and Legalization, Obtaining an apostille for foreign documentsOfficial wordingDocuments apostilled by the authorities of the issuing country do not require any additional procedure from the Consular Office, and may be presented directly in Spain.
  15. Advertencia legalización y apostilla (Ministerio de Justicia), advertenciaOfficial wordingLa legalización de los documentos extranjeros aportados a la solicitud de nacionalidad española por residencia constituye un requisito esencial para la aceptación de dicha documentación
  16. exteriores.gob.es, Hague Apostille and LegalizationOfficial wordingThe legalization or apostille has no expiry date, but if the document has a time-limited validity, that of the legalization or apostille shall be equally limited.
  17. exteriores.gob.es, Legalización diplomática - 5. Práctica de la legalizaciónOfficial wordingLa legalización carece de fecha de caducidad. No obstante, si el documento tiene un plazo de validez, la legalización no implica su extensión.
  18. Advertencia legalización y apostilla (Ministerio de Justicia), advertencia, punto 2Official wordingEl Convenio de La Haya es un trámite que simplifica la legalización de documentos públicos. Consiste en la estampación de un solo sello y firma en el documento.

4. Translation into Spanish

The Spanish Ministry of Justice warning says translation must be done or checked at Spanish consulates abroad, or at the consulates in Spain of the document's country of origin, and the documents must then be legalised. It adds that a sworn translator-interpreter named by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs may do it.[1][2]

The Embassy of Pakistan in Madrid says the Spanish translation of the marriage certificate must be done by a registered sworn translator (Traductor Jurado) in Spain and countersigned by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.[3] The page says this of the marriage certificate only.

We found no official page saying in which language Pakistani birth or police certificates are issued. Spain asks for the criminal record certificate legalised and translated, and the birth certificate legalised and translated where needed.[4][5]

Sources (5)
  1. Advertencia legalización y apostilla (Ministerio de Justicia), advertenciaOfficial wordingha de realizarse o cotejarse en las Oficinas Consulares de España en el extranjero o en las del país de origen del documento en España y posteriormente deben legalizarse
  2. Advertencia legalización y apostilla (Ministerio de Justicia), advertenciaOfficial wordingExiste la posibilidad de que la traducción o cotejo de esta la lleve a cabo un intérprete-traductor jurado nombrado por el Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores
  3. mofa.gov.pk, Guidelines, Marriage, Birth & Educational Certificates, TranslationsOfficial wordingTranslations: Spanish translation of the Marriage Certificate must be performed by a registered Sworn Translator ( Traductor Jurado ) in Spain and countersigned by MOFA Spain.
  4. Orden JUS/1625/2016, anexo 1.aOfficial wordingCertificado de antecedentes penales del país de origen debidamente legalizado y traducido conforme a los Convenios Internacionales.
  5. Orden JUS/1625/2016, anexo 1.aOfficial wordingCertificado de nacimiento del país de origen debidamente legalizado y traducido en su caso, conforme los Convenios Internacionales.

5. Consulates in Spain

The Embassy of Pakistan in Madrid's welcome page says Pakistan also has a Consulate General in Barcelona.[1] The page links to the Consulate General's own website; we did not use it.

The Embassy's consular directory lists attestation of birth, marriage, police character and educational certificates.[2] It says most services can be used through Correos, the Spanish post, but some require the applicant to be present, such as a manual power of attorney.[3]

Sources (3)
  1. mofa.gov.pk, Welcome to EmbassyOfficial wordingPakistan also has a Consulate General in Barcelona.
  2. mofa.gov.pk, Directory of core consular servicesOfficial wordingAttestation of Documents: Birth, Marriage, Police Character, and Educational Certificates.
  3. mofa.gov.pk, Madrid Consular AffairsOfficial wordingWhile most of the services can be availed by Correos but some of the services require mandatory presence of the applicant at the Embassy, such as manual Power of Attorney.

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]

Our arithmetic, not an official rule. The sources above fix how long a document stays valid, not the order in which you request things. If the validity counts from the day of issue, and the apostille and a sworn translation take time afterwards, the request date matters most for the documents with the shortest validity. Type a date in the clock below to see when your criminal record certificate stops being valid, then count back the time the apostille and the translation take in your case.

  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.
Sources (5)
  1. Orden JUS/1625/2016, anexo, 4. Validez de los documentosOfficial wordingTodos los documentos deberán estar en vigor en el momento de la solicitud.
  2. Orden JUS/1625/2016, anexo, 4. Validez de los documentosOfficial wordingPara determinar la validez en el caso de los certificados se atenderá al plazo de vigencia que conste en el propio documento.
  3. Orden JUS/1625/2016, anexo, 4. Validez de los documentosOfficial wordingEn el caso de certificados de antecedentes penales en los que no conste plazo de validez, se entenderá que tienen una vigencia de seis meses a contar desde su expedición.
  4. exteriores.gob.es, Legalización diplomática - 5. Práctica de la legalizaciónOfficial wordingLa legalización carece de fecha de caducidad. No obstante, si el documento tiene un plazo de validez, la legalización no implica su extensión.
  5. sede.mjusticia.gob.es, página del trámiteOfficial wordingDispone de dos meses desde la fecha de creación para completar su solicitud, si pasado ese plazo no ha firmado y presentado su solicitud, se borrará de manera automática.

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.

These are general triggers, not an assessment of your case. A lawyer should confirm what applies to you. CiviqPass does not name or recommend a lawyer.

The nationality file, step by step

Your file silent after a year

Years to Spanish nationality by country

Criminal record certificate from Pakistan: 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

Your file in one workspace: €29.00, one payment, 14-day refund.

What is inside

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.